Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Fainting episode - anyone else had this?

13 replies

PumpkinPie2013 · 21/08/2013 14:08

Had quite a scary episode earlier today and wondered if others had experienced this?

I'm 26 weeks pregnant (first baby). I've always had low blood pressure pre pregnancy and it's never caused a problem as I knew about it and controlled it with frequent snacks/fluids (I've been checked for diabetes but don't have it).

During pregnancy it's been around 90/50 but again not caused a problem.

However, today I was teaching and stood giving an explanation to the group. Very suddenly I felt really faint, room spinning/going black so I had to rush out (thankfully a colleague was with me to take over). Someone helped me lie down on the floor, got me water and some chocolate. After about 5 minutes I started to feel better and remained sitting down. I feel ok now - not great but much better and I'm snacking lots. I'd had breakfast before work so had eaten.

Baby has been moving around so not concerned about that really.

Has anyone else had similar? It happened so suddenly it was really quite frightening Sad

Not sure whether to mention to my mw but don't see her now until the 5th Sept?

Thanks in advance x

OP posts:
Purplefrogshoe · 21/08/2013 14:34

I had this when pregnant with my dd, my bp was always 90/50 too, i passed out 5/6 times but baby was fine, my poor knees however still have scars. I would phone and ask advice though just to be sure

Best wishes x

Purplefrogshoe · 21/08/2013 14:37

P.s it always happened when i sitting and stood up

StyleManual · 21/08/2013 14:39

I had this too. I always had low blood pressure but when I went to hospital after my fainting episode my blood pressure was sky high. Never got to the bottom of it. I guess my body was just under a lot of strain, as I was almost at my due date.
I would definitely mention it to midwife. Mine was very concerned and sent me to hospital.

cakeandcustard · 21/08/2013 14:48

I had a similar dizzy spell today (though not so bad) invigillating an exam. I had to get up to fetch something but had to sit back down quite quickly as the room started spinning. I also have got dizzy when standing at the board writing with my arms above my head.

My bp was 94/56 ish last time it was checked which the midwife said was low but sometimes happens during pregnancy, I think this is what's causing it. I find snacking constantly helps (eating in lesson time is kind of unprofessional but it's that or keel over). I'm also lucky as part time so I came home at lunch and lay down for a bit. I think you have to just try to take it easy :)

Minty82 · 21/08/2013 14:55

Had this a lot when I was pregnant with DD - usually if I was too hot or it was crowded. Never actually blacked out, but thought I was going to plenty of times, on the train, in the theatre, in church, in the hairdressers...no fun at all, especially as I always felt really sick at the same time, but everything was fine.

vkinski · 21/08/2013 15:24

I had this in early pregnancy but I'm not sure if it was down to low blood pressure. It happened to me twice, both times in the shower just after I had got up for work in the morning. It would start off with an overwhelming feeling like I was going to be sick, then I would get a feeling like the room was darkening and spinning.

The first time I felt it I proper conked out (only for a matter of seconds) and hit off the bathroom door - this resulted in DH almost kicking down my lovely bathroom door cause I had shouted to him that I didn't feel right, luckily enough I came too before he did that! Second time I felt like I was going to conk out but after lying flat out on the floor, it quickly passed.

I spoke to midwife about it who said it is incredibly common at any stage during pregnancy. She said I should get up slowly from bed each morning to see if that made a difference (I did have a bad habit of sleeping as long as possible and then jumping out of bed at high speed to get to work!). So now I set my alarm a bit earlier and take a few minutes after wakening before getting out of bed and it hasn't happened since.

Its a scarey thing though and my worry was that it would happen when I was walking about town or on a train or something!

Audrey2013 · 21/08/2013 15:53

Same here, low blood pressure and fainting... As much as I am against all sorts of supplements my well-being improved dramatically since I did a blood test (did it privately but you'll have your bloods done at 28 weeks anyway, right?) and found out I needed iron supplements - pretty much as soon as I've started taking them I felt better.
It's worth talking to your midwife anyway.
Hope you feel better soon!

Original poster
PumpkinPie2013 · 21/08/2013 16:18

Thanks to everyone for the replies Smile seems that it is very common although not nice for any of us!

I'll mention it to mw and keep a pot of snacks with me to nibble during lessons Smile

The joys of pregnancy! X

OP posts:
MrsPatMustard · 21/08/2013 16:37

Pumpkin Take care in the shower and getting out of the bath. My BP is also 90/50 and hot temperatures seem to make me worse. I had a very similar incident and managed to get myself on the ground before i completely blacked out - but still had to spend 20 mins lying wet and nekkid on the bathroom floor before i could move!

Mayanbob · 21/08/2013 16:43

In the hot weather I had this trying to remove a stain from the carpet. At least I didn't have far to go Grin was informed by mw to just drink more

morethanpotatoprints · 21/08/2013 16:48

I had this with ds1 and unfortunately had to leave work early for H&S reasons. There were several episodes though and I completely fainted, and they called a doctor each time.
Was fine with the other 2, no problems with fainting again.
I'm not of the school that says pregnant/ put your feet up, but in this case I would advise this until the stage has passed, if at all possible. Make sure you sleep as much as you can and eat well, this is so important.

Smerlin · 21/08/2013 18:28

I've had it twice this pregnancy exactly as you describe. Very normal acc to my GP.

pegster · 21/08/2013 18:44

I have this too, not quite as bad this pregnancy as last. It's a PITA isn't it, just have to get up slowly & be prepared to sit down at short notice - even if its embarrassing (I recently had to leave a queue for ice-creams & slide down the wall of the kiosk on a hot day in July!)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page