Dizziness at 20 weeks

[DLZ321]

Hi all!

Just wondering what people’s experiences have been with dizziness during pregnancy?

I haven’t had any until today (20 weeks on Wednesday). I sat up to take medication this morning (arguably way too fast) and thought my head was going to spin right off my head 😄 it wasn’t a quick flash of it either it sort of lasted until I lay back down again. When I got up two hours later, super slow this time, I felt the same. In fact, I felt dizzy even lying at a 45 degree angle on my way to sitting up straight.

I thought it may be blood sugar so I’ve eaten toast but still feel a bit off. Now I’m sort of okay sitting up but as soon as I try to lay down my head starts spinning.

Has anyone had any experiences like this? Xx

[DianeArnold Partner]

Hi. Best to get doctor or midwife to heck you now. Good luck. Diane

[Twiglet2]

this is about when my dizziness started I needed much more iron so defo get your midwife to check your bloods. The dizziness hasn’t went away completely (I’m dizzy while I write this still at 35 weeks lol) but it does help. Also don’t lie on your back or sit slumped only lie or side or sit upright (there’s apparently a blood vessel to the brain that’s located near the pelvis that can get pressure on it as your uterus expands and make you dizzy if you lie on your back) if you feel dizzy lie back down but on your side xx

[DLZ321 in reply to Twiglet2]

Hey thanks for your reply, always comforting to know when others have had similar symptoms! I had thought it may be blood pressure related because of what google was saying, but when I called triage they mentioned potentially iron too. I’ve got my 20 week scan tomorrow so they will check that again then.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how dizzy did you start off? 😄 because even this morning I sat up in bed and immediately had to lie back down because of the intense room spinning feeling. To the point where I’m not 100% sure it would even be safe to drive 👀

I’ve also noticed if I lower myself supper slowly on my side I can just about get past it but as soon as I start rolling onto my back (but haven’t actually reached my back) my head will start going again. Basically tipping my head at certain angles seems to trigger it too. Yesterday it did clear up in the day and came back again in the evening but mornings seem to be the worst so far!

Also how are you feeling at 35 weeks!? You’re so close!! Xx

[Twiglet2 in reply to DLZ321]

Yeah proper dizzy like I was going to pass out, room going black and spots in front of my eyes. My blood pressure keeps coming back normal though (they’ve tested it so many times as it is usually a reason for dizziness too) but only thing coming back on looks and urine is iron low (I had the same with my last pregnancy but wasn’t as dizzy) they also think it could be this blood vessel thing as well as it happened when I was being monitored a few weeks ago in hospital for reduced movement so was lying on my back for an hour (doing nothing at all!) and it started happening so they could tell I wasn’t doing anything movement wise and baby heartbeat was actually being monitored at the time and was fine it was just me that was stressing! I had to roll on to my side to stop from passing out (which knocked of the baby heartbeat monitor) but they said there’s not much they can do for that and some people actually faint 🤷🏻‍♀️ if I feel faint I don’t drive but some days it’s totally fine and do xx

[DLZ321]

oh my gosh so update 😂 had my 20 week scan yesterday which went well (apart from not being able to see the skull, so need to go back in two weeks). After the scan they wanted me to go to a&e because of my dizziness saying it seemed more than usual etc. Sat there all day long to find out that it is …… *drumroll*….. bppv (vertigo)!! 😆 x