Could low blood pressure be contributing to me feeling crap and how can I help it?

[Bumperlicious]

Saw the dr yesterday and I have very low blood pressure (I did last time too). She wasn't worried but commented on it being low (can't remember the numbers).

It occurred to me today that this could be making me feel worse, eg if I am standing for a long time I feel knackered and sick. Is this blood pressure? Are there any other symptoms. I haven't been feeling dizzy as such, more just lightheaded and unwell.

What can I do help it? Should I be worried? Could this be contributing to me feeling sick all the time?

I have low (ish) blood pressure (113/62 at last visit) and I have to say I feel better when I eat regularly (basically, whenever I feed my toddler, I have something, too!) and also when I am moving around (again, with toddler, not too hard to do ) When completely knackered, though (see above toddler comments....) I find it helpful to rest on my left side with head elevated - my mum's a GP and has low blood pressure and says that helps - also not to keep lying down for too long, change position - maybe 45 minutes to an hour? (nap time... it's a godsend...)

Hope this helps!

Oh, and ask for the numbers - just good to know for general health reasons.

I had this with my first and felt lighteaded, breathless and knackered. I'm now 24 weeks pg with no.3 and am feeling similar so I wouldn't be surprised if my blood pressure turns out to be low at my next appt.

I asked with no.1 if it was a problem and if I could do anything about it, the answer to both questions was a 'no'.

So I don't think you need to be worried but I can't offer any advice to ease the symptoms I'm afraid!

Thanks 14hours... I'm going to try that!

I also find the symptoms a lot worse when I'm tired so I try and make sure I rest when I need to.

Thanks both, will get her to write them down next time.

Breathless too? Is that a symptom? I struggled to get up the 3 flights of stairs to my office today (am mostly using the lift anyway as I feel sick) but couldn't believe I was that unfit!

I had low blood pressure throughout this pregnancy, normally 100/60, sometimes 90/60, it made me feel low and rubbish, breathless, sluggish, sometimes got spots in front of my eyes...
To combat it, I tried to eat regularly and not go to long between meals, keep hydrated and sit down rather than stand up whenever I possibly could. I also found I wasn't very good at standing up in the shower, it made me hot and dizzy, so I swapped back to having baths.

Your BP should be written in your hand-held notes? My midwife was always sympathetic and suggested the things above, but also reminded me it was better to be low than high as that is more of a concern.

I have lbp when I'm not pregnant, and when I'm pregnant it gets lower (typically 90/58).

I have always been told to eat properly, (i.e. don't wait to long between meals) drink plenty of water and move slowly, especially when standing up from a sitting/lying position.

Look on the bright side, it's better to have low rather than high bp.

Mine is low too, normally 110ish/60, but when I'm pregnant around 90/60 (I am pregnant with dc3). When I was pregnant with dd2 I passed out at an antenatal appointment at the hospital (I think it was around 70/something), and they kept me in until it came back up (the next day unfortunately).

I find the worse triggers for me to feel woozy are going from cold -hot rooms (or vice versa), over hot baths, standing up for too long, sitting for too long-then getting up quickly.

I agree with all the above tips. Also, when i had dd2 my bp really dipped when they gave me an epidural, so might be worth being aware of that.

Mine is at around 90/50 so really quite low. I'm now 22 weeks and feeling a bit better so maybe it has risen (not seen MW since 16wks) but the dizziness has been awful. I can't stnd for long at all, so ironing is an issue lol, felt nauseous, no energy etc.

Seeing MW next Fri so will see what it's at now.

Not sure there's much you can do tbh, staying hydrated is key really as is eating regularly and keeping sugar levels maintained.

Mine is always low - even when not pg - typically 90/60, so I am prone to fainting and dizziness.

I find eating little and often, not getting up too quickly and sitting when possible (although I have restless legs really badly so that's hard for me!), all help.

Just try and take it easy - not sure there is a 'quick fix' though!