Did Anyone Experience This During Pregnancy?

Updated on January 15, 2008
T.R. asks from Saint Cloud, FL
16 answers

I have been having a lot of trouble lately and am wondering if anyone else experienced this. I am 5 months pregnant and still have trouble with nausea and vomiting. I am working very hard to get in plenty of liquid and probably drink twice as much in a day than I did before I got pregnant. I have noticed that when I stand for a period of time (like cooking, in the shower, doing hair, etc...) I get very weak and shakey. My hands start shaking and I feel like no matter how much I try I can not get enough air in. I started checking my blood pressure and have noticed that after standing for a few minutes my blood pressure drops to around 80/50 and my pulse races to 140's or so. Then if I sit for just a minute or two it goes away. My BP returns to normal and my pulse slows to only 90 or so. Also, many times after an episode I get a horrible migraine. I know I am not dehydrated because I am taking in fluids like a mad woman! Anyone else experience anything like this? I am getting worried. I should be in my honeymoon trimester and I am so tired I can barely function. I passed out at the grocery store and can not walk at the mall or anything!

Thanks

T.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

I have been feeling much better. I have learned when to move around and when not to. I have good days and bad but dont we all! I am not trying to do as much, heck some days I do almost nothing but take care of our son. DH is being very understanding, eating fast food (YUCK) and making his few specialties when I can stand the smell. I do have anemia troubles, I see a specialist once a month for testing and have had to receive IV iron in the past. I am careful to drink fluids that also add vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium. I have malabsorption syndrome so I have been fighting things like this for years. Anyway these symptoms were new and I was worried, but have decided not to put myself in the situations that bring it on. I see the maternal fetal medicing specialist on the 25th so we will see what they say. Oh yeah, I also find out for sure what we are having!! Thank you all so much for your input and help. I am just one of those women who has every sympton during pregnancy and have to accept that.

Thanks again T.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.H.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

Hi T.,

YES, I absolutely DID experience it! I was not diabetic even thought my OB tested me. I agree that you aren't getting enough nutrition, which can be different from calories.

If you are throwing up you are probably not getting enough from your prenatal vitamins. You may want to switch to a different one. I have a superior one I can recommend or you could talk to your doctor about a liquid one. You need one that will not only absorb, but absorb quickly before you can throw it up. If the nutrition is not there for the baby, the baby will leach everything from your system!

The old wive's tale is the sicker you are, the healthier the baby is. Your little one may just be literally "sucking the life (nutrition) out of you"! It was true of my first pregnancy as I was nauseous from conception to birth and she was a strong one. Now that doesn't mean that it's that way every time but it was in my case. And I was fortunate that I learned from my first one so it didn't happen again...

Congratulations and God bless you. Let me know if I can help further.

M.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.B.

answers from Orlando on

Yes, I did experience something like that. I had extreme nausea my entire pregnancy. I would get weak and shaky due to nutritional issues because I was unable to eat anything. Also dehydration causes many of those symptoms, which I had because I couldn't keep down water. I know you said you are drinking plenty of fluids, but if you are "hoovering" maybe you're not retaining your liquids and could possibly be dehydrated. Also, there is a condition called Ketosis which basically means your body starts eating your fat, and not in a good way, because you are so hungry. It's like starvation and it causes many of the symptoms you described. You can get some ketone tester strips over the counter at the pharmacy to make sure you don't have ketosis. You just put the strip into your urine and it tests your ketone levels. I also had to go on Zofran for nausea, and had an IV for fluids at my house, but still was passing out and throwing up and the whole lot for my entire pregnancy. Another thing that causes your symptoms is simply a lack of nutrition and certain vitamins, such as iron. Your baby is taking all your nutrition so if you're not able to eat you really will be depleted. Do what you can to get nutrition into your body. I was not able to keep anything down and ended up needing 2 pints of blood after my delivery (vaginal) and an extra day in the hospital, and then it was very hard to recover. What I am describing is called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Most people will recover from it sooner than 9 months though, most don't have it their entire pregnancy. Check out the website www . helpher . org (no spaces), it describes the disorder and you can tell if it might be what you have. It's hard to get a doctor to help because they dismiss everything as normal pregnancy complaints. I hope that helps, and I understand that most people think you are just being a wimp because they don't get that it's not like most pregnancies. Just ignore them. :-)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.H.

answers from Jacksonville on

T.,
you may also want to make sure they test you. or retest you for gestational diabetes, I suffered the same symptoms you mentioned and it turned out that was the cause..also remember to take it easy quit pushing yourself so hard, Yes you have a 3 yr old, if it means hiring a sitter so you can have a nap time if he doesn't then do so, and if you need assistance with running errands, and you don't have a wide support network in the area, I'm in Blackshear, and I have a car , and I'd be willing to take ur grocery list and do your shopping for you, or push you around in a wheelchair and we can shop together.
Hope things get better for you. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

This is not uncommon. However, the usual culprit is anemia (low iron) or an electrolyte imbalance (from the vomiting/nausea). Are you anemic? Are your electrolytes in balance? How much water are you drinking? If you are drinking far more than 32ozs. per day (along with other fluids), you may be drinking too much! This can also cause some of the symptoms you described because it can flush salts (especially potassium), etc. from your body. You may even need to have your potassium and iron levels tested. It would also help to eat small meals more frequently and avoid those foods which trigger your symtoms. In addition,never let your stomach get completely empty: You may even need to eat a small starchy snack before you go to bed at night. You should also find relief with teas that soothe the stomach (ex., mint, ginger, chamomile) or carbonated sodas.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.V.

answers from Panama City on

How's your blood sugar? I had problems like this during my second two pregnancies, and it usually helped if I ate something. I would get real shaky and my head would feel fuzzy, and I knew I needed to sit down and get some food in my belly. I didn't have gestational diabetes, but I was borderline. I also had a nurse say she thought the "episodes" were brought on by low blood sugar, which made the most sense since eating helped. And sometimes your pregnant body is just telling you to take it easy. ALSO, I did go into A/Fib during my second two pregnancies as well. But, that occurred for me during the eighth month, and I think it was because of all the stress on my ever expanding frame. When it happened, I couldn't even walk from the living room to the kitchen, but I was fine when I was sitting down. It's something you may want to look into as it can be serious.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.

answers from Tampa on

Definitely talk to your Dr. ASAP, but try to eat more. I know it's hard with you still being nauseous but the shaky, dizzy, headache symptoms can be just a lack of necessary calories. I think you need at least 2500 a day right now. When you need to walk a lot always have snacks with you. I used to get an apple juice from the vending machine everytime I went grocery shopping, otherwise I'd get really weak half way through.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.K.

answers from Tampa on

Make sure ya tell your dr. and get a blood-sugar test...
he's gotta know about this...it could be that type of diabetes that sometimes just goes with being preg. like my daughter had...check it out, and good luck...
Granny

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.G.

answers from Tampa on

I got sick just about every day of my pregnancy with my first daughter and frequently felt weak and dizzy. I ended up with something called HHELP Syndrome and my daughter was born 8 weeks early, but because my doctor was aware of the symptoms, they were able to intervine a little and give me steriods to help my daughter grow durning the last week before she was delivered by c-section. She was 3#12oz and was only in the nicu 11 days, but all because my drs were on top of the situation.

Make sure your doctors is totally aware of the situation and symptoms, with my second pregnancy I was constantly going to the dr, they just wanted to keep a close eye on me because of the first time around. They took out my 2nd daughter 3 weeks early and she was 5#14oz and came home just like a full term baby would have.

Good Luck

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.H.

answers from Sarasota on

what has your doctor said? some of this can be normal during pregnancy, but it sounds to me like a low blood pressure thing. I say this because I just happen to be reading up on the subject because my blood pressure is always on the low side, 102/60. From what I read 80/50 is on that edge of too low. Most importantly, what I was reading said that the numbers really don't matter, what matters is if you are exhibiting symptoms. Basically, everything you just stated above. Because you are showing these symptons, it means you are getting way too low, so be sure to tell your doctor. Going through this too much can start to affect organ function. I don't mean to alarm you, but I just read about it and thought I would share.

Like I said, it is normal to go through a spell or two of this while pregnant. I remember one time during my last pregnancy I got light headed and thought I would pass out, but never did. Your seems more severe. Let me know what the Dr says in case i am going through this in 3 months! I hope all turns out well!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.C.

answers from Pensacola on

Hi T., I experienced this with all four of my pregnancies. I, actually, had to go to the ER with my 2nd and 3rd because it got so bad I became dehydrated. My fourth and final pregnancy I could not cook at all. I got weak and shakey too. I can't offer too much advice we ate out almost every night or my husband cooked. He is a tremendous blessing. With the nausau and vomiting I had to take phenegrin (I do not know the spelling), it helped alot but can make you sleepy. My last pregnancy I did not have to take it but my other 3 I did. It might help withe standing and cooking now that I think of it. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your pregnancy, Congrats, Heather

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.K.

answers from Orlando on

T.,
this is so familiar to me. I went through the same thing. This is what my doctor did with me...Instead of taking the prenatal vitamin in the morning, he would have me take it at night.

Instead of having 3 meals, you can have 6 to 8 smaller meals.

Also if you are still getting sick after that, I will suggest get some soda crackers. I believe you can get a can at the grocery store for like 3 bucks. My doctor suggested to eat 2 before a meal, it will settle your stomach before you actually eat.

If you know someone with a BP machine that you can borrow, check your BP twice a day. Or you can go to Walamrt has a machine.

Keep a list of everything that is making you sick, I know that helped me. I would avoid those foods and it really helped. They sell this shake thing, like Pediasure for pregnant women, my sister and I ended up drinking it because we both kept getting very sick and that kept me out of the hospital (most of the time).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.G.

answers from Orlando on

I'm not sure how bad your nausea and vomiting is but what used to help me is saltine crackers- without the salt. A few of those would get my stomach calmed down enough to eat something. Also chamomile tea is very soothing for the stomach and is safe during pregnancy.

Please do try to eat more- several small meals during the day- nutrition packed meals. Lots of fruits, vegetables and grains. Vegetable soups, if they are not too salty can be very soothing for the stomach as well as give you a nice boost in energy. I used to feel this way as well when I did not eat enough while pregnant with my twins. Stay intuned with your body so that it does not get to that point.

May you and your family be blessed!
A.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Melbourne on

I actually experienced similar symptoms when I was pregnant with my son. I never passed out, but if I stood for too long (which wasn't that long) I felt as if I was going to fall over. Not that I have diabetes, but I would imagine it's what you feel like when your sugar level is low. I also got severe headaches all the time. They were terrible. I would ask your doctor, but I would guess it's normal. When in June are you due? I'm due June 17th, with my fourth. I have a son who will be 4 in Feb., a daughter who just turned 2 on Halloween, and I also have a daughter watching over us in heaven. She was my first born, and she passed when she was 14 months old, 6 years ago. I can't believe she would be 7 this year. It's hard because I was pregnant with her at the same time as my two closest friends. One was born 3 weeks before her, and the other was born 1 1/2 months after her, so I really get to see were she would be. I hope you feel better soon.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Orlando on

i dont know if you have good insurance or not. but there is a good medicine for sickness called zofran. its very expensive. its something you take 30min befor you eat so you can hold your food down. ask your doctor. also, i passed out too. i did not have diabetes but i had hypoglycemia which is low blood sugar. hypoglycemia will not show up in a diabetes test. my doctor told me to eat more protien and less carbs. no cereal for breakfast anymore. eggs with cheese and some bacon. pure protien. i would also make tuna salad for breakfast. a can of tuna has almost 20grams of protien in it. most of the foods that help with nausea are full of starch and carbs. with a 3 yr old you might be over working yourself. take it easy. if you feel funny again try drinking a cup of milk or a 1/2 cup of OJ. or just eat something, if you start feeling better you might have low sugar. hope you start feeling better.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Fresno on

Hi! I experienced this same thing, although I was passing out every time and ending up in the emergency room. My blood pressure was 80/30 with pulse at 130's. We just found that because I am a small person, Only five foot, there was pressure on my vesa vegal nerve in the stomach. The doctor told me to not stand for a long period of time, for me, no more than 10 min at a time, and im drinking 2 gallons of water a day. They also told me to increase my salt intake. As soon as I started both of these, I havent had the problem since. Hope this helps! Hang in there!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.H.

answers from Orlando on

sounds like it might have something to do with your sugar levels. are you able to go the ob regularly to get your sugar checked?

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches