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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Low blood pressure in pregnancy

52 replies

Upwind · 31/07/2008 09:40

Has anyone had this - my midwife told me mine was very low but nothing to worry about (at 14 weeks). She said it just meant I would feel faint, dizzy and weak a lot and there was nothing I could do about it.

If you had or have it, did it persist throughout pregnancy?

OP posts:

Original poster

Upwind · 01/08/2008 11:00

Thanks all!!!

Mumsnet rocks!

OP posts:

ladytophamhatt · 01/08/2008 11:05

Traa la la la la la la

I can beat you all in the low BP stakes.

With ds3 mine was 71/40.

The mw checked it several times, and her equipment.

She siad I should be on the floor with BP that low.
The GP commented on it too at a different ante natal appt.

I only ever fainted once, at 8 weeks when pg with ds2...in barclays banks.
I dread to think how low it was then if I didn't faint at 71/40.

stuckinthecorner · 01/08/2008 11:38

Mine was v low during both pregnancies - once was rescued from a chiller cabinet in M&S cos it was the only place cool enough so I didnt feel faint! (Got sent` home in a taxi with my shopping - only when I got home that I realised I hadnt paid for a thing .. lovely M&S staff).

I agree with eating little and often and carrying fluid - I found water of no help and had craving for orange Oasis stuff. I think the slight sugariness helped.

I felt at my worst in the shower - especially if washing my hair,, I think due to getting a hot head and the position of my neck stopping the blood flow. Could only tolerate vv cool water and couldnt stay in for long...fainted once so after that never showered when alone in the house... just in case.

Once I`d delivered the best thing was to be able to stand up and move straight away... not stand up and hold onto something for a mo while my head stopped swimming...

Good Luck...

hanaflower · 01/08/2008 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OurHamsterisevil · 01/08/2008 14:45

I had low BP, as in 90/65 in both pregs. It just meant I had to be careful not to stand up too quickly. And to eat regularly. My GP told me I was at risk of fainting, but never fainted in either pg as I was aware of my BP.

I'm sure you will be fine. And most MW's will tell you its good, because its much healthier than High BP

littlemisssplendid · 02/08/2008 08:52

I had really low blood pressure and kept fainting. Baby was fine it was just my giant uterus stealing the blood intended for my head.

The worrying thing was that it was at its worst in the morning after breakfast (blood went to uterus and digestive system not brain) and I had to pull over on the side of the motorway when driving to work and lie down!! The doctor therefore signed me off on the sick for a couple of weeks before maternity leave was due to start, which meant I got extra time at home (but didn't lose any money).

You should try it

star6 · 02/08/2008 09:14

Mine is usually quite low as well... last time it was 80/50 and i consider that normal for me, pregnant or not. gp / mw always comments on it being low and asks if I feel dizzy, if I eat enough carbohydrates/sugars...etc. I work really hard on getting the eating thing right - eating enough and getting all of the right nutrients and that helps, but doesn't raise bp. I used caffeine to raise bp pre pregnancy, but would never use it during... when I asked mw / gp about that, they both said try to stay away from caffeine as much as possible. But if I'm feeling really low/dizzy to have bread/carbs or fruit (natural sugars).

stitch · 02/08/2008 09:44

i had it at the beginning of the third tirmester. had to make sure i rested and drank lots of fluids.
then i had pre eclampsia!

Rosa · 02/08/2008 10:04

As been said v low in 1st 3 mths 80/60 90/65 ona good day - and I am an ample 18. Have been told to watch what I eat but if don't eat sugar/ carbs am then I faint / get dizzy. In really hot weather I get really bad. AT doc before blood tests I hit 100/68 after blood he took it again as he thought I was OTT about it being low and I dropped to 98/65 . I also have irregular heart beat so the new fangled digital machines often get it wrong! If Mw not worried then I wouldn't just be aware and have a snack handy. Have heard liquorice is good for low BP but can't stand the stuff

jenwa · 02/08/2008 20:14

mine normally low, its better in pregnancy as it gives it time to creep up whilst you are in labour without shooting too high and ending up with high BP.

castlesintheair · 03/08/2008 10:14

I had it with all mine. It was worse with my last pg when I fainted a lot. I ended up in hospital when I blacked out for a good 20 minutes one morning (mornings are always worse) and bashed my head during the fall. Be careful and rest when you can. You get to know the signs: I used to lie down quickly on my side and elevate my feet slightly. Take Spatone too.

kama · 03/08/2008 10:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MonnowCyclist · 03/08/2008 16:17

I've got fairly low BP which did make me a bit fainty occasionally during both pgs - got sent home from work once by company nurse but GP was a bit sniffy about it - got the impression views differ from medical person to person, but agin no probs as long as kept emergency food available - good luck!

lousue · 03/08/2008 19:50

BP varies greatly in everyone - it depends on what your baseline is. Drop in BP normal mid trimester (Something to do with secondary placental implantation) So take it as a positive. It will settle, just take care getting up quickly etc.

Lou (Ex midwife)

mummyov2 · 04/08/2008 00:07

hi.. low blood pressure is deffo better than high!! i had really high bp during both my 2 pregnancy's and spent alot of my time in and out of hosp.. ended up with 2 c-sections because of it.. it didnt really affect the growth of my 1st.. but my 2nd didnt grow as fast as she should have..because my bp was soo high the blood was going through the placenta too fast for her to get the stuff she needed..had to have twice weekly scans for last 10 weeks .. plus consultant appoint every week.. she was 4lb3 when she was born and only 39cm .. compared to my son 8lb9 and 56cm! so yeah deffo better to have low!!

PotPourri · 04/08/2008 00:11

I had this. I have low blood pressure usually too. Just don't stand up too quickoly, drink lots, adn make sure yoiu don't overheat either as that can make you worse.

Other than the risk of falling/fainitng, it is actually quite good for your health to have low blood pressure - or so the doctor told me...

WombFor1More · 04/08/2008 13:09

I have low BP in every preg. Last yime with dd I fainted everywhere!!!

This time though for some reason I actually feel ok.At my 31wk MW app last Thurs it was 84/46.

MW kept asking if I was sure I was ok and why did I have BP that low in summer hols with 3 small kiddies to run around after lol!?

At least I haven't fainted, yet

struwellpeter · 04/08/2008 15:48

Can I join the low bp club? Every time they take it they say, 'are you sure you're really all right? Not dizzy at all?'

Had a funny incident when expecting number 4 and the consultant whom I was seeing to get the OK to have the birth in a midwife unit asked a poor unsuspecting medical student to take my bp. Student fumbled around for quite some time before saying,'I'm really sorry Mr..., there seems to be something wrong with the equipment'. 'Oh nonsense' said the consultant on being told that my bp was shown as 68/45 'you can see she's perfectly healthy. That's quite normal.'

Dh was always the one to break it to the midwives when I went into labour that my impressively 'low' figures during labour were for me super high.

Much better than being high anyway. Hope all goes well for you.

EssieW · 04/08/2008 21:19

yep me. Though never felt at all odd with it.
Midwife said it was nothing to worry about and a more positive sign than negative if that makes sense

Twinklemegan · 04/08/2008 21:23

Mine got down to 90/60 which worried me a lot but the MWs weren't that bothered. I can't say I really noticed it causing me a problem.

CantSleepWontSleep · 04/08/2008 21:31

Amazing how differently different m/w react to this apparently low BP. Mine was 95/60 today, and my mw said that she wished she had my BP!

jenwa · 05/08/2008 09:03

Yes, my MW usualy say's good healthy BP!!!

sketti · 05/08/2008 10:24

i'm 32 weeks now with low heart rate, i fainted last week for the first time, but it was due to other facters as well as a water infection and slight anaemia which you should watch for with low blood pressure.So my advise is keep a check on other thing in your body and avoid too much heat.

Original poster

Upwind · 05/08/2008 10:28

It is amazing how differently MWs have reacted to low blood pressures.

I can't help wondering as well, if having had my lunch and a cup of tea before hand would have brought it up?

OP posts:

MLWfirsttimemum · 05/08/2008 11:18

I normally have fairly low bloodpressure but it went to 92/60ish a couple of weeks ago. The midwife said only to be concerned if it went lower than 85. Her recommendation was to make sure I ate breakfast (and as I don't normally do that I now eat a piece of fruit on my way to the train) and make sure I carried snacks with me so I now carry those 'baby packs' of raisins with me everywhere. My uncle who is a doctor also recommended 'bouncing' on your feet if you feel faint and can't sit down i.e. on the train. As it happens my bloodpressure is now back to above 100 so it may have been temporary and from all I have been able to find out absolutely better to have high bloodpressure than low.

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