Pregnancy comes with a lot of complications and symptoms. You may experience morning sickness, dizziness, sudden change in your appetite and mood, but not all symptoms are normal and should be shrugged off. Doctors say that fainting during pregnancy is a huge red flag and it could mean danger in your health and your baby's well-being.
Fainting during pregnancy can indicate that there is something wrong with your blood flow and your heart rate. Since your body changes a lot while you are pregnant, you may feel nausea like never before. However, if you faint while you are heavily pregnant, it may be time to get your blood pressure checked.
Fainting while pregnant
A study was conducted by a team of cardiology researchers and it was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. They reviewed the birth records of around 481,930 babies who were born in Alberta between 2005 and 2014. They also reviewed the medical records of the mothers a year after they gave birth as the looked for timing, frequency, and outcomes of their fainting episodes while they were pregnant.
The researchers found that around 1% of the mothers, who were pregnant at that time, fainted, and around 1/3 of them fainted during the first three months of their pregnancy.
Aside from the fainting episodes that they experienced during the first three months of their pregnancy, the researchers also observed that there was a high rate of preterm births and also an increased number of heart problems. Congenital anomalies like low birth weight among the babies also increased for mothers who fainted during pregnancy.
The mother's heart condition
The researchers also observed that mothers who fainted while they were pregnant seek medical assistance for heart conditions like irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrhythmias, approximately a year after they gave birth. The researchers suggest that if you fainted while you were pregnant, and if you fainted more than once, you should call your doctor right away and have yourself and your baby checked.
Women undergo a lot of stress while they are pregnant. Numerous studies showed that complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia can happen during pregnancy, and this can also indicate that there may be a higher risk of heart problems in the future.
The study also stated that the heart health of pregnant women should be monitored, and it should still be monitored closely even during the post-partum period.
How to have a healthy pregnancy
Even though being pregnant can cause a lot of complications, it is important that you stay healthy for the sake of you and your child. It goes without saying that you should always have yourself and your baby checked by your doctor, especially during the first trimester, a time when your child is slowly developing and you are experiencing all of the symptoms that come with pregnancy.
Do not forget to eat right, you can talk to a nutritionist so that you can eat a well-balanced diet. It is also important to stay hydrated, one of the reasons for dizziness is the heat, drinking lots of water can help your body cool down. And of course, it is important that you exercise. Not only will this strengthen your heart and body but it can also help stabilize and strengthen your vital signs.
