24 Weeks Pregnant and Feeling Dizzy

Updated on February 01, 2009
S.G. asks from Rocklin, CA
25 answers

I am 24 weeks along and have had a fairly easy pregnancy thus far. I woke up this morning feeling dizzy for the first time and have felt this way most of the day. It's now mid afternoon. I called the Dr. and he said it is somewhat normal that this is happening at this stage of the pregnancy. I was wondering if anyone else has felt this way and if it is something that happens sporadically or will be constant. I also have not felt the baby move yet. (At least, I dont think I have). I have had some feeling but I cannot tell what it is. Dr. says that I should be feeling distinct movement any time now. I did hear the heartbeat at my last appt. at 22 weeks. My Dr. didnt sound too concerned.

If you could share your experiences with me, perhaps it will calm my worries?
Thank you!

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E.M.

answers from San Francisco on

That happened to me. I can't remember when it started or how long it lasted, but it seems like it passed pretty quickly.

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H.C.

answers from Sacramento on

The same thing happened to me and apparently it was due to lack of iron, I had to take an iron supplement. The baby will suck all the nutrients right out of you. When I started taking one iron tablet a day, I stopped feeling dizzy. That is a sign that you have a low iron level because the baby is taken it all. Hope this helps. I stopped getting dizzy when I took an iron supplement. My Dr. recommended it after I had taken a blood test...one of the many. Good luck and enjoy being pregnant.

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L.H.

answers from San Francisco on

I was horribly dizzy for most of my second trimester. Everything checked out ok. It happened most when I was in the shower and when I got up from laying down. But, sometimes it just happened because it did. Drinking lots and lots of water helped somewhat. My daughter was a spazz as far as moving was concerned. I remember it took me a little while to realize it was her moving. At first, it felt like popcorn popping, but in my gut.

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T.J.

answers from San Francisco on

I'm 25 weeks now and started feeling a bit more dizzy the last few weeks. And my cousin always told me that she barely felt her baby move the entire pregnancy (that boy is 10 years old now). Plus, it takes longer for first pregnancies to feel movement, as I'm sure you've heard. Sounds like typical stuff to me!

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T.R.

answers from Sacramento on

... Good Morning !! First off congratulations on your "new Bundle in progress". We women have SUPER high-tech bodies! We profiently make more blood volume when we get to about this many weeks. At delivery we actually have 2 Liters of extra blood we made to provide suffient circulation to our "babies on board", (the fetus). As our intelligent body automatically does this "process" we need to :eat well, drink 8-10, 8oz glasses of water a day, monitor our position changes (never EVER on our backs!,it will only make you feel worse as your body works very hard to keep the circulation optimal in that position), change positons slower, keep all our Dr.'s appointments and ask questions at the appointments regarding your need for Vitamins and ? Iron?....When you are pregnant you need to eat WELL!.(as I mentioned before) Our Irons "stores" are used efficiently for our bodies and baby!,.... so Iron is improtant, not to mention all the "Cool" things Iron does!!,.. it helps our bodies carry oxygen better. Good Oxygen makes us feel better. Soooooooo ,... THE VERY BEST TO YOU AND YOUR BABY ON BOARD!!! This dizziness is off and on so heed to your "Mom state",lol.!!, needs. Good food,water,sleep,"stratigical" positioning, and last but not least , Dreaming of your Baby!!... Also fetal movement is felt with better perception after 28 weeks, so don't worry too much. BUT never hesitate to call your OB/GYN if you have any questions. Enjoy, the 9months go by real fast.
Take Care!!

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S.H.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi, when I started getting dizzy my midwife suggested 2 things: drink more water and take an iron supplement. When you are pregnant you are supposed to half your weight and drink at least that much in ounces of water every day. So, if you weigh 140 then you should be drinking at least 70 oz of water every day! The iron supplement I was recommended is called Florodix and you can get it at Whole Foods. Its a bit expensive and has to be refrigerated but I think it was really good for me during the pregnancy and after that I hardly ever felt dizzy again.

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C.G.

answers from San Francisco on

Congrats on your pregnancy! I too am expecting a boy this May. I have felt dizzy. It is sporadic, not all the time. My gues is that we need iron which they will be able to find out with the lab work we will have done between now and week 28. If it's your first pregnancy, I wouldn't worry about not feeling the baby. YOu are probably feeling it but not recognizing it yet. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and feel free to email me and we can compare and chat about our pregnancies! My email is ____@____.com :)

D.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi S., I'm 24 weeks now too (today) and have had the same feeling. But I got dizzy earlier on too- and it comes and goes for a few days I'll be feeling dizzy, then for a few weeks - nothing. I also notice that sometimes I also feel an adrenaline rush for no reason. And my Dr. says the same its all normal.
I also JUST started feeling the baby move - I was really worried about it cuz all books say 18-22 weeks, but I guess its hard to tell at first. The way I describe what I started feeling was like when you get butterflies in your stomach when you're nervous - except the rest of you isn't nervous, so you realize its physical, from the baby - and not emotional like regular butterflies. Thats how it feels to me - hope you start feeling it too :) and I decided, I have a lazy baby and I am a-ok with that!

Good luck with everything!
D.

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J.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I had that problem with my daughter. The weight from the pregnancy caused a slow blood return from my legs back to my heart (and head), causing my light headedness & dizziness. I was told that it was normal. For me, it happened occasionally and went away after my daughter was born. I was told to sit down if I felt dizzy to avoid fallig down and hurting myself and the baby as well.

Good luck and congratulations!

Jen

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E.W.

answers from San Francisco on

It's totally normal. I had the same thing. I would get dizzy when working out, if I stood up too quickly, walked too quickly, walked upstairs too quickly etc. At this stage, the amount of blood in your body is increasing rapidly to meet the needs of your pregnancy...so your blood pressure typically drops...and you're more susceptible to feeling dizzy. By the end of your 2nd trimester, things should get a little better. If I got dizzy, I always thought it was my body telling me to slow down....so...make sure you take it easy and remember to eat regularly too!

Good luck!

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C.G.

answers from San Francisco on

More fluids. Iron. Yellowdock is AMAZING for anemia.

I've been going through the same thing this pregnancy! Two or three things can be happening: low blood pressure or sharp rises/falls in blood sugar. Maybe even anemia. Lots of fluids, take an iron supplement, and eat often. Avoid high sugar foods and when you feel dizzy, put your feet up for a few minutes. After about a week of iron supps I felt 100% better!

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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi....yes...I always felt dizzy. One time I almost passed out at a Health Food store so they gave me some wheat bread w/ peanut butter. I instantly "woke up". Be sure to have some slowly digestable foods w/ you at all times. Your baby is taking many of your nutrients...you need extras! If you eat often you may avoid some of that dizzyness. I still get dizzy when I don't eat...It's a blood sugar thing for me.

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S.A.

answers from Sacramento on

I wasn't sure I was feeling my daughter kick either, until I saw her on an ultra sound and felt it too. Then I was sure that what I was feeling was her. But I was around 21 weeks. So for your first baby, it's not unusual to not be sure. As for feeling dizzy, I remember feeling that way if I stood too quickly after sitting or squating down. Drink plenty of water and that may help.

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M.D.

answers from San Francisco on

Not to worry, all sounds normal. I felt dizzy from around the same time until the end of my second trimester. My doctor thought it was related to a drop in my blood pressure around that time. Also I don't think I had distinct kicking until 25-26 weeks. My little boy was born totally healthy, and still is (almost 2 now)....hope this calms your nerves, and good luck!

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T.R.

answers from Fresno on

I can't relate to your experiences, my dizziness was due to high blood pressure during my pregnancy. I do have something you can try if you haven't felt the baby move, I know I'm a bit late with this, you can try laying down on your bed and relax and then you should be able to feel the baby move. I hope everything is fine though. Good luck to you.

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J.N.

answers from San Francisco on

I didn't have time to read all the responses, so bear with me if I repeat anything you've already heard...
I felt dizzy while pregnant with my second, and my doctor told me I was probably dehydrated. I drank more fluids and felt better after a while.
As for feeling the baby move, I wouldn't worry. If your doctor heard a heartbeat, everything should be fine. It's your first child, so you might not recognize yet that the baby is moving. I didn't for a while with my first.

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J.C.

answers from Sacramento on

Felt dizzy at times too! It was usually when I got up to quickly or was hungry. As for feeling your baby kick...(If your not diabetic) I would recommend having a small glass of 100% juice - perhaps some OJ and lie on your side and just relax and think about your little one growing and developing. Usually, the baby feels kind of fluttery at first. It isn't until they are bigger that they start to elbow you and kick you under the ribs while your trying to sleep :) Finally, I would recommend a great book to you called BABY 411 by Ari Brown M.D. and Denise Fields. It's easy to understand and great for all of those 1st time parent questions your sure to come across in a few months. Congratulations!

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J.T.

answers from San Francisco on

Hey S. -

It's all good, my dear! I was dizzy on and off during both of my pregnancies. WRT feeling your baby move...don't get all tweaked on this -- I felt my son fairly late, and then he was pretty darn sluggish for awhile -- then he kicked, thrashed, and hiccuped for the remainder of the pregnancy...be careful what you wish for! :)

All the best,

J.

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A.R.

answers from San Francisco on

I experienced dizziness as well during my pregnancy (started during the 2nd trimester). They took some blood and I learned I was slightly anemic. My doctor put me on iron and that solved the problem.

R.R.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi S.,
I am practically in the same boat as you. I am also a 37 yr. old first time Mom working full time. I am 21 weeks now. I get dizzy at times, too. Sometimes when I first get up in the morning and sometimes during the day. My Ob/Gyn told me that I should be feeling movement, too. I also "think" I am feeling something, but wasn't sure...because it's my first time and it's hard to know if it's my stomach doing it's thing or if it really is baby. But I think...I might be feeling movement. It really feels more like a quick tap and it doesn't happen all the time. It's more intermittent. But I just had an ultrasound this week and the baby is fine. Heart is beating.

-R.

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G.B.

answers from San Francisco on

If you are dizzy and aslo have shortness of breath, or rapid heart rate, or extreme tiredness, it could be caused by anemia. (B12 and iron )

B6 deficiency can cause dizzyness as well.

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K.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi - I'm 39 weeks pregnant and I've had dizziness my whole pregnancy. Its related to the extra blood your body has produced - just some people are more prone to develop it than others. I will warn you that in my late 3rd trimester I've also started seeing stars a LOT. My OB hasn't been concerned but watches me pretty carefully (BP, etc). Its pretty normal so don't worry! :-) Just pay attention to it if it gets much worse and be sure to let your doc know. My OB was primarily concerned only when I started seeing stars and getting dizzy while sitting still or laying down - NOT while changing positions in any way. Hope that helps!! And good luck!

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N.M.

answers from Chico on

This happened to me too. I even passed out a couple of times. Sounds like you got some good advice on checking your iron levels (this was not the problem for me). I do not have any solutions for you, but maybe I can ease your mind by telling you that I had two healthy pregnancies/babies despite this unpleasant side-effect. Also, the first time around I didn't feel my baby move for a long time. As it turns out with subsequent pregnancies, I feel it all the time. I think at first you don't really know what to feel for (it can be very slight movement at the beginning) and with the first pregnancy, I don't think you are so sensitive to it. As long as the doc sees/hears the baby moving, just be patient and soon you'll wish he/she will stop moving and keeping you up at night!

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C.M.

answers from San Francisco on

same with me, lack of iron. only problem for me was i was already really constipated and the iron made it worse. so i tried to eat red meat at least twice a week and then the Sloe FE iron supplement twice a week. good luck, it gets better. oh, and with my first pregnancy i didn't feel the baby very strongly until 24 or 25 weeks and she wasn't a big mover. she was very calm.

A.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi there. This did happen to me as well. I have 4 kids, and of course each pregnancy is different. With that being said, there are different causes of dizziness. Could range from anything such as getting up too fast, to not enough food and drink, anemia, or lying on your back. Try lying down on your left side for a bit. When woman are pregnant, their blood pressure can get low, reaching it's lowest in mid pregnancy. As for the movement, if this is your first pregnancy, it could feel like light flutters, not necesarily kicking at this point. And, last, if your doctor wasn't too concerned at your last visit, I wouldn't be too concerned if I were you. Because what happens is that you start to worry so much that you neglect paying attention to any other symptoms that you might be feeling. Good luck! feel free to email me if you have any other questions.

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