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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Fainting in third trimester

14 replies

PrincessJenga · 02/06/2011 15:59

I'm 32 weeks pregnant and have passed out, or come very close to passing out, several times in the last fortnight. Luckily, the first time it happened I was right in front of a midwife and she called the maternity unit at the local hospital and arranged for me to go in and be checked out. Baby was fine, I was fine, but blood pressure was really low. Since then, it's happened a few more times. GP has checked me over, discovered my blood pressure is still very low and signed me off work.

She's said she may have to start signing me off for a week at a time until maternity leave starts, but I really don't want that. I love my job and I want to go back. I just want to stop feeling so faint!

Anyone else in this situation? Or got any words of wisdom about how to avoid it? Thank you!

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smearedinfood · 02/06/2011 22:42

I'm no doctor, but did you get your iron checked?

Original poster

PrincessJenga · 02/06/2011 22:46

Yup. Definitely not iron. It appears to be blood pressure. It gets worse when I'm hot, tired or haven't eaten/drunk for a while. I pass out almost immediately if I lie on my back. Dr Google doesn't seem to think it's that rare and my real GP doesn't seem overly concerned, but I want to go back to work and be able to leave the house on my own without worrying about passing out!

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VforViennetta · 02/06/2011 22:58

Yes I fainted a few times in my last pregnancy after never fainting before in my life. The doctors didn't seem too worried, I wasn't constantly faint though.

I don't think there is much they or you can do really, can you not just enjoy the extra rest?

tethersend · 02/06/2011 23:03

I had this. It's horrible. You can't go to work, sorry! But it did go as soon as my DD was born.

I found eating salty things helped but I have no evidence to back this up.

Original poster

PrincessJenga · 02/06/2011 23:14

Doctor said that too. She prescribed crisps

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thumbwitch · 02/06/2011 23:18

I only nearly fainted once in 3rd trim and it was due to overheating.

If you can control it by making sure you control your temp, drink lots of fluids and yes, eating crisps or other salty foods then you should at least stop the fainting - but you're probably better signed off.

Has your work muttered about it? They can't, it's discrimination - it should have no impact on your ability to go back to your job. After all, you have low BP because you are pregnant - soon you won't be pg any more and your BP should normalise.

smearedinfood · 02/06/2011 23:21

I fainted in first trimester, on the tube - not fun, always demand a seat! Liking the crisps prescription though.

Original poster

PrincessJenga · 02/06/2011 23:29

Work have been fantastic thumbwitch. I tried to go back. They sent me home again. I'm not very good at sitting around though and DP works from home so we're getting under each other's feet.

I think I'll up my crisp sandwich intake and start carrying a fan around with me!

Smeared, you poor thing! Luckily I don't live in London any more. I definitely wouldn't be risking the tube while feeling like this. My bump is now huge so getting seats is easier than it would have been in the first trimester tho

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Original poster

PrincessJenga · 02/06/2011 23:31

tethers, did it go straight away? I know it sounds daft, but I'm worried it will impact on breastfeeding. I literally can't lie on my back or recline on a chair without feeling myself 'going' and can't work out how I would breastfeed sat bolt upright or lying on my side (this will be my first though so hopefully someone can reassure me that will be possible!)

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thumbwitch · 02/06/2011 23:44

Princess, bf'ing lying on your side isn't that difficult - I had to do it because it was the only way DS could feed initially. The breastfeeding expert MW came and showed me how - and it was quite nice doing it that way, meant we could just lie in bed and I could read while he fed.

It should go straight away - chances are your bump is affecting your vagus nerve when you lie on your back - so when the bump has gone, the pressure on your vagus nerve will go as well.

firsttimer84 · 03/06/2011 07:46

I have this too but thankfully only when I stand for longer than 15 mins so I can still work as I'm a community care worker. At the moment I'm literally driving to people's houses and then sitting and drinking tea with them for half an hour. My boss has been great and given me all the easy calls. My diabetic nurse (type 1 diabetic) said lots of fluid helps apparently.

Original poster

PrincessJenga · 03/06/2011 10:39

Ah, thank you thumbwitch, that's reassuring. If it's still a problem when LO arrives I'll ask for help with breastfeeding on my side. Our NCT teacher only showed us a kind of reclining position.

And thanks too firsttimer, I'd realised that drinking a cold drink helped after feeling ill, but will try to keep fluids up all of the time in case lack of fluids is causing the problem.

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SuperheroYuki · 03/06/2011 11:14

I faint every time i sit down for more than 10 minutes unless I'm in a weird sideways fetal position...which is embarrassing on the train! Getting up early and eating carbs seems to help and changing from sitting to standing every 5 mins or so...damn fat babies..

salmahsn · 04/08/2013 00:00

I'm 32 weeks, i have almost fainted too and vomited on two different occasions. I feel this is happening to me because i'm very low on iron and maybe because i was feeling very hot.

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