Falling in Pregnancy

By Lori Ramsey of Stages-in-Pregnancy.com

One of the biggest myths of pregnancy is that if you fall down you can cause a miscarriage. Bad falls that result in big injuries to both the mom and baby are rare.

Normally when a pregnant mother falls down she should not panic but take a few precautions.

There are many more pregnant women who fall down and go on to deliver a full term baby than who suffer from a serious injury or miscarriage. The baby is very safe within the womb. The skin and muscles of the mother, along with the uterus and amniotic sac full of fluid all serve to act as a big “cushion” protecting the unborn baby from any possible harm that could occur from a pregnant woman falling. It would take a severe blow to the belly to cause the amniotic sac to break.

Always take precaution, however, if you do fall during pregnancy by making a trip to your doctor of hospital to be checked out—this will serve two purposes:

1. To insure that you and the baby are okay and if not, you will receive timely medical attention and …

2. It will ease your mind.

If you do fall look for these warning signs:

Bleeding from the vagina
Sharp pain around the abdomen
Tightening around the abdomen (contractions)
Unusual or no movement of the baby

If any of these are present right after a fall, please seek emergency care immediately. These signs may be an indication of “placenta abrupto” (tearing away of the placenta from the uterine wall). This causes pain and bleeding. This is very serious and can be fatal to the baby if treatment is not received immediately.

To keep yourself safe during pregnancy be aware of things that can make you dizzy such as:

Low blood pressure

Low blood sugar

Low iron

All of these can cause dizziness especially upon rising from sitting or lying down. Eat nutritiously to keep the blood sugar and iron levels normal. Rise up slowly which helps to avoid dizziness and maintain your balance. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider if you wish to exercise or participate in sports. Being aware that a pregnant woman can become off-balance easier keeps you more cautious, so that you can avoid falls that may cause injuries.

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