What could this be?!?!

[Catastrophic]

I'm almost 17weeks pregnant...
When i'm walking around the shops or work or walking to take kids into school (after driving there first) after a while i start to feel really light headed and nauseated and sometimes also have a huge headache withit as well...

It's getting to the point that i am dreading walking around the shops because i know how bad i'll feel afterwards.

Has anyone else experianced this and know what it is?

[Serenitylee]

Could just be your blood sugar level? You can always ring your doctor and talk to them about it?

[angelaartsstudent]

There is one particular shop we sometimes go to and I felt the same. I put it down to the smell of the meat counter :-) Only in that one shop!

Could it be something unconcious like that? Maybe your body just doesn't like some foods at the moment and the smell is getting to you?

[[M]umma[M]ia]

this happened to me when my blood pressure was low. Make sure u are getting enough sleep and enough to eat. If it continues, go see your doc coz u dont want to faint as it can be dangerous for you and your baby.

[Mumma2three]

At around 18/19 weeks I had lots of headaches (migraines too) faintness etc. It can be associated with low blood pressure, also softening of ligaments. Drink lots of water. And if I didn't eat I would faint at the shops. Had many emergency trips to Donut King! Also flourescent lights can cause dizziness and migraine/headaches. x

[Catastrophic]

Thanks girls... I will go check it out with my doctor soon...

[Inertia]

I suffer this very very often, but I have hypoglycemia (exact opposite to Diabetes) which is exhacerbated by pregnancy, and am Iron deficient anemic. Both can contribute to this feeling.

I recommend bringing it up with your main health care provider. They can do a GTT, a HGB count and check your BP to see if they can pinpoint what the cause is.

In the interim, never skip meals and snack on fruit (for the natural sugars). Should help keep the wobbles at bay.

I will warn you though that if it is from low blood sugar, the GTT can be even more taxing than just what you are experiencing. I had a hypo in the hospital hallway. So don't wander too far from assistance.

[Glamoreyez]

I've been getting that too, Cass!

[Santosha]

Yup, me too, at about the same time. (Only VERY occasionally happens now). Always worth getting checked out but in my case my midwife said it just sounded like low blood pressure. She said that pre-pregnancy tests, fainting was one symptom that was used to 'diagnose' pregnancy as it is so common.

[Catastrophic]

Going to the doctors tomorrow at 945 will let you know how i go...

I've always had low blood pressure so hoping that is just it...

Dont want anything serious

[Alan]

Hi Cas Blob
At this stage in your pregnancy your body is making more blood vessels and more blood. In most cases they keep up with each other but quite often your body makes blood vessels quicker than it makes blood. The down side to this is that your blood has to spread further to fill these extra blood vessels. This can and often does lower your blood pressure. It would be worth getting it checked.

Oh this can also work in reverse. Not making blood vessels quick enough can increase your blood pressure.

[Catastrophic]

thanks alan!!! YOur very helpful!

Ok went to the doctors and told him about the dizziness, nausea, headaches etc...
This is his responce "oh nothing could be causing that, i dont know what it could be your just going to have to take it easy and drink fluids!"
he then decided to dp the normal antenatal check while i was there... my bP (110/65) then checked it while i was standing up (fell a little bitby 5-10), checked the fundal heigh and heard beanys heartbeat...
Then he states that oh low iron levels can cause dizziness ill send you for a blood test to see!

OMG i think he got his licence out of a fruitloops ceral box!!! I just left too shocked to say anything else, (i waited 45mins to see him)...

I went for the blood test and am going back to see my REAL doctor next week (he's on holidays)

[Inertia]

thanks alan!!! YOur very helpful!

Ok went to the doctors and told him about the dizziness, nausea, headaches etc...
This is his responce "oh nothing could be causing that, i dont know what it could be your just going to have to take it easy and drink fluids!"

Then he states that oh low iron levels can cause dizziness ill send you for a blood test to see!

What the?? I swear, there is one at every centre. But they do say that every village needs its idiot.

he then decided to dp the normal antenatal check while i was there... my bP (110/65) then checked it while i was standing up (fell a little bitby 5-10), checked the fundal heigh and heard beanys heartbeat...

that is "Low Normal", so it could well be whats causing it. I would be surprised that he didnt work that out by himself if you hadn't already enlighted us on how hopeless he was. 120/80 is Optimal.

But do wait to hear the HGB result. If thats low I would suggest getting "FGF", Which is Iron and Folic Acid, and a pack of chewable vit c as C helps yout blood bond to the iron.

[Visitor8]

I had the same thing and it was my blood pressure. Next time pop into the chemist and they can do a quick BP check for you. It might be nothing but it can be serious.

[ladybird11]

I'm glad you're going to a 'real' Dr asap Cass. Good decision!

With DD1 (I was 31 wks at the time) I had the same feelings and she kept telling me to just take Paracetamol, one day I was sick of the feelings and went to the hospital to find out I had severe PE - and DD1 was born the next day.

[Catastrophic]

Ok, I went to my real doctor... he checked the results..

I'm not anemic which is great...
My blood count is low, but he said that is normal during pregnancy and i should be concerned... Is he right? lol, don't mean to second guess the doctor but i like hearing from you ladies that its okay too, hehe!

And the reason for feeling like crap most days, would be my low blood pressure 90/40 today, he said i should just rest and take it easy, if it gets to much at work i have to leave...

We listen to beanys heartbeat he/she is 156bpm, and sounds awesome...

Thanks for all your replies girls!

[Inertia]

Yikes Cass, that is low. Keep your feet up and take it easy. It will even itself out again.

Glad its just BP.

[Alan]

Hi Cass Blob
By blood count I presume that your Dr means your HB. It is quite common to have a low HB during pregnancy, but I would not class it as normal. It would be a good idea to start taking an iron supplement This would help to increase your HB
For your low BP try taking things easy for a few days. When standing up do it slowly. Make sure that you are drinking at least 2 litres of fluid a day