Low blood pressure?

[greenlawn]

My blood pressure has always been on the high-ish side - usually about 130/80 in previous pregnancies - rather than the low side. My first pregnancy I had a couple of occasions when it went much higher than that.

This pregnancy I've noticed it getting lower and lower with each appointment - from 128/80 at 12 weeks to now being 107/70. I'm now 32 weeks and feeling very breathless, faint and sick, and having palpitations especially when I lie down. Is this normal when your blood pressure goes down?

I realise for a lot of people 107/70 would be quite normal but for me its lower than I'm used to - would that make a difference? About to have my bloods done again and I think I might be anaemic too, as I've had this before and it all feels quite familiar. Any help appreciated.

[hester]

My blood pressure is always on the low side, and got very low in pregnancy. Apparently this is not uncommon. In the UK low blood pressure is not treated as a health concern (unlike in many other parts of the world) so I was given no advice on managing it at all, but I did find it difficult - feeling that you're about to pass out several times a day is no joke when you're eight months pregnant and on London Transport.

I'm sorry I've got no useful advice on this. I just tried to avoid getting over-tired, kept my blood sugar as stable as possible, and did lots of putting my head between my knees (or rather, as near to my knees as they could manage) as and when necessary.

[3littlefrogs]

Sounds like anaemia. Also, are you drinking enough in this warm weather? You could be dehydrated. also, your doctor should lise
ten to your chest and probably do an ECG to make sure the palpitations are nothing to worry about. Mention it when you go to have your bloods done.

[JodieG1]

Am my lowest in pregnancy I think mine was about 80/50, they always used to comment on it and thought they'd missed it. I felt ok though and I've also had high bp for my first pregnancy. My normal was about 85/55.

[greenlawn]

Thanks hester that's useful. Blood sugar is interesting as I've very recently lost interest in food (due to feeling sick) so I probably need to make more effort there.

The travel situation - I feel your pain. The only person who ever gave up their seat for me was a pregnant woman and we had a very civilised "no, after you" "no really, you have it" discussion about who needed it most!

[accessorizequeen]

It is apparently very common but incredibly frustrating & I find quite worrying at times when I feel so dizzy when driving. Mine got down to 90/50 or something like that with last pg & I have fainted a lot this time round.

Advice I've been given is to eat regularly as hester says, drink loads of water to keep blood vessels moving and caffeine and/or salt will help as a quick fix. Drinking loads does really help actually. I had bad spells monday and a few squares of dark choc helped things pass! It's really bad for me in 3rd pg albeit with dt's, but got much worse in 1st & 2nd pg in the 3rd trimester. Unfortunately, it isn't seen as a problem, well it's not harming the baby I suppose but I find it pretty problematic!

[greenlawn]

Thanks ladies, x-posted with you. Good God, 80/50, I don't think I could stand upright ... definitely not eating and drinking enough at the mo.. thanks for the advice.

[hester]

Ah, now I ALWAYS got a seat on the tube! (I'm a bit of a scary lady...) I got so used to it that I now feel quite outraged when I have to stand, like "Can't you people tell that once upon a time I used to be pregnant?"

But seriously - yes, blood sugar is definitely one to watch. Try to eat little and often - that might help with the nausea too.

And in this weather, try keeping a small bottle of water in the fridge (at home and at work) and holding it between your ankles on the tube. For some reason the cold helped my faintness, and if you need to you can drink it too.

[stiggywiggywoo]

I had exactly the same symptoms as you at 28 weeks - it was really horrible. It turned out to be anaemia which can also lower your bp apparently. After a couple of weeks of iron tablets I felt like a new woman and my bp came up a bit. Unlike other people I had no problems with the iron tablets at all and took them with orange jice to absorb them quicker. Hope you feel better.

[accessorizequeen]

actually it occurs to me I haven't been taking my iron supplement (spatone) for a few weeks, so that might be why my bp is worse. Spatone no good if you're actually anaemic (I'm not) but great if you're borderline or just need to bump things up a little. Helps with energy too.

[greenlawn]

Thanks v.much - today has been horrible! Too hot and airless! Can't wait for this baby to be born ...