Can someone explain blood pressure to me?

[SarahL2]

Midwife last Tuesday said my blood pressure was 110/60. She said that this was low but probably normal for me as BP had been exactly that same at booking in. She did say it should be going up by now but didn't seem worried.

Different midwife today says my blood pressure is 100/60 and that this is fine.

100/60 seems lower than 110/60 to me?! But I know nothing about blood pressure...

I have regular headaches, dizzy spells, a complete lack of energy and frequent nausea. I told midwife today - she seemed unbothered. Put headaches down to just being pregnant. Advised I eat well and agreed with me that drinking lots might help. She seemed completely unbothered that I wasn't feeling well so I gave up - have had rotten experiences with midwives in the past and am beginning to hate the lot of them!

Can anyone explain to me what those readings mean? Has my blood pressure gone down some more? Is there anything I can do - other than plumbing myself into the mains water as this is the only way I could drink more! - to raise my blood pressure so I don't feel so dreadful all the time? I missed the whole weekend cause I felt so awful all I wanted to do was lay on the sofa! DS is missing out and I have a kitchen to finish before DC2 comes along!!!

Can anyone help?

You should definitely get your iron levels checked again, just to rule out anaemia. Mine had dipped and my midwife has advised me to use Spatone to boost my levels a bit.

Hope you feel better soon

Spoke to the midwife who says she doesn't think I need my iron levels checked. They were 13.5 when I had my bloods done in June and I would apparently need to have had a serious illness or a bleed for them to have fallen enough to require any treatment.

She has suggested maybe my blood glucose levels are low and to eat more and more frequently!! How I'm going to manage this I'm not sure but I'll give it a try.

Anything to feel better!!

Just in case it helps: my BP was 106/50 at 12 weeks and 100/48 at 16 weeks. Have just had my 24 week check and it's up to 120/60.

I've been eating olives, salted peanuts and a heavy handed helping of salt on every meal though.

Thanks Broodzilla.

Will stick to my McCoy's though I think cause I don't like Olives and can't have peanuts cause DH and I have hayfever and excema and don't want to risk a nut allergy in DC. Still, a fab excuse isn't it

Are they not worried about pre eclampsia with you now then? I was told your blood pressure has to rise my 20 (not sure which number though) for them to diagnose it? If it's the second number or your blood pressure was higher when they booked you in then you're fine. I'm just a little worried cause I had it last time...

Oh dear... I've got no idea! Will go and have a quick google... Thanks for the heads up.

Googling is always dangerous....

Plus, remember I have no idea what I'm talking about. My blood pressure went up from normal last time so I ended up with high blood pressure. I'm sure up from low is a much better way to do it

Everything OK Broodzilla?

my bp got lower as my preg progressed. by the time it reached 90/50 I was feeling terrible in the mornings and would have to sit with my head between my knees for 10mins when i reached work . my obs wasn't bothered- seemed quite chuffed it was low. Said to drink coffee. I did find that not eating breakfast and just having a coffee instead made a difference. not v healthy tho'. I thought maybe eating took blood supply to stomach and dropped it further??? not a doc, obviously!!!
mw often seem reluctant to check iron. by the time mine was checked my iron stores were depleted and it took months of supplements to fix it. Does your heart ever race when you're lying down?? that can be a sign of anaemia.
good luck - i hope you find something to make you feel better soon. there's far too much complacency and "well you are pregnant, you know" attitude when one complains of anything out of the ordinary imho

Actually potassium doesn't lower your blood pressure, and potassium is an important mineral, so bananas are good for you. They are a good source of slow release energy too, which might be helpful if you aren't able to eat much due to nausea.

You probably don't need to drink quite as much water - blood pressure is only affected if you are dehydrated. Once you are normally hydrated, the excess will just be pee'd out - hopefully that will help cut down all those loo trips

Blood pressure can naturally drop a bit during the second trimester, as you have more blood vessels in your uterus. Also it can vary from visit to visit depending on who is taking the reading, and how your body is that day.

If you aren't able to eat much, you could be feeling faint from low blood sugar.

Seems that you were kind of right, Sarah.
Apparently, they used to think that if your BP rose a certain amount then that might indicate Pre-eclampsia. Now, they just make a note of it if it happens... so am non the wiser really.
Won't be losing sleep over it though as at least I feel better now.

Interesting that haraslou found coffee helped bring the BP up - I started having a mug a day about 20 weeks, mainly to keep me awake but maybe that's what did the trick?

To be diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, the two things they generally look for are high blood pressure plus protein in your urine.

Pre-eclampsia is more common in first pregnancies, or if you have a new father (I think it's something to do with your body not being used to the dad's genetic material - but don't quote me on that )