32 weeks and can't sit up without blacking out - is there anything that can be done?

[NorkyButNice]

I've had low-ish blood pressure throughout pregnancy - at last checkup it was 97 over 55 which the midwife said was on the low side but not anything to really worry about.

Unsurprisingly I've been suffering from light-headedness, dizziness and nausea since about 20 weeks, but the last few days it's got ridiculous. If upright for more than a few minutes I start blacking out, and today I literally can't sit up without the world starting to spin immediately. My heart is racing, I feel sick and my vision has gone to pot.

The midwife said a couple of weeks ago that there's nothing they can do for low blood pressure and I just need to rest with my feet up, but things have got a lot worse since then. Anyone have any experience of this? I can't go another 8 weeks lying on my back!

Oh you poor thing, that feels really unpleasant. My BP at its lowest was about 100 over 60, and the light-headedness was sometimes overwhelming. But also strangely enjoyable - euphoric, even. Except when I went all fuzzyand had to sit down for a while.

I didn't have nausea from low BP, but I did get nauseated from low iron. Are you taking any iron supplements? Even if your iron levels are at the low end of normal but not yet technically anaemic, some people can feel ill and benefit greatly from supplementing.

Your BP should start rising again in the last trimester, so hopefully you will soon feel some relief. I believe that drinking plenty may also help keep your BP at a more normal level - but I'm not a medic, I simply remember this from when my grandmother's BP kept dropping.

Have you spoken to the mw since your last appt?

It's the nausea that's horrible - I feel like I'm drunk actually which loses its appeal after 12 weeks!

I've left a message on the midwife's phone so hopefuly
she'll get back to me today. My iron levels were fine at my 24 week check, can they drop for no reason? I'm suffering badly from constipation already so want to avoid iron tablets if possible!

As for water, I'm drinking like it's going out of fashion - I must get through 2 pint glasses an hour at least.

Thanks for the reply!

They can drop, yes. If you need to take iron, don't take the NHS prescription. Get somethig from the healthshop called either

gentle iron
or
iron bisglycinate
or
chelated iron

These are all non-constipating and also better absorbed than the iron sulphate that the NHS prescribes. Also more expensive of course!

When did you last have your sugar levels checked? That is also something that can change as pregnancy progresses. Beign nauseated and unquenchably thirsty can be signs of glucose intolerance. Glucose intolerance does not necessarily mean that you have gestational diabetes, but it can lead to that. If your sugar levels are high, the first step to controlling them is through diet, and it can be very effective.

You need, I think, to see your mw soon to check these things.