Low BP

Has anyone else had problems with low blood pressure? Mine is dropping all the time almost once a week now and its getting pretty scary!! Yesterday i was home alone with my 3yr old DS, DH was at work, and all i was doing was buttering toast and i felt really sick, extremely hot and dizzy like u do when being knocked out for an operation! It was so scary i quickly grabbed the toast and rushed into the loungeroom to lay down with my feet up. the room still felt like it was spinning and i just wanted to throw up. I got really freaked out cause this is the worst its ever been and i didnt have anyone to call to come over, didnt even have my DH's work number cause it was his first day and i hadnt got the number off him. It took up to half an hour til i felt ok enough to sit up. Normally when it drops i feel hot, sick and light headed and will feel better after laying down for a few minutes. But yesterday it was so much worse... im too scared to have a shower without DH here incase that brought it on (i had shower about 10mins before).
Has anyone else been like this??? Should i be concerned????

HI MummyNelly,

I have trouble with low BP when pregnant. It is scary! I have had some bad fainting, dizzy experiences. I was surprised at how many people can rush over when they see a woman with a pregnant belly faint in the shopping centre (one young guy was kinda cute, not that I was looking - he asked all sorts of questions which made me think he was a med student!)

Seriously, though I would mention it to your OB have it checked. Doesn't mean anything is wrong. When mine was checked, the DRs said everything was fine, it was just me. I was also told that it was a sign that my body was actually coping well with the pregnancy as my organs weren't stressed by being under increased BP. I was also advised to keep my fluids up and always take a bottle of sports drink with me.

Mine BP is usually on the lowish side 100/60, when pregnant to lowest measurement I got was about 90/56 when pregnant.

Have it checked for reassurance.
HTH and all the best.
GIDGET

Thanks for that it makes me feel a little better. I'll be buying some sports drinks! With my first preg my BP was more on the high side so that confuses me a little.

Hi Nell
It is common to have low BP at about your time in your pregnancy. Your body is enlarging all your blood vessels in preparation for all the extra blood your body will make (an increase of about 85%). Unfortunately what can happen is that there is not really enough blood to fill all these expanded vessels causing you to feel faint at times. The best cure is to lay down with your legs higher than your head, (not just your feet)

I am pregnant with my first and have suffered low blood pressure. I fainted at the supermarket and was out cold for about 1 minute at 12 weeks, and fainted at work at 21 weeks (just recently). Both times carted away in an ambulance which was a bit embarrassing because the funny thing is once I wake up I feel (almost) completely back to normal.

Your warning signs are exactly the same as mine. Feel extremely nauseas to the point of almost vomiting and then really very hot and then bang - lights out!!

The scary part is that it all happens in about 20 seconds. No real time to sit down and try and get it back up. Being my first, and not really knowing what was going on, both times I was really worried about about bubs, but she is doing fine, and the kicks show it.

The Drs said that the reason I faint is essentially b/c she is taking everything from me. Adn I have been advised to always carry around little packets of sultanas or dried fruit. It has been helping, and now I make sure I never leave home without it!!

I have low BP naturally and sometimes get faint. and in the last few weeks i have had quite a few of these spells too.... spoke to OB about it and she said this timeof preg can cause it and to lie down or sit down when i feel it come on so i dont faint (legs in air is best) and also to have some sugar/dried fruit/juice/lollies in my bag just t get m blood sugars back up.. so same advice everyone else has posted!!!! It feels pretty awful but unless it happens a LOT i dont think it is anything serious - I would think the main thing to worry about is hurting youself when you faint so get down low as soon as you feel anything! hope it passes soon....

i had low bp throughout my pregnacy - i was told it usually comes up in 3rd trimester but mine didnt. it was on average 90/50.i think being young and relatively fit contributed too (naturally have lower bp's when fit.)
i found eating frequently so that my blood sugar didnt drop helped to. but i worked till 37 weeks and kept trojaning on. it had no effects on bub,