Dizziness during pregnancy in the third trimester. Dizziness during early pregnancy

Ivan Drozdov 08/11/2017

Dizziness is one of the most common symptoms that occurs during pregnancy. It manifests itself in different forms: it worries only in the first months or throughout pregnancy, it can be expressed in a mild form or aggravated by a semi-fainting state. In most cases, dizziness during pregnancy is due to changes in the body and changes in the woman’s hormonal levels, but sometimes the cause may conceal a hidden pathological process and pose a threat to the development of the fetus.

Feeling dizzy during pregnancy

Mild dizziness should not cause special concern to a pregnant woman, because this is the way the body experiences all physiological changes, especially those related to blood circulation. If your head is spinning so much that it seems that you are about to lose consciousness, then you should call an ambulance.

At different stages of pregnancy, the causes of dizziness differ. This can be simple overheating or poor nutrition, and even more serious reasons that can threaten the health of not only the expectant mother, but also the fetus.

First trimester

Dizziness at this stage is quite normal. The expectant mother becomes ill in transport or in a poorly ventilated room. A weakened body simply does not receive enough oxygen.

During the hot season, this condition occurs almost every day. At high air temperatures, blood vessels dilate, reducing blood pressure (blood pressure), and this also leads to a lack of oxygen in the brain. Also, at the beginning of pregnancy, a hormone is released that helps lower blood pressure.

Second trimester

During this period, the body has already adapted to the new state, so the reasons may be more serious.

Let's look at them:

• decreased activity - impairs blood flow, and this leads to dizziness and darkening before the eyes;
• diabetes in pregnant women - occurs due to the fact that the pancreas cannot withstand the additional load of producing insulin;
• oxygen starvation - as the child develops, the uterus enlarges and requires more oxygen to the detriment of the woman’s brain and other internal organs;
• a decrease in hemoglobin (red blood cells) in the blood - develops against the background of certain factors, which interferes with the normal absorption of iron by the body from food.

With the birth of a child, possible causes go away on their own.

Third trimester

In the last stages, dizziness also occurs, and this should not be confused with darkening of the eyes. Sometimes a woman may suddenly turn from side to side, which can lead to incomplete blood flow to the brain.

1. Long stay of the expectant mother in a supine position. The head will begin to feel dizzy due to the fact that the enlarged uterus will put pressure and squeeze large vessels. When the vena cava is compressed, not only the blood flow is disrupted, but also the head begins to spin.
2. Walking for a long time or staying in an upright position. The blood then intensively flows to the lower part of the body, which leads to a deterioration in brain nutrition.
3. A sharp decrease in blood glucose. Occur against the background of severe vomiting or poor nutrition (frequent consumption of sweets and rare intake of normal healthy food).

If you have pain and dizziness before childbirth

When the head begins to hurt and feel dizzy from 38 to 40 weeks, this can be explained by the fact that the female body begins to gradually prepare for labor. More blood flows to the pelvic organs, and the consequence of this is oxygen starvation of the cerebral cortex. There may be a strong drop in blood pressure and a feeling of impending fainting. There is no need to worry about this, because this is a temporary ailment.

The main negative causes of toxicosis in the later stages

Late-term nausea always makes the doctor wary and anxious, even if it is not accompanied by other negative manifestations.

Vomiting, which usually occurs much less frequently than nausea, never reaching the point where the gag reflex appears, is even more serious.

Temperature and pain in the third trimester, just like an inactive child, may have pathological causes such as:

• impaired liver function, which was unable to cope with the increased volume of toxins;
• the appearance of parasitic infestation;
• the presence of a constant pathological process in the digestive organs;
• deficiency of calcium or other vitamins;
• an infectious or cold disease that occurs in a latent form;
• gestosis is a condition characteristic of late pregnancy that poses an immediate threat to the well-being of the child.

To determine the true cause of a negative condition, nausea alone is a symptom of little character, because it can also manifest itself from the elementary pressure of the uterus on the stomach and internal organs.

But if nausea appears from a pathological condition of the gallbladder and liver, which cannot cope with incoming toxins, this is very serious and in the third trimester can pose a direct threat to both the mother’s body and her unborn child.

Associated symptoms play an important role in determining the true cause and can be varied in the form of dizziness, drop in blood pressure, swelling and pain.

In the third trimester, such symptoms may indicate gestosis, and they begin to think about it first.

What to do in the early stages

Dizziness in the first weeks of pregnancy does not require treatment.

At home, weak tea from mint or lemon balm is brewed, however, you should not overdo it with such drinks. You are allowed to drink 300-400 ml per day (no more). Doctors recommend inhaling the aroma of dried mint, which also gives a good effect.

A woman is advised to lie down in a well-ventilated room, close her eyes and completely relax. You can lightly massage your temples, and during the hot season, apply a cold compress to your forehead.

Possible pathological causes

There are a number of reasons that in some cases are much less common, but carry dangerous consequences.

• anemia;
• heart disease;
• diabetes;
• compression of large vessels by the uterus;
• arterial hypotension;
• migraine headaches;
• pathologies in the functioning of the nervous system;
• severe and constant vomiting.

Such reasons directly depend on the health of the expectant mother and the environment.

Dizziness is one of the symptoms during pregnancy. This condition usually goes away quickly and without treatment. To avoid particularly severe cases, follow the recommendations of your gynecologist.

Possible complications

If dizziness is not given importance and the cause is not identified in time, then concomitant diseases may develop:

1. Gestational diabetes mellitus.
2. Anemia.
3. Preeclampsia.
4. Hypertension.
5. Gestosis (late toxicosis, accompanied by edema).

The presence of any of the diseases can disrupt the formation and growth of the fetus, as well as lead to mental disabilities in the child in the future.

Physiological changes and hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause dizziness. If vertigo is not accompanied by additional symptoms, then it does not pose a great danger to the health of the child and the expectant mother.

Article design: Oleg Lozinsky

Causes of dizziness in the 3rd trimester and ways to cope with it

The last weeks of bearing a child are the most exciting and troublesome for women. But in addition to everyday issues, expectant mothers often have to worry about their well-being and health. Dizziness often occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy, which brings significant discomfort and makes you feel extra nervous.

This condition does not necessarily refer to pathology. It may have physiological causes. But it still requires specialist supervision and correction of the pregnant woman’s condition.

Signs of approaching labor

In the third trimester, when the process of resolution and the birth of the baby approaches every week, the urge and discomfort experienced may be symptoms of impending labor.

In late pregnancy, these may include false contractions, abdominal prolapse and mucus discharge, which in the last weeks of the final trimester are sometimes accompanied by specific nausea.

Often the cause of unpleasant sensations is the baby’s activity, which disrupts the mother’s usual sensations and can move his arms and legs, affecting the digestive organs.

In the last weeks of carrying a baby, a pregnant woman should be especially attentive to her condition and treat her body with extreme care.

A healthy diet, proper diet and some means of relieving the body’s nausea reaction will help her more easily overcome the negative state and wait for a successful resolution of the burden.

The main thing during this period is to constantly visit the doctor to monitor the possibility of complications.

Why do you feel dizzy?

Dizziness in the last stages of pregnancy can worry even experienced mothers. This condition occurs suddenly and is quite difficult to tolerate due to the large weight of the fetus and the increased anxiety of women during this period. It appears for several reasons:

• due to a strong feeling of hunger;
• when blood pressure drops;
• from a sharp transition of the body from a sitting position to a lying position and vice versa;
• due to inhaling too deeply;
• with changes in blood sugar levels;
• due to anemia;
• with heat stroke;
• due to an increase in the amount of circulating blood due to the increase in body weight of the pregnant woman;
• from mental or physical fatigue;
• due to lack of oxygen in a stuffy room;
• when changing atmospheric pressure;
• due to late gestosis;
• against the background of vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• due to fetal pressure on large vessels;
• with gestational diabetes mellitus;
• due to bad weather or its sudden change.

These situations are explained by pregnancy and disappear after childbirth. Such reasons can be classified as physiological; they require adjustment of the regimen and compliance by the mother with precautions. But such conditions do not pose a serious danger.

Dizziness during pregnancy in the third trimester can be caused by somatic diseases of the woman. These conditions include:

• osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
• pathologies of the vestibular apparatus;
• diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• injuries;
• otitis;
• brain diseases;
• allergic reactions;
• Meniere's disease;
• ARVI;
• side effects of medications;
• epileptic brain activity.

It is not difficult to distinguish physiological dizziness from pathological one: in a normal state of the body, weakness lasts no more than 30 minutes.

It goes away after rest and does not bother you every day for a long time. If the nature of the violations does not correspond to these standards, it is worth undergoing an examination by specialists.

Dizziness at 37 weeks of pregnancy and beyond may indicate the onset of labor. Therefore, when its signs appear, you should listen to your body. If after some time rhythmic nagging pain occurs in the lower abdomen, you need to go to the maternity hospital. Doctors at the emergency department will assess your condition and determine further tactics.

Treatment and precautions for dizziness

During normal pregnancy, dizziness is not a dangerous symptom and treatment is not required. Measures are used in only three cases: anemia, low blood pressure and gestational diabetes.

Only the manifestation of diabetes and a severe form of “pregnant anemia” may require the use of medications, but mild signs of anemia can be corrected with an iron-containing diet.

Low blood pressure can be increased by regular but moderate consumption of black tea or coffee.

And in case of dizziness caused by vegetative-vascular dystonia, to normalize the condition, it is recommended to take sedatives approved for use by pregnant women (valerian or motherwort tablets).

To normalize blood glucose levels, you should eat regularly, not skipping breakfast and afternoon snack. Portions should be small but filling. This will help avoid spikes in blood sugar. Fasting is contraindicated!

Also, reduce your consumption of sweets to a minimum or completely avoid sugar-containing products.

All other types of dizziness require preventive measures and cannot be treated. But the occurrence of dizziness of any kind indicates the need to take precautions.

Diagnostics

In the last trimester of pregnancy, it is especially important to be attentive to your health. The fruit is quite large in size and is susceptible to the influence of negative factors. Injuries and falls during this period are dangerous and can provoke premature birth. Therefore, it is important to correctly recognize the symptoms of an upcoming dizziness attack. These signs include:

• loss of coordination;
• tinnitus;
• blurred vision and dark spots (“spots”);
• pulsation in the temples or ears;
• numbness in fingers or toes;
• weakness, especially in the legs;
• cold clammy sweat;
• movement of objects in the eyes;
• nausea and vomiting.

With such symptoms, you need to consult a neurologist. In order to determine whether physiological or pathological causes caused dizziness, additional diagnostics are carried out. To do this, they take blood for a general analysis and carry out a biochemical study of it, and, if necessary, do a general urine test.

With the permission of the gynecologist monitoring the pregnancy, an MRI of the brain can be performed in the third trimester. An ECG and ultrasound of the vessels of the head are also prescribed.

The choice of therapy depends on the exact stage of pregnancy. If your head is dizzy, causing nausea, this may indicate late gestosis. This condition is dangerous for the fetus and the mother in labor, and therefore requires the intervention of specialists. From 31 to 37 weeks, women are admitted to the pathology department in the maternity hospital. They are under medical supervision until the end of pregnancy.

Vomiting increases contraction of the uterus, which can trigger premature delivery. Its consequences can cause significant harm to the child’s health, so antiemetic drugs may be prescribed. Their use is carried out under the supervision of a gynecologist and is stopped when the condition improves.

If your head is dizzy due to physiological characteristics in the body of a pregnant woman, you can alleviate the condition with folk remedies.

The most popular and pleasant of them is tea with lemon balm or mint. It should be weak so that unpleasant bitterness does not appear. The drink should be consumed when your health is just beginning to deteriorate. It will help relieve tension, calm down and alleviate the condition.

If you can’t make tea, you can simply sniff the crushed mint leaves. This smell helps not only with dizziness, but also with nausea. If the cause of poor health is a lack of oxygen in a stuffy room, you need to not only open the window, but also apply a cold compress to your forehead. You can also alleviate the condition with a glass of cool water with the addition of a spoon of honey.

Symptoms preceding dizziness

3–5 weeks before the birth of a baby, women’s blood circulation is reconstructed, up to 30% of the blood volume is concentrated in the pelvic area, and the brain reacts in a unique way to the lack of oxygen. When dizziness occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy, it is important for a woman to learn to anticipate lack of coordination. Dizziness is preceded by:

• noise in ears;
• partial hearing loss or weakening;
• numbness of fingers;
• pulsation in temples;
• Perspiration appears on the forehead.

These symptoms should not be confused with a pre-fainting state when the vision becomes dark.

Prevention

To prevent dizziness from bothering a pregnant woman, it is necessary to create favorable conditions. This can be achieved by following several rules:

• Avoid stress and don’t get nervous over trifles.
• Try not to visit places with large crowds of people in enclosed spaces.
• Do not stay in the sun without a hat for too long.
• Avoid sudden movements in space (you need to get up, sit down and lie down without haste).
• Monitor the condition of the spine.
• Have adequate physical activity (not too strenuous, but also not avoid movement completely).
• Try to sit and sleep in a comfortable and comfortable position.
• Ventilate work and living areas regularly, regardless of the time of year.
• Don't skip meals.
• Eat the “right” food (vegetables, fruits, cereals).

Walking outdoors is great for preventing dizziness. Half an hour a day is enough for the blood to be saturated with oxygen. At 39-40 weeks, physical activity can be increased. This will help the body prepare for childbirth and avoid post-term pregnancy and stimulation.

To prevent blood from stagnating in the lower part of the body, creating an oxygen deficiency for the brain, it is useful to take a break with physical exercise every 45 minutes. And for training blood vessels before bed, a contrast shower is good. It will help relieve the fatigue accumulated during the day and ensure healthy and sound sleep. But it should be done carefully - temperature changes below 23°C and above 37°C can have a stressful effect on a woman’s body.

The body position during sleep should be comfortable. It is better to sleep on your side - this way the grown fetus does not compress the blood vessels. After a night spent on her back, a woman may experience dizziness due to a lack of blood supply while lying down and a sharp redistribution of blood when getting up.

Dizziness during pregnancy can in most cases be avoided by following preventative measures. If an unpleasant condition still occurs, you should take emergency measures to improve your well-being and consult a doctor for examination. If experts consider it necessary to take medications to get rid of an unpleasant symptom, you should not refuse the prescription. Lack of treatment can cause unpleasant consequences for both mother and child.

Causes of dizziness during pregnancy

When dizziness begins during pregnancy is a rather controversial issue, since it all depends only on the characteristics of the expectant mother’s body.

The reason for such phenomena is in neurology: vestibulation disorders, problems with the optic nerves. What is important here is the intensity of such attacks and the degree of development. If you experience severe and painful dizziness during pregnancy, you should immediately consult a doctor.

You can display a specific list of reasons that can cause dizziness:

• osteochondrosis. The cervical region is capable of giving persistent signs of dizziness up to the formation of fainting;
• cardiovascular failure, chronic headaches of various origins;
• disturbances in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus;
• lack of a substance such as serotonin in the cerebral cortex;
• psychosomatic diseases associated with coordination of movements;
• changes in hemoglobin levels in the blood;
• change, often a drop, in glucose levels.

Causes of dizziness in a pregnant woman

In addition to physiological causes, dizziness at 31 weeks of pregnancy occurs with:

• osteochondrosis, due to excessive load on the lumbar spine, tension occurs in the cervical spine;
• hypotension, a decrease in pressure, the body responds to changes in blood distribution;
• pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
• vascular disorders;
• diseases of the middle ear;
• cerebrovascular accident.

The attacks are caused by stuffiness and heat, as oxygen starvation of the brain increases. Loss of coordination syndrome during pregnancy is provoked by:

• sharp noises;
• bright light;
• overeating;
• unpleasant odors.

Dizziness is not typical for all women during pregnancy. In recent weeks, mothers may feel well if they have no problems with cerebral circulation and a high level of hemoglobin in the blood.

Treatment methods

Medication

Typically, dizziness during pregnancy does not require drug intervention. If dizziness is caused by toxicosis and occurs along with nausea or nausea precedes fainting, then it is advisable to prescribe antiemetic drugs, for example, Cerucal.

If this condition is caused by low hemoglobin levels or changes in the functioning of the pancreas, then an individual consultation with a gastroenterologist is necessary.

Folk remedies

Tea made from mint and lemon balm is useful for dizziness. Brew lightly and drink several times a day. Melissa acts as a powerful sedative and helps improve general condition.

You can also simply use mint as a snuff powder. At the first symptoms of dizziness, there are no restrictions. If dizziness is caused by stuffiness, then be sure to put a cold compress on your head and drink cool water with honey.

However, in any case, the use of such drugs must be agreed with the leading doctor!

First aid

If you are experiencing signs of dizziness, you should lie down so that your head and shoulders are slightly elevated. If possible, close your eyes and try to calm your inner fear.

Put something cold on your head: a bottle, ice. You can wipe your temples and forehead with vinegar. A pregnant woman can make a mint compress; if this does not help, use Zvezdochka balm. Rub a little whiskey with the balm.

We measure blood pressure and heart rate, if necessary and with the permission of the attending physician, and stabilize the condition to normal. Heart rate should not exceed more than 100 beats per minute, but the pressure rate is individual and depends on the general state of health.

If you experience persistent vomiting or suffer from attacks, you must call an ambulance. We must try to keep the woman conscious and prevent fainting.

Windows should be open if it is not hot. Otherwise, turn on the fan so that it blows on the pregnant woman, but is not directed at her.

A throbbing headache in the temples can be an isolated disease, or it can be a symptom of some serious and dangerous illness, so it is very important to consult a doctor in time.

Headache can also be a sign of occipital neuralgia. You can find out what it is here.

And dizziness can be a symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and accompanying VSD. More details https://gidmed.com/bolezni-nevrologii/golovokruzhenie/golovokruzhenie-pri-osteohondroze.html.