I am 12 weeks pregnant and feeling dizzy with racing heart rate. Why?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Let me start on a reassuring note that you and your baby are fine. For the initial 12 weeks of pregnancy, there is no placenta (the connection between mother and baby). The embryo is just lying deep within the layers of the uterus. At 12 weeks, the first trophoblastic wave occurs. It is a wave of cells opening up the small vessels so that the narrow blood vessels which existed till then will be converted to wide loose vessels. So, the net effect is that blood flow to the baby is significantly increased. It is a welcome sign, and it means you will not develop hypertension in pregnancy. Had the vessels not given way so, your body will have to force more blood to keep the baby's growth adequate, which can be done only by increasing BP. You will have a similar wave at 20 weeks. These two phases have effects like BP falls, a sudden improvement in baby blood volume and growth. So, your blood sugar reduces.

These two phases manifest as generalized weakness, giddiness, easy fatigability, backache, pain in legs and fingers, pins and needles sensation in fingers, buzzing sound in the ear, flushed feeling or heaviness in the head (as BP falls with dilated vessels and better blood supply to the whole body) and so on. The solution is maintaining hydration and blood sugar and salt. Have a lot of not just water, but water with salt and sugar. Have any fruit juice with salt and sugar. Have this as many times as possible. Have any protein drink you like as this will maintain your health and improve stores for future baby health. Try not to drive or go out alone. You will surely be fine within few weeks but cannot assure when. Do not take any medication for this as these are the normal changes of pregnancy. All the best.