BP too low?

[MiaMama]

For some reason my BP spiked the night before I delivered my daughter to 140s over 90s. I had been feeling sick for a while up to that, and thought maybe my bp was only going up at night, because it was always normal at my prenatal appointments. I never spilled protien or glucose or anything, so it was not really pre-e, right? just PIH.

So now I am 30 wks with my second, and I have a home BP cuff so I can check at various times of the day. Lately I have been feeling a bit ill. I have headaches, feel dizzy, and just plain feel off. So, I take my BP at those times, and it is low, even low for me, and low bp runs in my family. Today, it was 95/43. Should I be worried?

Anyone else experience this? It seems to be making me feel bad, although I havent really taken it when I feel good to see if it is closer to normal. Is there anything I can do to bump it up a tiny bit?

[klocke]

I tend to have pretty low BP as well. My BP is generally 105/70ish. I have had a few times when it have gotten as low as 98/50 this pregnancy (20 weeks). I know I have been told that doctors don't like to see it go below 100 but my midwife never said anything to me. I have had a few passing out spells this pregnancy and I think it is due to my pressure being a little lower than usual. My midwife agreed and said that dizziness and passing out were common problems when your pressure is low. Now that being said no one has told me any thing I should do to get it up higher. Sorry I can't give you more ideas but just to know that your not alone with the low pressure.

[mosesface]

my bp is normally 80s over 50s, which is pretty low. when i was pg with dd, it did go up a little (100/60) toward the end.

i have never had any issues with it other than some light headedness when standing up to0 fast. i've also never had a doctor or midwife be concerned about it. my midwife always says that as long as i don't fall over, it's fine.

if i get headaches or feel as though my bp is causing me to feel bad, exercise really helps. just a brisk walk, enough to get your blood pumping, makes all the difference in the world.

also, i have found that low blood SUGAR makes everything a million times worse. so when i'm feeling bad, i make sure to address both.

[Pinoikoi]

I have always had low blood pressure.. with my last babe near the end of the pregnancy one of the nurses in my OB's office took my blood pressure, then took it again, and then called in the OB.. who told me I should clinically be dead.. obviously I was not dead so I am not sure if she was joking with me or not.. anyway, I went into labor a few days after that.. she then told me that she was pretty sure I would go into labor soon because of my blood pressure she felt the baby would "move things along" for me.. I thought that was interesting.

I don't worry about low blood pressure too much, though honestly. Both my parents have had to take meds for HIGH blood pressure so, that makes me think I am blessed at least in the current status sense.

ETA: I think it also fits my personality.. it takes a lot to get me upset about something.. I am pretty laid back about most things... I wouldn't want to be the drama queen that my father can be.

[Annie Mac]

My blood pressure has always been low, and I think it's even gone down now with the pregnancy. It's about 80something over 50something whenever it's been checked, and hasn't been a problem. I suffer from dizziness, but I'm also anemic and feel better when I take iron. Some years ago, when I was not pregnant, I was in the doctor's for something and she checked my BP...it was low. I asked her whether that was a point of concern and she told me that "normal" BP levels were determined by studies involving primarily men, and that in fact, it is very common for women, and especially young women, to have BP in the "low" category. It's not really low for them though, it's low for a 40 year old male. I would think the best thing to do is listen more to your body, and less to the number. If you feel you're becoming ill due to low BP, get it checked out. You could also use this as a green light to eat yummy salty snacks!