Couldn't tell you much about #1, but I have some info on 2...
I think actual fainting is rare these days, but it does happen. It could be from any one of a number of factors (being pregnant has an effect on every part of your body), but I think the most common is low blood sugar.
Basically, you've got a parasitic organism growing in your body, pulling as much nourishment out of your blood as it wants, with little to no regard for your health or needs.
Not only that, but it's actively interfering with your system, pumping hormones and things into your blood to trick your body into accomodating it even more. This can, in fact, lead to a form of temporary diabetes.
So, the baby pulls the sugar out of your blood and interferes with your internal regulation of blood sugar. If you're not careful, it's entirely possible that your blood sugar will become dangerously low (or, for that matter, dangerously high), which could cause you to pass out.
Paul
