What are the symptoms of high/low blood pressure?

[tee4two]

Hi all. I'm currently 24+6 with my ds3 and have been having what i call 'episodes' that i find hard to explain to anyone but do find it worrying.
I have had normal bp throughout all my pregnancies, with just one occasion this time where the nurse said it was rather low [116/70 at booking and then 114/58 at hospital visit].
So...... these 'episodes'....
I am extremely tired just now, not the normal pregnancy tired but weak, no energy, etc, and then i get these feelings that come over me and last for about a minute each time. No pain at all, no tightening in bump, but a bit tingly all over, slightly breathless, and my heartbeat becomes very strong, pounding in my ears but not racing. If i take some deep breaths it helps, but it does cause me to stop what i'm doing for a mo.
I'm just wondering if it could be my bp either being too low or too high but dont know what the symptoms for this are.
If anyone is still reading this and is clever enough to understand vague descriptions i would be glad of any advice, I had to ring in sick for work yesterday as i just hadnt the energy to move.
Also my replies might be a bit sporadic as ds2 is getting a bit fractious and needs mummy! Sorry its so long.

It sounds like you may have anemia. All symptoms you have described are the same as I have experienced for the past couple of months. I am 31 weeks PG an was diognosed with anemia two weeks ago after an "episode" which also resulted in nasty nosebleeds.

A classic sign of anemia is severe tiredness.
I get the palpitations and fizzy feeling. Also I suffer with the restless leg syndrome where you feel uncomfortable when lieing down and have to move my legs to stop it.

if your worried I recommend a trip to gps. They may sggest a blood test to find out your HB levels.

Hope you feel better soon

Sounds quite like what I've been having for the past month or so too. I'm 23+3 weeks and three times now walking to work I've had to stop several times to put my head between my knees because I feel so faint and dizzy.

I went to my GP who said my bp is low (I ordinarily have low bp which is fine, but GP said that any temporary drop would have a bigger impact on someone with low bp than someone with normal bp - pretty obvious really). She also sent me for an ECG (results came back fine) and I had my blood tests re-done.

I saw her yesterday and was diagnosed with dilutional anaemia. Apparently it's really common in pregnancy because your blood volume increases so much that the proportionate number of red blood cells in the blood is lower than normal. She's prescribed me iron supplements which come with the delightful side effects of constipation and black poo! But it's really important to get anaemia sorted before the birth because it can mean that your blood doesn't clot which could be dangerous after the birth. Go and see your GP - I'm sure he/she will sort you out. Good luck!

yup you sound anaemic

Thanks, I thought it could be this last month as i had just suffered with a nasty stomache bug and these feelings lasted a week. I described them to MW and she said my bloods were fine when they were tested for iron so it cant be, bp was fine cant be that so if i'm worried to see my GP.
I'm so glad someone understood my weird explanation, will try to get in to see GP who may be more helpful than MW.
Thanks again

How long ago did they test your iron levels? They tested mine at 16 weeks and all was hunky dorey. It can change any time and especially as the baby grows as the placenta is also growing which then requires more iron.

try a different iron supplement, spatone or floridex,which don;t cause the consitpation issue !

Oysterpots, if you can get to a healthfood shop Floradix iron supplement does not give you those side effects (I used to get them with Ferrogradumet so I am guessing that is what you are on).

They took my bloods at 10+6 to do all the usual screening thingies, the result was 12.1 but I know that things change over time, and I did need iron tablets with ds1. Its good to know i'm not imagining things.

i was like this, but it went undetected, until I collapsed at 33 weeks. Get it sorted Eat tons of dried apricots, spinach, greens etc and is a natural boost. The apricots will help you to go to the loo, as will drinking tons of water

I don't think many PG women are anemic at that stage, it is more likely in the second and third trimesters. I really canny belive your midwife didn't bother to check your bloods again .

I am on pregaday at the mo and am feeling loads better now, although the constipation is bad .

Lulu suggested spa tone water which sounds better lol

Hope you get this sorted soon x

Went to GP yesterday and Ive had to go for blood test today, results through by friday or at latest monday. The nurse who took my blood was very helpful and said from my symptoms it certainly sounds like anemia.
Hopefully it wont be long before i'm feeling loads better.
Thanks to you all for advice.

Oh thats great!!!

Glad it's getting sorted.

tee4two, I was like this during my last pg and collapsed when 7 months pg knocked my head, blacked out for 20 minutes & ended up in hospital. I was only slightly anaemic but did suffer very low bp "episodes". They gave me iron pills which, IMO, are rubbish. Get Spatone - that is great, I still take it now. You can't do anything about low bp so when you feel an "episode" coming on, lie down on your left side 'til it passes. Good luck.