[Lizas_mommy]

Went in today for a follow up u/s since they couldnt get his heart measurements last time during our 19 week appt. Everything looks perfect Im happy to say! But while I was laying there, I began feeling extremely dizzy. I told her I needed to get up and use the restroom - even though I didnt have to go. When I saw myself in the mirror I was pale as a ghost! The room was spinning. I had no idea what was going on. After several minutes sitting up, it was slowly getting better. I told the technician and she said that was very common while laying on your back because the baby can be laying on one of your major blood vessels. I never heard of this but now I know not to lay on my back again!

[EllenCarroll]

YES! when you lay down and you feel that way.. immediatly lay on your left side! it will make the dizziness go away and you will be able to breath normally!

[ElizabethS]

Yup it can happen! No more lying on your back ;P, sort of hard advice for an u/s procedure though! I'm glad you didn't actually black out!

[Wifenmomalwys]

Glad you didn't end up passing out.

[emschic]

welcome to the pre-vagal response. It happens when there is pressure exerted on the vasovagal nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body. Having someone bear down (putting pressure on the nerve) can slow down your heart rate, so if someone is tachycardic (fast heart rate) it can be a temporary fix. The same thing happens when you lay on your back at a certain point in pregnancy, it puts the same kind of pressure on the nerve. Here is a link that will explain it further

Vasovagal episode - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia