Fainting when pregnant

[Daffodil2018]

I have been having flare-ups of what feels like my IBS coming back while I've been pregnant. Constipation for 4-5 days then violent stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

Uncomfortable, but not a problem, until last week when I fainted while having bad cramps on the loo. I woke up on the bathroom floor in quite a mess. I'd bitten through my lip and there was blood all over the place.

This morning it nearly happened again - I had to get in the bath and put my head between my legs, all while cramping (and the rest). It was pretty disgusting but manageable, but I am worried that it is going to keep happening throughout my pregnancy.

I went to A&E last week and had an early scan so I know the baby is ok, but I worry it will happen again when I am further along and I will fall on the baby and hurt it.

Does anyone have any advice on dealing with either the digestive problems or the faintness? I have low blood pressure and a "heightened vasovagel response" according to the doctor, so I have fainted a few times in the past, but it is obviously more scary when you are pregnant.

Should add, I am 12+6 pregnant at the moment and have my official 12-week scan this afternoon.

Babies are pretty resilient in utero - I'd worry more about your own wellbeing in this case. I have IBS myself, but it never flared up to that extent in this pregnancy. I did up my water consumption by about 50% though to avoid that cycle of not going for a while, getting stomach pains and then the runs.

What has the doctor advised? I think it's worth bringing it up with the midwives at your scan today and asking for advice, because what you're experiencing sounds pretty awful and they should be looking at how to prevent it happening again.

Thanks for replying to this SiolGhoraidh. I couldn't get a GP appointment until tomorrow (!) so I will be bringing it up then. The doctors at the scan were not much help - they said I should talk to the GP about it.

It's since happened only one other time, on the tube when it was about 40 degrees, and luckily a man saw me going and let me have his seat. I have started taking the overground instead - takes twice as long but at least there is air conditioning!

I stopped taking Pregnacare and went back to Berocca and that seems to have sorted out my stomach symptoms. Weird.

Hope the GP can get you sorted. This weather is miserable enough without adding faints to the mix.

I can only offer advice on fainting I have low blood pressure which dropped even further with pregnancy.
Had a few fainting episodes there are a few things that you can do.
First is lots and lots of fluids it reduces the risk of fainting as will help keep your BP fairly constant. I have also been having more salt than usual to try to raise my BP.

Other tips stand up slowly and focus dead ahead. If you start to feel faint sit down. I've found if I walk too quickly or try to go up stairs too quickly I'll feel faint so have slowed down my walking.

Thanks both. Twiglet yes, I have been practising getting up in stages! Lie down - sit up slowly - feet on floor - sit for a sec - slowly stand - stand for a sec. Otherwise I get the mother of all head rushes!

Good tips on the fluid and salt. I will try and up my intake.

My consultant said it's normal for blood pressure to go down when you're pregnant. I imagine this, combined with the pain/ strain related to IBS triggered it? I felt very faint twice in the first trimester, both times it was in the morning when I hadn't slept enough and just drank a smoothie. GP seemed rather uninterested in it...

The GP was sympathetic but fairly unbothered. She took a blood test to check for thyroid function etc but not really sure what the next steps are if those come back normal (which I think they will). My blood pressure is normal apparently.

She did say to eat more salt.