Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center

Brain Based Treatment for the 21st Century!

You Are Pregnant, But Something Feels Off

You expected pregnancy to be exhausting—nausea, back pain, cravings. But this is different. You are dizzy when you stand. Your heart races from walking across the room. You feel like you might faint in the shower. Doctors may brush it off as “just pregnancy,” but you know this is not normal.

This could be more than typical pregnancy symptoms. You may be experiencing Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a form of dysautonomia—a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. And while pregnancy is miraculous, it can also challenge your nervous system in ways that bring hidden issues to light.

The External and Internal Problem: Dysautonomia and a Misfiring Brain-Body Connection

POTS and other forms of dysautonomia affect how your brain regulates automatic functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature. In pregnancy, your cardiovascular and hormonal systems go through massive changes—meaning if your brain was already struggling to regulate these functions, those symptoms may become much more obvious, or suddenly appear for the first time.

Autonomic Instability in a Time of Transformation

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) has two main branches:

  • Sympathetic (fight-or-flight)
  • Parasympathetic (rest-digest-heal)

When balanced, these branches work together like a thermostat. But in dysautonomia, especially POTS, the thermostat is broken.

In POTS:

  • Standing causes the heart rate to spike (by 30+ beats per minute or above 120 bpm).
  • Blood pools in the lower body, depriving the brain of oxygen.
  • The body tries to compensate, but the nervous system overreacts or misfires.

This leads to symptoms like:

  • Lightheadedness
  • Fatigue
  • Brain fog
  • Nausea
  • Palpitations
  • Shakiness
  • Anxiety-like symptoms that are not psychological in origin

Pregnancy changes blood volume, vascular tone, and hormone levels—each of which can destabilize a brain-body system already struggling to regulate itself.

The Internal Conflict: Why This Happens in Pregnancy

Blood Volume & Vascular Changes

Pregnancy increases blood volume by 30-50%. This should help keep blood pressure stable—but if the brainstem and midbrain are not interpreting signals properly, these changes can overwhelm the autonomic system.

Hormonal Surges

Estrogen and progesterone influence vascular tone, baroreceptors, and neurotransmitter activity. If your brain is not adjusting to these hormonal shifts properly, symptoms of dysautonomia may appear or worsen.

Increased Metabolic Demands

The growing baby draws nutrients and energy. If the mother already had subclinical dysautonomia, or nutrient deficits like low B12, magnesium, or omega-3s, the brain becomes less resilient and adaptive.

The Stakes: Why It Matters for You and Baby

While POTS is not fatal, untreated dysautonomia during pregnancy can increase the risk of:

  • Falls due to dizziness
  • Dehydration from poor fluid regulation
  • Extreme fatigue that interferes with nutrition or prenatal care
  • Preterm labor due to stress hormone overproduction
  • Difficulty tolerating labor or recovery

It is not just about managing symptoms—it is about supporting a safe, healthy pregnancy and empowering your nervous system to do what it is designed to do.

Chiropractic Neurology’s Brain-Based Approach

In chiropractic neurology, we focus on how the central nervous system interprets and integrates sensory input to regulate all body systems—including the autonomic.

Instead of only treating the cardiovascular symptoms, we look at neuroplasticity: how we can train the brain and brainstem to better regulate the body. POTS is not just a heart issue—it is a brain-body mismatch.

We assess:

  • Brainstem and vagal tone
  • Midbrain and limbic system activity
  • Cerebellar coordination
  • Frontal lobe inhibitory function

This helps determine whether your brain is overreacting, under-processing, or struggling to shift between “rest and digest” and “fight or flight.”

Safe, Non-Invasive, Nervous System Rehabilitation

1. Autonomic Function Testing

We evaluate how your system responds to postural changes, temperature shifts, eye movements, breathing patterns, and sensory inputs. This reveals whether the dysautonomia is rooted in poor brainstem modulation, vestibular input, or sensory-motor mismatch.

2. Sensory and Vestibular Rehabilitation

Gentle vestibular therapy, eye movement exercises, and somatosensory stimulation can help recalibrate brain areas involved in autonomic control. These methods are safe during pregnancy and can be customized for trimester-specific comfort.

3. Neurocognitive Exercises

Targeting frontal lobe function can help calm an overactive midbrain. This is key because the frontal lobe inhibits unnecessary autonomic reactions. A healthy brain is a brain that inhibits what it does not need.

Frontal lobe training may include:

  • Simple dual-task processing drills
  • Balance coordination
  • Breath-synchronized movement
  • Visual tracking paired with core stability

4. Manual Fascial Therapy

Fascial restrictions can impact blood flow, lymphatic drainage, and vagus nerve function. Gentle, pregnancy-safe fascial therapy can improve circulation and decrease tension on autonomic nerve pathways.

5. Nutritional and Lifestyle Support

Pregnancy-safe nutritional support might include:

  • Electrolytes to support volume regulation
  • Omega-3s to nourish the brain
  • Magnesium for calming the nervous system
  • B-complex vitamins to support neurotransmitter synthesis

Meal timing, hydration strategies, and structured rest can also improve autonomic stability.

The Success Path: From Overwhelmed to Empowered

Here s what improvement can look like:

  1. Clarity – You finally have an explanation that makes sense.
  2. Support – You begin targeted care that respects your pregnancy and neurology.
  3. Confidence – You trust your body again.
  4. Resilience – You feel better equipped to handle postpartum demands.

The goal is not just symptom reduction—it is restoring your nervous system’s adaptability for the demands of motherhood and beyond.

You Do Not Have to Power Through Alone

If you are pregnant and feel dizzy, foggy, exhausted, or anxious—but typical prenatal care is not helping—it is time to look at the nervous system.

Let’s explore a functional, brain-based approach to POTS and dysautonomia in pregnancy. It is safe. It is non-invasive. And it focuses on making your brain more resilient—not just masking symptoms.

Bonus: What About Postpartum?

A chiropractic neurology approach can also help retrain autonomic balance postpartum, supporting recovery and reducing the risk of long-term nervous system dysregulation.

Many women hope that POTS and dysautonomia symptoms will improve after delivery. While that is sometimes the case, the postpartum period often presents new neurological challenges due to:

  • Hormonal crashes
  • Sleep disruption
  • Nutrient depletion
  • Blood volume normalization

Hormonal levels shift dramatically after birth—especially estrogen and progesterone, which play vital roles in vascular tone and brain function. The sudden drop in these hormones can destabilize autonomic regulation, leaving the nervous system vulnerable.

Sleep deprivation also disrupts circadian rhythms and vagal tone, making symptoms like dizziness, heart palpitations, and anxiety worse. Meanwhile, blood volume contracts, and nutrient stores (like iron, magnesium, B12, and omega-3s) may be depleted—compounding autonomic instability.

From a chiropractic neurology perspective, the goal postpartum is to restore balance in the brain’s regulatory systems. This includes:

  • Activating the vagus nerve to shift out of fight-or-flight
  • Supporting frontal lobe inhibition to reduce anxiety and emotional reactivity
  • Rebuilding sensory-motor integration affected by postpartum demands
  • Addressing nutritional gaps that influence brain and vascular health

The postpartum brain is highly plastic and responsive to care. Timely intervention can help prevent long-term dysregulation—and support the nervous system as it adapts to a new season of life.

If you or someone you love is pregnant and is experiencing POTS-like symptoms or has POTS and wants to be pregnant and you would like to learn how chiropractic neurology can help, contact the team at Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today. We look forward to hearing from you.

Written by Sophie Hose, DC, MS, DACNB, CCSP

Peer-Reviewed Sources:

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