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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Feeling faint whilst sitting down

13 replies

Badgerwife · 07/02/2011 19:21

I was on the train today and got the whole cold sweat, white blurred vision, feeling really hot, and I was sitting down the whole time.
At my first (and only) midwife appointment - I'm 16 weeks - she did say my blood pressure was low, and I've had a couple of near fainting episodes a couple of weeks ago, though not as bad. I'm now making sure I take water with me (and haribos), and I take off coat, scarf etc because I know I am overheating, but it doesn't seem to be enough.
Do you think this is anything to be concerned about?

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JimmyChoo17 · 07/02/2011 19:54

Check out my other post I had the same today....was not overheating but felt the same as when u do.

Midwife not worried but sent to gp to check my heart just to make sure nothing out of ordinary.

Am fine gp said 25% of your heart out put and bloods go straight to baby. Add to that baby is taking everything else off you, you are not running at full power.

Normally if I fell faint I feel quite like my heart is racing which I wasn't today. I felt just like you I almost felt paralysed as I couldn't tell anyone. I was sat down too and found as soon as I could I got myself laid down in a cool room at work, cold water and calm breathing helped.

Dr reckons is low blood pressure. The only thing to do is get laid down with legs up in the air (it's like ttc all over again)!! Sounds similar to you. I am assured it's fine for baby just get yourself sat down or laid down as soon as possible.

JimmyChoo17 · 07/02/2011 19:55

Ps I am just over 17 weeks and it's normal to feel like this...just another nasty side effect.

Scouseem · 07/02/2011 22:15

I felt faint sitting down from 16-21weeks and my midwife said its just a normal part of pregnancy at this stage and you basically have to just put up with it but If you can then to lie down and take it easy. I'm 23weeks now and hardly ever feel faint anymore.

dycey · 07/02/2011 22:27

Raisins are instant blood sugar and have stopped me fainting before

Original poster

Badgerwife · 08/02/2011 12:36

Thank you all. Someone told me you can only faint when you're standing up, so i started to worry, as I'm always sitting down doing nothing when it happens

JimmyChoo "get laid down with legs up in the air". I can just see myself doing that on the morning rush-hour train to London

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tlise · 09/02/2011 15:45

I was like that frequently on the first 4 months then it suddenly stopped. Must be common x

Oh and banana's are supposed to be good for blood sugar...pregnancy tip here, if you get braxton hicks later on cos your energy levels are low, eat one and they should help ;)

JimmyChoo17 · 09/02/2011 20:36

Lol badger wife wasn't my advice was drs he didn't see why I wa unable to do that mid office. Stupid advice when on the move I know.

You can faint whilst sat down tho...have done so twice ok one was on a roller coaster with severe heat exhaustion...it was my last day I couldn't say no...whoopsy!! but the second time I felt much like do pregnant and I conked out face down!!! Don't make a habit of it but now I think about it...all non pregnancy related faints...have been sat down!! 3 times all in all.

violetwellies · 09/02/2011 20:45

I had this when driving - everyone just keeps saying how good my (low) blood pressure is, GP eventually signed me off work (for a month :) ) - dont think she wanted me to crash :o

Carrotsandcelery · 09/02/2011 20:52

I had low blood pressure during my second pregnancy. I wasn't allowed to drive (could be horrific if you were) and was signed off work as I was a teacher.
There was nothing they could do for me though. You just have to make sure you do your best not to put yourself in a situation where it could endanger you or anyone around you.
You get to read the signs and do as much as you can to avoid actually conking out completely.

Original poster

Badgerwife · 10/02/2011 12:40

I'm mightily relieved it isn't that frequent, I can't imagine being signed off work because of it, you must have really suffered violetwellies and carrots; the thought of fainting whilst driving, wow

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Carrotsandcelery · 10/02/2011 20:53

It was not as grim as my post maybe made it sound Badgerwife - you do what you have to do to grow those little bodies. Luckily it is not forever. They are so worth it once they arrive too

thell · 11/02/2011 11:23

Ooh, sympathy x

Also make sure you're not dehydrated - my MW has warned me that dehydration will also lower the liquid content of your blood, thus making blood pressure lower.

Original poster

Badgerwife · 14/02/2011 12:12

At least as my midwife said this morning, we don't have high blood pressure, which is much more worrying

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