A woman in her 24th week of pregnancy notices she feels faint when lying down for a period. What would you suspect as a cause for this?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is unusual to become lightheaded in the supine position. The gravid uterus can cause decreased blood return through the inferior vena cava. Orthostatic hypotension as seen in adrenal insufficiency and with moderate dehydration will cause these symptoms in the upright position. Hypoglycemia should not be positional.

A Woman in Her 24th Week of Pregnancy Notices She