Feeling faint

Pregnant women often feel faint. This is because of hormonal changes occurring in your body during pregnancy. Fainting happens if your brain is not getting enough blood and, therefore, not enough oxygen.

You are most likely to feel faint if you stand up too quickly from a chair or out of a bath, but it can also happen when you are lying on your back (it's best not to lie flat on your back in later pregnancy or during labour).

Watch out for the symptoms that might mean you're going to faint, such as a sudden, clammy sweat, ringing in your ears, and fast, deep breathing.

Here are some tips to help you cope:

Try to get up slowly after sitting or lying down
If you feel faint when standing still, find a seat quickly and the faintness should pass – if it doesn't, lie down on your side.

If you feel faint while lying on your back, turn on your side.