QuestionMy wife went back to work very soon after the birth of our second son. During the second month after the baby's birth, my wife told me she felt dizzy after standing up. It has become worse and I want to find some information to make her feel more comfortable about what is causing this problem.
AnswerDear Andrew,
If the dizziness is occurring upon rising, this is called orthostatic hypotension. Orthostasis means upright posture, and hypotension means low blood pressure. Thus, orthostatic hypotension consists of symptoms of dizziness, faintness or lightheadedness which appear only on standing, and which are caused by low blood pressure. Only rarely is spinning vertigo caused by orthostasis.
The most common causes for this are:
-Heart related conditions (arrhythmia, heart failure, deconditioning, and pregnancy are examples)
-Low blood volume (anemia, dehydration, dialysis)
-Medication related (usually too high doses of blood pressure medications or medications for depression)
-Primary adrenal insufficiency (with often associated hypothyroidism, diabetes)
-Neurogenic conditions
If this is getting worse, your wife should see her doctor so that a cause can be determined. It may simply be a case of anemia, but even if it something as simple as that, it will need to be treated and corrected. Dizziness is nothing to be ignored, especially when she often is having to hold/carry your new baby boy. If it hits suddenly, she'd hate to take the chance of falling, let alone with the baby.
I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
