Pregnancy & Baby 

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Is fainting a symptom of pregnancy?

Despite scenes in movies of women gracefully collapsing and later discovering they are pregnant, fainting is not a common occurrence in pregnancy.

The hormones of pregnancy, progesterone specifically, act to soften and dilate vessel walls, making dizziness a fairly common complaint of pregnancy. Blood pressure tends to decline in pregnancy, so women may at times feel lightheaded, especially when standing up quickly.

Any loss of consciousness warrants a full examination and a careful look at your medical history. In the end, they may find no explanation, but at least they can rule out some conditions.

At the very least, a complete blood count should be run to rule out infection, anaemia or perhaps thyroid dysfunction. I would bring this to the attention of your doctor and follow his/her recommendations.

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