Severe light headed. Cause for concern?

[Pepper123123]

I'm 25 weeks pregnant with second child.
I've had regular dizzy spells which I haven't thought much of, but today was severe. I had this in my last pregnant, but I was 18 and was too shy to question anything persistently.

I get very breathless after eating. I was sitting on the sofa trying to regulate my breathing when my vision became very narrow blurred tunnel vision-like, I couldn't hear anything except a high pitched ringing and I began to sweat profusely.

As it wore off I felt like I couldn't stay awake and slept for an hour.

I've felt awful since then.

I've mentioned the milder versions of this to my midwife and it was waved off.

Has anyone had similar and been given an explanation?

Have you been tested for anaemia? Sounds like you might be low on iron. Either that or a blood pressure issue. Worth speaking to midwife again.

@KateTTC123 I mentioned it again at my 24 week midwife appointment. She took my blood pressure and said it was fine. She said to come back at 28 weeks and they'll do bloods.

I was very anaemic on my last pregnancy, so could be likely.

I just get frustrated with no explanations I suppose.

Could it be gestational diabetes? I felt awful and dizzy etc until it was diagnosed and I got my blood sugar levels under control. I didn’t have it in my first pregnancy but was diagnosed in my 2nd pregnancy after getting a GTT (glucose tolerance test) at 28 wks.

I had this in my last pregnancy and was told that although my iron was on the lower side of normal, it wasn’t a cause for concern. However, the dizzy spells kept happening so after several tests looking for different things, eventually they worked out that I had low folates which was causing my iron to be low. The doctor I saw said although it wasn’t dangerously low, it was obviously low for me and I was recommended to take iron supplements. I was 34 weeks before they got to the bottom of it though so when I started having symptoms of low iron in this pregnancy and kept getting the same “but your iron levels aren’t dangerously low” line when I raised concerns, I decided to sort it myself and looked for a pregnancy vitamin supplement which had extra iron in it. My thoughts were if it’s available to buy off the shelf in the supermarket, it’s not going to be harmful and since taking it, my heart palpitations have massively reduced and I haven’t felt spaced out or dizzy at all (I still get them on occasion but they can be a normal pregnancy symptom anyway). I obviously did mention it at my last antenatal appointment and they were fine with it. Maybe next time you go, ask them if it would be harmful for you to take extra iron supplements and if not, have a look in the supermarket. It has definitely helped me loads.

Dont wait for MW - make an appt with GP and get your bloods tested.

Drs to check bloods, could also be position of baby vs your diaphragm/stomach. I had major breathlessness, dizziness stuff from 25-33 weeks until (big) baby dropped. Was definitely worse after food, or (TMI) if I needed the toilet.

Dr only happy with this after bloods and a good listen to my chest, and I was put on iron tablets on suspicion awaiting bloods. Was borderline anaemic but not bad enough for symptoms.

@SuperstarDJ I have a GD test later this month, so if it's not that at least it'll be ruled out. I am at risk of it though because my BMI is 37.

@IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls my GP is absolutely useless when it comes to pregnancy.

I'm consultant led care, so I'm thinking of trying to leave a message for my consultant and ask if I can see her earlier.

@randomsabreuse I didn't think of diaphragm position etc. I have quite severe scoliosis and use a wheelchair full time, so there is less space in there compared to someone who stands regularly.