Re: Fainting?

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Fainting and/or feeling faint are part of pregnancy, and are not an indication of a problem, though you can hurt yourself if you fall. This is not really a problem with low blood pressure, and any advice whose goal is to raise blood pressure is misguided (and probably futile anyway). The underlying cause is one of the adaptations of blood flow in pregnancy.

The primary method of blood pressure regulation are small muscular arteries called arterioles. When you need blood shunted toward some area of your body, like your head when you stand up suddenly, the arterioles leading to that area relax, and the arterioles leading to other areas, like the muscles in your legs, contract. This forces blood flow your head.

When you are pregnant, your body's priorities for blood flow change a bit, and hormonal changes degrade the ability of the arterioles to contract. This combination makes fainting much more likely, especially when you suddenly change position, or when you get too hot (like in the shower).

--
William D. McIntosh, MD
Clarksville, TN

This is for educational purposes only.  It is not intended
 to replace consultation and examination by your physician
 or other health care provider.

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