Anybody else got stupidly low blood pressure?

[Cattleprod]

My midwife took my blood pressure earlier this week and it was 85/50 .

It's normally quite low - 100/60ish, but this is ridiculous! Midwife wasn't worried in the slightest, said it's normal for it to drop in the 2nd trimester (I'm 17 weeks) but surely there's a limit as to how low it can go?

Does anybody know any safe ways (breathing techniques etc) to increase blood pressure so I won't feel so dizzy every time I stand up? All the info I can find seems to be about lowering blood pressure!

Hi, I dont know of any ways to raise it but it shouldn't be anything to be concerned about. Make sure you take deep breaths and stand up slowly in the short term. Your blood pressure should return to normal by the end of the 2nd trimester.

I have ridiculously low BP, it runs in my family.

At my 9 week booking in appt, it was 80/40. The midwife was worried to take a blood sample in case I wouldn't be able to stand up! I could of course.

My GP was not worried in the slightest. I think it dropped that low (I'm usually around 90/60), because I had such bad morning sickness, so my fluids were low and I was losing weight rapidly, classic cause of low BP apparently.

You can raise it by sipping sipping sipping water. If you need to pee every 2 hours, you are doing great!

I have low BP and have been told to do the following:

-drink lots of water - 3litres a day
-increase your salt intake
-when you feel dizzy, clenching your bum forces blood upwards
-if you feel dizzy getting out of bed, sleep with your head as elevated as possible and don't get up straight away when you wake up. Sit up first and get used to sitting before you try to stand. Clench your bum when you stand up.

I could have written your post! I'm 29 weeks now and it's still on the low side. If you get really hot, dizzy then SIT DOWN as your about to faint! I've done that a few times this preg and scared the shire out of myself!
I find that my regular excersize / gym going hasn't effected it but I do crave salty things so that's interesting!
Avoid Quing as standing still makes me faint.
Eating doesn't effect but dinking helps.
You'll get told off the Mw / gp it's not a bad thing/ your lucky! Relly pisses me off to be honest

Hi im the same, 22 weeks and keep fainting at work. Im a carer for the disabled so cant exactly stop in my tracks and lie down grr! Saw my nurse yesterday (type 1 diabetic so see her every 2 weeks) and she says its very common to have low bp and its a lot better for the baby (esp with me being diabetic) and theres nothing you can do about it. extremely annoying though, not used to being this dependent on people. Cant even go food shopping never mind the exciting kind. roll on sept (ha ha im under the illusion that my life will be back to normal then...)

Mine was 70/30 when i had hyperemesis...hydration is definitely the key..drink drink drink

I always have low blood pressure. 90/60 is about right for me when not pregnant but nearer 80/50 when I am pregnant. Mostly if I drink lots and don't run marathons for kicks, it doesn't affect me. But if I become dehydrated or tired, it's very dizzy making.

Hydration is important. Getting up slowly. Keeping iron levels up (because mild anaemia coupled with low blood pressure is bloody awful), lying on your left side, not overheating and taking things as ridiculously slowly as you can.

I've just been to see the consultant - routine appointment - and my bp was 80/50. I'm 22w pg with twins. It's far better for it to be low than high and it's in the safe boundaries. I have had problems with dehydrating and was told to avoid all fruit drinks and just have water. Very dull.

PrincessScrumpy, my bp is 80/50 at 22 weeks and really if you find water dull it's going to be such a chore to stay hydrated. My consultant recommends drinking whatever you fancy (within reason). I drink milk, organic squash, water, diluted orange juice and fruit teas. I couldn't drink only water if you paid me.

My bp is always around 90/60 - sometimes slightly lower. No one ever seems concerned - lucky us for not having high blood pressure I say!

Yes - I can't physically donate blood as they can't get it out of me.

It runs in my family too, and I had even lower BP during both my pregnancies. The doctor said the only drawback was feeling a bit faint if I stood up too fast!

cattleprod really feel for you as I had low blood pressure with DC1 and I mean low think if I'd had your reading I would have thrown a party.

It may get better, mine improved in my second trimester, think I won't mention my third trimester at the moment though.

What I did want to say is don't worry too much about it happening again, my blood pressure was fine with DC2.

Hope it goes back to normal for you soon.

Thanks for all the advice and tips - I'll keep sipping weak squash or milk as water tastes foul imo. I'll try the salty foods and bum clenching too!! My iron is fine - 13.1 last time they tested but I'll keep taking the Spatone just in case.

Does anybody know what the safe minimum blood pressure is? Last year following a mc the docs put me on a hydration drip as my bp went too low. They never told me the figures though.

Don't know what the figures are but if it goes too low you will know, you will be in an ambulance. Speaking from experience that is.

ha ha at dr saying "feel a bit faint if you stand up too fast" I wish this was all it was!

There is no "safe minimum" as it is different for everyone, 80/50 might be perfectly normal for one person but extremely low for someone, also 180/95 might be normal for one person but extremely high for someone else.
as long as you are still passing urine then thats ok for you, also as long as you are not feeling very dizzy.
You need to dink more, you are probably dehydrated.