Dizziness in pregnancy

Conception and birth of a new person is a joyful and responsible period in the life of every woman, and any deviation in her well-being leads to panic. Therefore, even slight dizziness during pregnancy is alarming and frightening. Therefore, in this article we will try to figure out whether it is worth raising the alarm about this, and whether such symptoms are dangerous.

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Causes of dizziness during pregnancy

The period of bearing a child is not a disease, but nevertheless, it is a significant burden on the body of the expectant mother, which responds more actively to additional external loads and irritations. The causes of dizziness during pregnancy can be different. A number of effects that provoke the condition in question can be quite harmless and can be extinguished by more measured behavior or simple everyday techniques. But you should not brush off the problem, since the symptoms in question can be a consequence of more serious disorders in the woman's body.

• One of the reasons may be a sudden change in body position. Increased load on the vestibular apparatus somewhat unbalances it, not always allowing it to "dampen" motor incoordination.
• The trigger can be stale air in a room, in the company of a large number of people. The reason is the lack of oxygen in the room - as a symptom of oxygen starvation of brain cells.
• Lowering blood pressure.
• Various diseases can also cause dizziness.
  • Migraine.
  • Viral infections.
  • Meniere's disease.
  • And others.
• Hyperventilation of the lungs.
• Cerebrovascular accident caused by:
  • Malignant or benign neoplasms localized in the brain.
  • Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
  • Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae.
  • Pathological lesions of organs and systems of the cardiovascular system.
  • Other reasons.
• Anemia is a decrease in the level of hemoglobin due to iron deficiency. This component of the blood is responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. In a pregnant woman, the volume of pumped blood increases, which does not correspond to the number of red blood cells. This leads to oxygen starvation of the body of the expectant mother and her fetus.
• Ectopic pregnancy.
• Low blood glucose levels in women.
• This may be a symptom of a developing allergic reaction.
• A sharp decrease in atmospheric pressure parameters, which affects weather-sensitive people.
• During this period, the volume of blood supply to the uterine tissues increases (from two to thirty percent of the total blood flow), which invariably leads to a deficiency in oxygen delivery to other organs (this fact also applies to brain cells).
• Due to the fact that the need to pump more blood increases, a greater load falls on the cardiovascular system. An increase in the number of heart contractions is observed, the walls of the myocardium become thicker. As a reverse reaction - a decrease in vascular tone and a drop in blood pressure.
• Frozen pregnancy, intrauterine fetal death.
• Such negative symptoms can be provoked by toxicosis, which bothers many expectant mothers in the early stages of pregnancy.
• At a later time, when the baby has gained enough weight and the stretched uterus begins to press on the inferior vena cava. This pressure increases especially when the pregnant woman is lying down. This fact applies to the later stages of carrying a baby.
• In some cases, the onset of dizziness becomes the primary symptom of a pre-fainting condition. Usually in such a situation it is accompanied by a feeling of a vacuum in the head, noise in the ears, cold sweat on the forehead, a sharp weakening of the body, numbness of the limbs.

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Symptoms of dizziness during pregnancy

The symptoms in question quite often haunt the fair sex even during periods not related to its life mission. It is precisely those women who, even in their normal state, know firsthand what dizziness is, who, during pregnancy, encounter this problem much more often than their “comrades”.

Symptoms of dizziness during pregnancy do not begin to appear spontaneously; it usually has its own precursors:

• Increasing pulsation in the temporal region.
• The appearance of ringing in the ears.
• A sudden weakness that overtakes the body.
• Loss of visual clarity - darkening, floating patterns, flying "gnats".
• The body breaks out in a cold sweat.
• There are known cases of numbness of the upper and/or lower extremities joining the already voiced symptoms. Sometimes the stiffness affects only the phalanges.

Dizziness during early pregnancy

A woman does not yet know that she is carrying her baby under her heart, but the first signs of pregnancy can already tell her about it. Dizziness during early pregnancy, if they do not occur often, is a completely natural reaction of the female body to a change in her hormonal background and adaptation to a new status.

A slight spinning sensation of objects around you can also be a result of early toxicosis.

Many modern mothers, even after learning that they are pregnant, do not change their usual way of life: constant stress, a tough pace of life, overwork and lack of sleep - all these factors, together or separately, can provoke both dizziness and short-term loss of consciousness.

No one is saying that upon learning about her “interesting situation,” the expectant mother should prescribe bed rest and a diet to herself, but she should not take on the same stress as before either.

You should not give up an active lifestyle, but you should behave with certain precautions, taking into account your condition. Every pregnant woman should find her "golden mean" in behavior, adjusting her work and rest regime.

If dizziness during pregnancy bothers you quite often, then you should seek advice and additional examination from your doctor - a gynecologist who monitors the course of pregnancy. At the same time, a woman should analyze her day. It is necessary to minimize all irritating factors (for example, night shifts, stress, etc.), while maintaining a meal schedule (little but often), walks in the fresh air should be optimal in time, etc.

Dizziness and nausea during pregnancy

Quite often, early toxicosis occurs with accompanying negative symptoms. Dizziness and nausea during pregnancy are frequent companions of the manifestation of the onset of conception.

The deceptive sensation of spinning of your body or objects around you in the first weeks after fertilization is primarily caused by changes that begin to occur in the female body immediately after conception.

In addition, many pregnant women experience a decrease in blood pressure, which cannot but affect the deficiency of oxygen supply to brain cells, which leads to hypoxemia. This deviation most often develops in a pregnant woman against the background of existing anemia - a decrease in the quantitative indicators of hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is found in erythrocytes (red blood cells). It is he who captures oxygen coming from the lungs and transports it through the systems and organs of the human body.

During pregnancy, the load on the cardiovascular system increases. At the same time, a dilution effect is observed, when the number of red blood cells is less than the amount of pumped blood volumes, which leads to hypoxemia.

It is worth remembering that the development of hypoxemia may be a consequence of some disease or a consequence of anemia.

The vestibular system is also subject to imbalance. Therefore, if a pregnant woman suddenly stands up or bends over, nausea may quickly rise and the surrounding picture may float.

Gradually, the fetus begins to increase in size, stretching the walls of the uterus. Accordingly, its parameters grow, and it begins to press on nearby internal organs. The stomach is also subjected to pressure, which causes nausea, and even vomiting.

At the same time, the uterus with the fetus can press on large venous vessels. The pressure increases especially if the pregnant woman is in a lying position. Squeezing the blood flow leads to a decrease in the volume of blood flowing to the heart, which also provokes a lack of nutrition of the brain cells.

A decrease in atmospheric pressure can also lead to such consequences. For example, the calm before a storm. This is especially true for weather-sensitive people.

Severe dizziness during pregnancy

It should be noted here that the level of intensity of the pathology is of particular importance. If a pregnant woman suffers from severe dizziness during pregnancy, this is a clear indication to consult a doctor.

The reason for this painful symptomatology most likely lies in the plane of pathological changes that have affected the body of the expectant mother. You should not joke about this. After all, dizziness can be a symptom of a rather serious disease affecting the area of the brain or spinal column of the pregnant woman. And, as everyone knows, timely contact with a qualified specialist gives a chance to get out of this situation with fewer losses and complications. It should be remembered that in this case we are talking not only about the health of the woman, but, perhaps, about the life of her unborn child.

The only exception to the rule may be severe dizziness in the first weeks, which is explained by the fact that the body has not yet adjusted and adapted to the new situation. It is this imbalance that contributes to the appearance of such symptoms. Usually, by the onset of the twelfth week, everything settles down, and the discomfort no longer bothers. But even in this case, it is better to inform your doctor about this condition than to regret it later.

Weakness and dizziness during pregnancy

Pregnancy is not a disease, but nevertheless, it is an increased load that affects all organs and systems of the expectant mother. In the first days after fertilization of the cell, the woman does not yet suspect a change in her status, continuing to live her usual life.

Stress at work and at home, the crazy pace of big cities, lack of adequate rest combined with changes in hormonal levels can cause weakness and dizziness during pregnancy.

Gradually, the woman's body begins to get used to the new level of work, but, nevertheless, a decrease in hemoglobin and a drop in blood pressure are not so rare in such a situation, which leads to the development of weakness throughout the body and a feeling of a spinning universe.

But there are also more severe cases when the lack of oxygen, which provokes weakness and dizziness during pregnancy, led to increased oxygen starvation of the fetus, which negatively affects its development, and subsequently can cause premature birth. Or even worse - miscarriage.

Therefore, women who have problems with blood pressure need to especially carefully monitor their readings and, at the slightest deviation (especially if such a situation begins to become more frequent), immediately contact a specialized institution for consultation.

It is worth noting that many modern women, being pregnant, try to watch their weight, afraid of gaining too much weight and thereby spoiling their figure. Even being in an "interesting position" they try not to eat much, which inevitably affects their health. Lack of nutrition with increased loads and, as a result, a decrease in the overall tone of the body, nausea (and even vomiting), spinning of the surrounding image are signs of an impending fainting spell.

The situation is further aggravated by the fact that the level of blood sugar, a reserve of energy that the body is able to obtain immediately, decreases.

Dizziness During Pregnancy in the First Trimester

The first three months after conception are probably the most important. They are the indicators of whether a pregnant woman is able to normally bear and give birth to a child. It is during this period that her body undergoes the greatest restructuring, which invariably entails some deviations in health and sensations.

One of such unpleasant manifestations may be periodic dizziness during pregnancy in the first trimester.

The first "blow" is taken by the cardiovascular system. The woman's body begins to produce blood cells in an enhanced mode, adding their number to the required volumes. But the number of red blood cells does not keep up with the "production" of blood cells, leading the entire system to a certain imbalance, and hence to oxygen starvation of the tissues of organs, including the brain. This is what causes dizziness and other symptoms.

Therefore, if the moments when the "ground goes out from under your feet", forcing the surrounding objects to spin, do not occur very often and are mild, you should not worry too much. This is a completely normal and physiologically explainable phenomenon that does not require medical intervention.

In the first trimester, the discomfort in question can be caused by:

• Stuffy air in a stuffy room.
• The presence of a large number of people in a confined space.
• A rapid change in the position of your body. For example, standing up or straightening up abruptly, turning to the side.
• Changes in weather, natural phenomena.

If a pregnant woman experiences discomfort, it is necessary to mention this at the next visit to the obstetrician-gynecologist. This recommendation is related to the fact that in the first trimester, pregnant women often experience a drop in blood pressure, which inevitably leads to a deterioration in blood flow. A decrease in the volume of circulating blood per unit of time leads to the woman's organs, and, accordingly, the fetus, not receiving a sufficient amount of nutrients.

A prolonged lack of oxygen can lead to failures in the development of the future human being, increasing the risk of developing intrauterine pathology. Nutritional deficiency can also cause a miscarriage.

Therefore, you should not be so careless about this symptom. By informing your doctor, a woman can protect herself from many troubles in the future.

When the body is being restructured, at first the content of glucose in the pregnant woman’s blood, a quick source of energy, decreases, which naturally weakens the body.

A woman's nutrition during this period is also important. She should not "eat for two", as some idle gossips claim. Her diet should be varied, complete, rich in minerals, microelements and vitamins. Meals should be small, but frequent, at least four to six times a day. This will allow you not to overeat and at the same time get everything you need from the products.

You should not ignore walks in the fresh air and rest. A woman carrying a child under her heart should sleep about 10 hours at night and 1 - 2 hours during the day.

If attacks still occur despite following all the doctor's recommendations, it is worth lying down on a sofa in a cool room, making sure that the heart and head are approximately at the same level. "Fallen pressure" can be slightly raised with a piece of chocolate or strong sweet tea.

Dizziness During Pregnancy in the Second Trimester

The first, most dangerous trimester, when the body of the expectant mother is being rebuilt, and all the organs of the fetus are being formed, has passed. The woman's hormonal background has somewhat stabilized, the development of the embryo continues. In the second trimester of pregnancy, dizziness should leave the woman without causing her discomfort.

This fact only applies to the reasons directly related to the course of pregnancy itself, but there are also sources that are not entirely related to the event of interest. They remain the "threat" that provokes the occurrence of an attack of dizziness during pregnancy in the second trimester.

The uterus and the entire female body continue their preparation for childbirth. During this period, the reactions of the expectant mother's systems may respond to external stimuli somewhat slowly, which leads to imbalance.

The situation when everything is floating and spinning in front of the heads can be provoked by:

• Prolonged stay of the body in a motionless state.
• Disorders affecting blood flow.
• Oxygen starvation of brain cells, caused by any reason.
• Being in a stuffy, unventilated room or in a large crowd of people.
• Hypotension is low blood pressure. It is especially dangerous when it drops sharply.
• Rapid change of body position.

Dizziness During Pregnancy in the Third Trimester

At this stage of pregnancy, responsibility for the child increases. Starting from the 38th week, the uterus is practically ready for the process of childbirth. At this time, the amount of blood flowing to this organ and other components that participate in childbirth increases. But at the same time, its shortage is created in other organs, including the blood deficit, and accordingly, oxygen, the brain begins to feel.

This fact usually causes dizziness during pregnancy in the third trimester. If the attack does not last long and does not occur often, then there is no need to worry - this is within the normal range. But it is worth remembering that dizziness and loss of coordination can lead to a fall of the pregnant woman, which is very dangerous in her condition. Therefore, during this period, a woman should be very careful.

For many mothers, it remains inexplicable why an attack could overtake them while lying on the bed in the last weeks of pregnancy. But doctors explain it very simply. The point is that in the supine position, the already large and heavy uterus can squeeze the vena cava, leading to a disruption in the blood flow that supplies this life-giving fluid to the heart. The response to such a deficiency is a sharp decrease in blood pressure, which provokes dizziness and even fainting.

To prevent such a situation from occurring, a pregnant woman should sleep or simply rest only lying on her side.

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Dizziness and vomiting during pregnancy

As has already been said earlier, many expectant mothers suffer from toxicosis in the early stages, which can manifest itself as nausea, general weakness, dizziness, sudden release of cold sweat, and even vomiting. Usually, such symptoms appear in the sixth to eighth week, but can also occur from the first days after conception.

Dizziness and vomiting during pregnancy are symptoms that often go hand in hand. But it should be remembered that the occurrence of the gag reflex causes dehydration. If such attacks become more frequent, then not only the woman's body suffers, but the fertilized egg with the developing embryo is also exposed to negative effects.

Dehydration causes a decrease in blood volume, which leads to a deterioration in the oxygen supply to brain cells and other systems.

By and large, there is nothing dangerous in the gag reflex. In this way, the body is cleansed of the presence of dangerous compounds and toxins. You just need to make sure that such attacks are not frequent, and the water balance is restored.

Each woman is individual, therefore, in light of the problem under consideration, some lucky women, having gone through the entire pregnancy, never encounter symptoms of toxicosis, while some experience this discomfort throughout the entire period of gestation. But most still encounter it in the first trimester, forgetting after 12 weeks.

After a bout of vomiting, you should not drink a lot of liquid right away - this will only provoke another spasm. You must first simply rinse your mouth, and after 10-15 minutes take one or two sips of clean water, but no more. After another 10-15 minutes, drink some liquid again until the nausea goes away completely and the stomach spasms stop.

This situation is quite understandable, but it is still worth informing your doctor. This is due to the fact that such symptoms can also be caused by the presence of some disease in the expectant mother's medical history: gastrointestinal tract pathologies, the effects of stress, intoxication of the body, and so on.

To prevent or at least partially relieve the problem, you need to eat small portions, four to six times throughout the day, without overeating before going to bed. At the same time, you should spend more time outdoors and sleep or be in a well-ventilated room.

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Morning dizziness during pregnancy

Much has already been said in this article about the reasons that provoke an imbalance in the vestibular apparatus in a pregnant woman and the appearance of a sensation of spinning objects around her.

Morning dizziness during pregnancy is quite common. If a woman does not have a more serious illness, this fact can be explained quite simply.

When you change your position abruptly (first you were lying down and then sat up abruptly), the floor starts to slip out from under your feet. And it takes some time for everything to fall into place. In such a situation, you should watch your movements smoothly, slowly getting out of bed.

Another source of an attack can be stuffiness in the room where the expectant mother is resting.

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Dizziness in the early days of pregnancy

The first days after fertilization of the egg are probably some of the most dangerous. After all, the woman does not yet suspect a change in her status, continuing to lead a normal life. But the signs that appear can prompt her to take a step - to conduct a pregnancy test or, on the contrary, to contact a specialist with a suspicion of some disease.

From the very first minutes after fertilization, the woman's body begins to rebuild itself at an accelerated pace, creating conditions for normal gestation and problem-free natural childbirth. The first system to undergo reorganization is the circulatory system of the expectant mother. There is an expansion of the blood vessel system, which simply entangles the pelvic organs and especially the uterus.

In this case, the blood volumes are redistributed, and the uterus begins to receive significantly more than in its normal state. If the "non-pregnant uterus" receives about two percent of the total blood volume, then after conception, it already receives twenty to thirty percent of this fluid.

To restore normal blood flow, time and growth of the bloodstream with an increase in blood flow volumes are needed. It is at the moment of inconsistency between the presence of blood and its need that dizziness can occur in the first days of pregnancy. After all, in order to quickly stop the imbalance, the heart begins to work in an enhanced mode. In the first day, the process in question has not yet reached perfection, and is not able to fully cope with the task set before it.

In this regard, a temporary deterioration in blood flow is possible, leading to the development of hypoxia, that is, a deficiency of oxygen supplied to brain cells. This scenario is capable of provoking an attack of dizziness or even fainting.

Hormonal changes can cause a feeling of spinning of one's own body or the surrounding picture after a pregnant woman has been in a stuffy room for some time, in a dense circle of many people, or after being on her feet for a long time, suddenly changed her position.

Diagnosis of dizziness during pregnancy

In order to establish the source that provokes the appearance of the discomfort, it is necessary to seek help from a neurologist or psychoneurologist. Diagnosis of dizziness during pregnancy consists of the doctor identifying the full picture of pathological manifestations, the anamnesis of the pregnant woman.

It is advisable for a woman to undergo magnetic resonance imaging, which will help to get answers to many questions, confirming or refuting the presence of any disease. But for this procedure, you should get permission from your obstetrician-gynecologist, who monitors the course of pregnancy.

It would be a good idea to have a picture of the cervical vertebrae to rule out osteochondrosis of this part of the spine.

Urine analysis and biochemical blood tests are required.

The main thing in this situation is to exclude or determine the presence of the disease, establish its localization and severity of the phase of the disease. After all, there are diseases that are not only dangerous in themselves for the pregnant woman and her unborn baby, but even their treatment is undesirable, since it can also cause irreparable harm.

Treatment of dizziness during pregnancy

If we exclude complex pathology and turn our attention to stopping the problem in question, then there are a number of techniques that allow us to take adequate preventive measures even at the stage of preceding symptoms.

Quite often, before an attack of dizziness, a sound appears in the ears, the pregnant woman breaks out in a cold sweat, darkness appears before her eyes, and strength leaves the body. There are known cases of numbness in the upper and lower extremities, sometimes such an unpleasant sensation affects only the phalanges of the hands.

In such a situation, the treatment of dizziness during pregnancy consists of lying down as soon as possible, while ensuring that the heart is approximately at the same level as the head. At the same time, the room where the woman lies down should be ventilated.

If the harbingers caught a pregnant woman in a crowd of people or a stuffy room, it is necessary to leave the crowd or go out of the stuffy building into the street, into the fresh air.

If the discomfort is caused by one or another deviation in health, then, with the permission of the gynecologist, it is possible to take certain medications or traditional medicine recipes.

If the cause is vegetative-vascular dystonia, then a specialist may prescribe sedative medications: Persen, Valocordin, Circulin, Amizole, Deprim, Novo-Passit, Stressplant, Dormiplant and others.

Novo-Passit is taken one tablet three times a day. To achieve the necessary therapeutic effect, it is advisable to take the tablet before meals.

If the desired result is not observed, the amount of the drug administered can be doubled, but only with the doctor's permission. The time interval between doses should be four to six hours.

Contraindications to the use of this drug may include myasthenia or individual intolerance to the components of the drug.

In this situation, teas made from medicinal plants such as valerian, mint, lemon balm, and motherwort are also suitable.

If the analysis showed a low hemoglobin level in the blood of a pregnant woman, then, first of all, it is necessary to review your diet, introducing as many iron-rich foods as possible. These include: artichoke, egg yolk, dried fruits, fish and seafood, red meat, whole wheat bread, various cereals and grains, poultry, legumes, green leafy vegetables.

To normalize glucose levels, it is necessary to adjust the diet: small portions, but often, avoiding starvation or, conversely, overeating.

If the attack is caused by low blood pressure, the body needs to be stimulated, which can be done, for example, by a tincture prepared on the basis of eleutherococcus or ginseng. Pink radiola or small amounts of black tea or coffee will also do.

If dizziness occurs together with other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, the doctor may prescribe cerucal or any other antiemetic.

Cerucal tablets are prescribed orally and are taken half an hour before meals, with a sufficient amount of water. The dose is one tablet three to four times a day.

The maximum permissible single dose of the drug is two tablets, daily – no more than six.

Contraindications to the use of this medication may include: internal bleeding, perforation or obstruction of the intestines/stomach, tendency to epileptic seizures, liver and/or kidney dysfunction, as well as individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug.

Traditional medicine offers its own advice on how to solve the problem that has arisen:

• Melissa or mint tea is useful. Freshly brewed, it is taken several times a day, improving the general condition.
• At the first symptoms of an approaching attack, you can simply sniff the plant itself or always have mint powder with you.
• If the attack is caused by stuffiness, it is worth airing the room and putting a cold wet towel, a bottle of water or ice on your head. Drinking cool water with honey added to it will also work.
• You can make a compress on your forehead and temples by soaking a napkin in vinegar diluted with water.
• You can also rub the temple area with the “Zvezdochka” balm, which is now sold in every pharmacy.

But in any case, you should remember that before resorting to the help of this or that drug or folk recipe, you should definitely consult with your doctor.

Prevention of dizziness during pregnancy

To ensure that unpleasant symptoms associated with a woman’s “interesting situation” do not cause discomfort, prevention of dizziness during pregnancy recommends adhering to a number of fairly simple rules.

• It is necessary to reconsider your daily routine, balancing workload with sleep and rest.
• You should spend more time outdoors, walking and communicating with nature and nice people.
• Regular airing of the room where the pregnant woman lives and wet cleaning are mandatory. Stuffy and crowded rooms should be avoided.
• It is necessary to avoid hot showers and baths. The water should be warm, but not hot.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
• Maintain flexibility and spine health with the help of yoga or another set of exercises specially designed for pregnant women.
• Avoid staying in one position for a long time.
• Avoid stressful situations.
• Monitor your diet.
• The movements of a pregnant woman should be smooth, measured and careful.
• If dizziness bothers you often enough, you should contact your doctor, who, if necessary, will refer you to a more specialized doctor.
• In summer, it is advisable to walk early in the morning or after sunset.
• You should eat at least four to six times a day. At the same time, you need to chew your food for a long time and thoroughly, this will allow you not to overeat and not go hungry.
• In the second half of the period under consideration, it is advisable to rest lying on your left side.
• Contrast showers are effective, stimulating the work of the cardiovascular system, strengthening its walls.
• In case of severe toxicosis, doctors recommend eating a little in the morning without getting up in bed. Only after a little while should you carefully get out of bed.
• It is necessary to regularly visit your obstetrician-gynecologist to monitor your health.
• Physical activity should be moderate, without overexertion.
• Heart rate and blood pressure readings should be measured regularly.
• If dizziness, nausea and vomiting do not pass, you should immediately call an ambulance. It is advisable to keep the pregnant woman conscious until the doctors arrive, preventing her from fainting.

Prognosis of dizziness during pregnancy

The answer to this question largely depends on the source that provokes the attacks in question. If the cause of dizziness and fainting is some disease, the prognosis for dizziness during pregnancy directly depends on the severity of the pathology and the ability to effectively, without harming the child, stop the problem.

If the discomfort is a consequence of pregnancy toxicosis, the prognosis is quite favorable. Most women forget about it after 12 weeks, and only a small percentage of pregnant women have to endure it until delivery. But even in this case, after obstetric care, the problem resolves itself.

Many women feel dizziness during pregnancy, but it is not a death sentence, but an annoying discomfort that accompanies such a joyful situation. And minor efforts are enough to reduce such attacks to a minimum, it is enough to follow simple recommendations given by the obstetrician-gynecologist who is monitoring the pregnancy.