Dizziness advice needed

[LittleB]

I'm 16 weeks pregnant and have had fairly low blood pressure, latest reading was 90/50. I've had the odd dizzy spell so I've been trying to have lots of snacks, drink, stand up slowly etc and it hasn't been too bad until yesterday. I was at a work Christmas lunch and I'd just finished a large christmas dinner, when I started feeling faint, I went into the loo to splash cold water over me, but still felt really bad, collapsed on the toilet floor, and the dizziness stayed for ages, about 10mins, didn't quite pass out as I raised my legs up, but I took a long time to feel better and I then developed a headache which stayed for the rest of the day (unusual as I rarely get headaches). A colleague who used to be a nurse came looking for me, and took me outside when I was feeling a bit better to cool off - I was very warm, She's said that it will probably get worse during my pregnancy and I may need to stop work early. I've read about dizziness due to standing up quickly and not eating enough, but i'd just eaten - after snacking all morning and hadn't moved from sitting for about an hour. I do wonder if I may have overheated as I'd been working outside in the cold all morning and the pub was quite warm. But any advice on how to prevent this, if it is down to low blood pressure and if its likley to get worse would be really useful. Sorry to rant on. I would ring my midwife but she's on holiday.

Oh LittleB that sounds really horrible, I hope you are feeling alot better now? Are you at home? I dont have any advice for you other than please look after yourself and follow the advice that the others give you. Take care xxxxxxxx

Hi Northstar, I am at work again today, although I went home yesterday after the lunch with the intention of doing some paperwork and fell asleep. Seem to be feeling ok today, but I'm worried it will keep happening and could affect my work. Don't know if its bad for the baby either.

You're the third person on the duemay05 thread to suffer. Did you read about the others? I'm not sure who it was now and have to go collect ds from playschool but i will look back for you later if you want.

Just did a search Northstar and Cab and Logic both had low blood pressure so will post my message on the Due in May thread too, and see if they've got any advice.
Thanks Northstar.

Poor you especially when your pregnant. I also suffer from low blood pressure and have fainted a few times. I personally try to avoid crowded places which are warm like lifts or trains, but I know this isn't allways possible. My consultant told me that as soon as I get that hot sweaty feeling like I'm going to faint to lie down on my side and stay put for a little bit until I feel better. I have made the mistake of getting up too quickly after fainting and then fainting again so it's best to lie down. You feel like you have been hit over the head afterwards after fainting I have always gone home and taken it easy for the rest of the day ( probably not necessary though). See what your GP says. I also have a blood pressure machine - which can be usefull, but can also put too much emphasis on it all.

Hi LittleB, sorry to hear about your experiences, they don't sound like much fun.... I have heard that often low bp can be exacerbated (sp?!) by dehydration, so make sure you are drinking lots of water.... (I think I read something on the bbc news website about it the other day, you might want to look it up, not clever enough to post links myself.....!). Good luck...