Fainting!

[meltingmarshmallows]

Today I attended the Mothercare event and purchased our pram. I had eaten breakfast, felt fine and it wasn't hot etc. As we queued I started to feel really odd and light headed, so walked over to the door for air whilst my husband spoke to the checkout staff.

It got worse and I started to see bright lights, the noise of the shop got quiet and I slumped myself over the counter. My senses continued to go until I could only see bright lights and hear very quiet background noise. Unbeknown to me the lovely staff very quickly got a chair for me and water, but I continued to faint and a nearby midwife (So grateful this happened at a Mothercare baby event!) lay me down on a cot mattress. I came to in a sweaty pile on the floor, totally mortified and confused.

The midwife was fantastic and so kind, it made the whole thing so much better and after I started to feel better I went straight home. I got checked out by the GP but the only explanation they suggest is iron, so I'll be getting my bloods done next week.

It's totally knocked my confident. I know people faint in pregnancy but I had no idea it would be so full on and without warning. I'm worried my iron will be fine and so it'll be even more unpredictable. Either way life obviously has to go on and now I'm scared of it happening again this week when I'm alone or somewhere without lovely nearby midwifes and sympathetic pregnant women.

Has anyone else experienced this? Was it a one off or did it happen again?

Bump

I'm a fainter. You begin to recognise the signs - very hot all of a sudden, lightheaded etc - which gives you time to sit / lie down and it generally passes quickly, especially if you can get you feet higher than your head.

Ah thank you for the advice!

I did it, spectacularly in the checkout queue in the supermarket, while not pregnant enough to show.

I'm a fainter too, especially in the shower. Drink lots of fluid. Mines due to low blood pressure. It's getting lower and lower every time it gets checked!

Yep. Fellow fainter here. Since I was a teenager. The hot flush usually comes first then the vision starts to go. I quickly sit on the floor (wherever I am!) - pretending to do a shoelace helps! Putting your head between your legs helps if it's a drop in blood pressure which mine is.

Blood pressure was ok later on when checked so I think that's ok but will keep an eye on it.

Was hoping it might be a one off, but will keep an eye out. I know I would recognise the signs again and know more what to do now. Just hope it doesn't happen when out and about again!

Don't worry, I know you just wanted a reason to try out that cot mattress

Seriously though hope it was a one-off and I'm glad everyone was nice. As posters above said, if it does happen again you'll recognize the sensations so you have more time to get away/sit down etc. X

Hi
I fainted a week ago in Costa in the queue and felt just like you. It really knocked my confidence being out and about with my toddler as I was worried it would happen again but it hasn't. GP looked me over and all seemed fine ... told me to rest more! I hope that you don't have any more dizzy spells as it's horrible when it happens x

Given it happened whilst you were queuing I'd say it was a drop in blood pressure. It always gets me when I'm stood still too.

@LorLorr2 I can say that it was surprisingly comfortable! Thank you x

@MrsPan Oh no poor you! That sounds horrible. Hope it doesn't happen again for you either x

@leighdinglady that makes sense. We were stood talking about said pram for a while before, a good 20 mins and so that could be part of it.

Happens to me and worse when pregnant. All due to low blood pressure. Blood flow goes more to baby so when you are standing too long blood also goes to legs so nothing left for your head. Dont let it panic you. Im used to the signals so sit down..Biggest problem is standing still so avoid it as much as possible.

I fainted once in my first pregnancy, and then found out I was anaemic. I felt a bit dizzy but I hadnt eaten anything so I got a drink and sat at the table, I put my head down for a minute.

The next minute I could hear my name in the background (it sounded fuzzy) being called. When I came around I was on the floor! I'd fallen off my chair and hit my head. So far no fainting but I did have a dizzy spell a few weeks ago where I had to sit down.

I fainted once in my first pregnancy, and then found out I was anaemic. I felt a bit dizzy but I hadnt eaten anything so I got a drink and sat at the table, I put my head down for a minute.

The next minute I could hear my name in the background (it sounded fuzzy) being called. When I came around I was on the floor! I'd fallen off my chair and hit my head. So far no fainting but I did have a dizzy spell a few weeks ago where I had to sit down.

I'm not pregnant but do like to go faint. Usually when I get too hot or if I've got a dodgy stomach. It's rare that I'll hit the deck, but I go sweaty, get white blindness and have to sit or lie down immediately.

I did a near-faint in front of some wild rhinos once. I was on foot. It was both embarrassing and terrifying

@FatCatFaces that sounds dangerous haha!

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's not fun!

I'm exactly the same thingymyboob . Low blood pressure (and currently suffering from low iron too but not pregnant). I have learnt the hard way that it is much easier and less embarrassing to just sit or lie down on the floor, wherever you are, rather than deal with actually fainting. People are usually lovely if you say I'm feeling faint and just need a minute.

Stress and dehydration make it worse for me. I instinctively take deep breaths before standing up and drink water by the pint load

Hope it is just a pregnancy thing OP

Three times last pregnancy - all pretty dramatic! First time I was holding a kettle of boiling water which went all over me. Second time I smashed the ipad. Third time it was as I was getting off the tube - I got a police escort to the first class carriage of my commuter train!

How far along are you? If it's low blood pressure, I think blood pressure generally drops during pregnancy but there's a specific period of time during the second trimester when it gets to it's lowest point and that time coincided with the three times I fainted.

I almost fainted when on the commute. Hot, sticky, sweaty etc. Felt terrible.

I got off the train and walked about a mile to work, felt better as soon as I was in the fresh air.

The thought of how embarrassing it would be in front of fellow commuters got me off the train quickly!

Sorry for the late reply!

It hasn't happened since and I'm hoping as you say it's just a case of being in that part of the second trimester (was 25 then, nearly 27 now).

All 3 of those times sound really scary, hope you were ok especially after the kettle! X

I was fine and am glad you are too!

Wish I'd seen this a few weeks ago! (Not that I wish it happened to you but you know..)

I took my DS to his taster day at big school (reception age) and decided to faint in the middle of the playground around 40/50 kids! Luckily I didn't crush any of them but trust me to pick the most unnecessary place to faint!

All I remember is coming to with a glass of water in my hand and the first thing I said was "I'm 8 weeks pregnant!" proud as punch!

I have honestly never fainted before in my life, scariest thing ever! I remember telling DH I needed to get indoors to sit down but just didn't make it. I totally get what you mean about the flashing lights and sweatiness. I got checked out by a GP and she said it was low blood pressure and to expect it for the rest of the pregnancy. The week after another GP called and told me I had a urine infection as well, not sure if related but she thought it might be!?

I've felt light headed since but just get told it's the low BP, at least we know the signs to look out for now..

@FlippertyJibbit oh no! Poor you that sounds awful but exactly what I experienced. So scary!

I was tested for anaemia early and that was all fine. Bp was fine by the time I was tested too so similar, she said it just happens to some people.

Hoping it doesn't happen again but I've had two incidents where I've felt myself feeling like it would go that way again (once in the shower, the other going up and down the stairs quickly) and sitting down helped. Just hoping it doesn't happen outside the house again!

Hope it doesn't happen again for you! X

It happened to me whilst pregnant too, whilst getting a maternity dress taken in at the back of a dry cleaners. I still had the pins in my dress!

It was exactly how you describe, I find bright shop lights make me feel faint if I'm feeling even slightly under the weather (I wasn't before hand - just 20 weeks pregnant!). I think mine is blood pressure related.

For you OP I hope you are feeling better