Anyone else have problems with low blood pressure?

[muddylettuce]

I am really struggling to manage my low blood pressure this pregnancy. I am so breathless all the time, my heart feels like it's going to bang out of my chest most of the time and I keep fainting. I hate being short of breath, it panics me which probably makes it worse. I originally thought it was iron deficiency as I had that in my last pregnancy and it was thought to be the cause of my fainting episodes but this time my iron is fine (I am 28 weeks). The doctor told me to drink lots and drink caffeine. I am trying this but I don't have time to drink endless tea with a toddler. I am currently recovering from having a shower and getting us both dressed drinking my 3rd cup of tea and second glass of water of the day (at 9am). Anyone have any tips to cope with this?

Can you get a sports bottle and fill it with water/squash? You can then sip on this throughout the day and get your fluids up in small quantities rather then trying to drink a whole cup at a time.

Do you know what your iron results are? Mine were borderline at 28 weeks- so GP told me to take iron tablets and Midwife told me not to.
I took them because I am senstive to the amount of iron in my blood and my bp was through the floor. I kept getting faint when I was sitting down. One person's normal iron level is too low for another.
10 days later and I was a new woman although I still had low bp. If I'd listened to the midwife I would've been in a terrible state. She talked the biggest load of bollocks.

I was told by my mw to increase my salt intake. Obviously not recommending this without you checking with your own hcp! But it resolved bp and almost stopped my morning sickness too

Thanks guys, I will ask about iron at next appointment, I feel absolutely awful so anything is worth a go! I remember iron did me the world of good last time. X

Me too, im going through tests at mo as I am suffering from tachycardia, heartrate is going up to 180 and bp as low as 67/35. Definately check iron levels as mine was 10.7 at 24 weeks, they wasnt going to treat this but I insited, glad I did because even with iron tablets by 28 weeks it had dropped again to 9.5. Definately think it affects people different. You have my sympathies, its awful! x

I had problems with low blood pressure in my 2nd trimester, I was told to increase salt (I don't usually use salt) and caffeine (I don't drink tea or coffee), stand up slowly and keep hydrated.

I found drinking water from a bottle helped as I could monitor how much I was drinking and sipping a small bottle of coke throughout the day. I also started putting a small amount of salt on my dinner and carried a packet of ready salted crisps with me in case I needed a quick hit whilst out.

It did help and I found as I went in to the 3rd trimester it settled down, I had no problems from about 30wks - 35wks but found last week I started to feel dizzy again so have started sipping coke again. I'm 37+4 now so not long to put up with it and definitely easier to manage now I'm on mat leave.

I'm glad I saw this post! I have low bp (85/48) plus lowish hb of 10.7 (although I've been taking max dose iron since 12 weeks, I'm now 30). I've been feeling dreadful. I'm going to try upping my salt like some of you have mentioned and at least I can stop feeling guilty about of caffeine I drink!