Light-headedness Caused by Pregnancy?
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
My name is Bonnie and I am a 39-year-old mother of one (an 8-year-old). My last period was July 10 - 14. My husband and I had intercourse on the 18th and 21st or 22nd (not sure). On the 24th I started feeling very nauseous and light headed. I came close to passing out several times; these feeling have not ended yet and it's the 26th.
I do remember feeling like this when I was pregnant with my son, but the timing doesn't seem right. Could I be pregnant? If so, is it to early to be feeling these symptoms? I know if I just wait another week I can take a HPT, but I can't wait!
Please help. Thank you very much....
ANSWER
Hi Bonnie,Yes, we would expect you to ovulate about July 24, so it is possible that you conceived. It is unusual, but some women sense a pregnancy almost immediately.
On the other hand, there are LOTS of other possible causes for your symptoms, including plain old dehydration, a common problem this time of year.
-- Cynthia, CNM
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
