Low b/p and labor

[1babysmom]

Not pg, I'm normally a 120/70 gal. When pg, and I or DH takes my b/p, it's generally around there, but if a MW or OB would take it, it was always high- I get HORRIBLE white coat hypertension. It's ridiculous.

Anyway, this pg. my b/p has been somewhat low. The lowest was probably the day I was feeling kinda light headed and ill and it was because my b/p was like 88/48, but it came up to about 110/50 about 20 minutes later after I had downed some water and got moving for a bit. Otherwise it's consistently been around 108-115/50-60 or so, but usually on the lower side. I know that's not SUPER low, but it's lower than I've ever been during pg.

I was reading up on low b/p and labor and of course am now a little worried...seems like it has the potential to cause quite a few risks? What I can't find out is just HOW low they're talking when they say things like how it can cause fetal distress. Anyone have some good info on this, or personal experience with low(er) b/p and labor?

[new2texas]

I have some personal experience with this. I have always had low BP and it gets even lower while pregnant, 90/60 or lower was the norm for me at my prenatals. I have had to have oxygen during the pushing phase of labor with all 3 of my births. (First 2 in the hospital, last one at home in the bathtub) The baby's heart rate would decel and not recover well. Basically I was told to get the baby out NOW! So I think there is an element of risk involved with low BP. Just my personal experience.

[PreggieUBA2C]

I have always had low bp- 88-90/56-60 and have had 2 freebirths with absolutely no issues at all. It was the 2 c/s's before where this was an issue- a major one, along with adrenal crashing and ICU for me for three hrs following the birth of ds2 by c/s.

I had energy and felt really good during my labours (no labours with c/s's and granted that ds4's freebirth took place in three minutes from start to finish, so no time for any issues, actually).

In general, my bp causes light-headedness upon changing positions and I often see stars randomly throughout the day. I also have lots of pain if I have to lift my arms above my head, so I either take breaks if I must do this as in washing my hair, or wash in the sink, which helps a lot. My limbs randomly go numb or have pins and needles feelings too.

I have taken licorice root infused in water several times daily during one of my pgs to raise my bp and it was effective in bringing my bp up to 100/65-70 after months of this, but the taste of licorice tea this time, like all but that one of my pgs, completely disgusts me. Also, that birth was c/s and my bp plummetted with the spinal block anyway.

There are other foods and herbs that are contraindicated during pg because they raise bp, but if that is the only possible issue with them, you might consider taking some.

90/60 is considered low-normal, but personally, it is clearly too low for me, but I have never been successful at sustaining a higher bp. I have been healing endocrine insufficiencies though, so there is promise that as my endocrine system stregthens, my bp will increase. I'll know when I come to that point I guess.

As for labour, I hadn't ever considered low bp to be an issue (specifically) and have never had any issues with it except with a complete hospital intervention, so my experience has been that at home, unhindered by monitors and drugs, my body still does what it needs to do and it does it very well, even with the insufficiencies it has to surmount (endocrine and low bp, I guess).

It might be a different thing though if your bp has suddenly decreased as opposed to your body having always endured low bp like mine.

[Tizzy]

Any specific suggestions for raising bp? Licorice just doesn't appeal right now and unfortunately I have been eating a LOT of garlic which probably doesn't help the issue.
Mine is 88/48. During my last two pregnancies my bp has gone up to the normal range, but this time it keeps sinking.
Midwife only suggested salting my food.
I get lightheaded and tire easily and my limbs are constantly falling asleep. I've always had less than stellar circulation but I am SO COLD this winter too because of it all. I have a couple months to get things in better shape before I worry about dealing with labor on top of all of this...

[PreggieUBA2C]

Are you having thyroid or adrenal fatigue issues? I have low thyroid and low adrenal, and this is the cause of the low bp for me. Eating enough salt is very important because if you have adrenal insufficiency especially, you are losing salt like crazy, so it is impossible for your body to keep proper fluid tension.

There is a website called "Stop the Thyroid Madness" that has a 'long and pathetic list of symptoms' and I have all but one.... It is very informative, helpful and explains thyroid and adrenal problems simply. I treat thryoid and adrenal according to symptoms, not lab work (which is useless even if it does show an insufficiency).

I used to take a tsp of unrefined sea salt every morning before I did anything, and I found it easiest to just eat it and then wash it down with a bit of water. With adrenal/thyroid issues, water consumption has to be monitored because if you drink more than the amount of salt you are retaining can support, then you have to drink less or eat more salt. This will go on for a while until you have addressed other aspects of healing. I no longer have to take salt in the mornings, but I do find that I have begun to need more than I needed for a while, so I don't salt anyone else's food again. My dh could never tolerate the amount I put on.

Do you use unrefined sea salt? Table salt will make things worse for you because of the imbalances it causes being not whole or a food, even if you do not have adrenal or thyroid problems (but the body temp symptoms makes it highly likely).

I would start with salt water or salt with water chaser every morning. When I started that regimen, it was not gross (the thought was initially though); I really liked the taste and crunch of the salt crystals and found it energising afterward. My dh would puke if he did that, but I obviously really needed it. Now I am just adding salt to taste to my food and I am eating more than usual again.

I cannot remember what foods and herbs will raise bp (other than licorice which, like you, grosses me out right now); I'll have to look it up.



ETA: for the first time in my whole life, I can't eat garlic. Even during pgs, I've eaten it before, but not this time. I'm also measuring very big for dates even for me, so I'm keeping a closer watch on a few things for myself this time around.

[dannic]

I agree with preggie. I have Adrenal Fatigue and I have always had low pb...for me, it causes me to feel shocky afterbirth and not be able to recover from birth quickly. I also tend to bleed more and have more fluid in the sac. I tend to want to pass out after birth and upon rising for a couple of days. it hasn't prevented a HB, nor affected my babies in anyway. My bp usually registers 50-60/80-90, depending. And, yeah, I take a ton of salt daily. If you live in a high temp area, that can exacerbate it as well, since that alone can make you sodium deficient.
Not sure how this relates to always having a high bp and now it being low (other than possibly pointing to adrenals?).

[mataji4]

I have low bp too- not alarming, but low end of normal. I get light headed easily during pregnancy and postpartum- have to stand up slowly. I don't have thyroid or other problems.

I have been numb/had tingly arms while laboring, which was made MUCH worse by being in a tub. So I avoid baths and birthing tubs for my births. I did almost pass out once in labor, and I was put flat on back with legs up on someone's shoulders (they were kneeling), and breathed in and out of a paper bag. I quickly felt better but I was scared because I wanted to feel strong! I ended up blacking out after that birth when I stood to walk to the bathroom.

In general I feel strong throughout labor and birth, and my babies haven't had any problems with heart tones at delivery, I haven't needed oxygen at birth.

Just take it easy! Move slowly, breathe deeply. And if I were you I'd stay out of the water.

[Tizzy]

Thanks for the additional advice!
I highly doubt mine is thyroid related, I don't exactly have any of the other common symptoms. And judging from the list on that website, just about everyone could have thyroid issues
I realized that the RRLT I've been chugging could also not be helping. Apparently it has a lot of magnesium which lowers blood pressure? Too much of a good thing I think...

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

Hi Tizzy, I've only skimmed the rest of the posts. I had chronic low BP which I was able to raise to a more functional level with upping my salt and water. While PG my BP was normal, so I've never dealt with it during pregnancy. Also, forward bends in yoga help, but I don't think that's doable with a belly (certainly wasn't for me). But salt and water. Lots of salt and water.

[Sharlla]

I normally run around 105/65 or so. One day I was feeling really light headed and i took my BP and I was 82/52. I ended up eating some more protein and drinking a ton of water and it was back to normal the next day.

[PreggieUBA2C]

Originally Posted by Tizzy

And judging from the list on that website, just about everyone could have thyroid issues

Sadly, that's probably true at least in North America. The S.A.D. and usual mainstream scheduling pretty much guarantee that most people will have overtaxed thyroid glands and many overtaxed adrenals too. The list consists of what is often considered normal, but nowadays, what is normal is illness and not health, so I wouldn't discount the list because it consists of common symptoms.

[jessica_anne010]

Originally Posted by Tizzy

Thanks for the additional advice!
I highly doubt mine is thyroid related, I don't exactly have any of the other common symptoms. And judging from the list on that website, just about everyone could have thyroid issues
I realized that the RRLT I've been chugging could also not be helping. Apparently it has a lot of magnesium which lowers blood pressure? Too much of a good thing I think...

Just for variation, look up Dysautonomia symptoms and see if those fit you better?

I hope it resolves itself.

[maryeb]

Just chiming in as another mama with low bp-my first pregnancy it was always in the 90's, second pregnancy high 80's to low 90's. I never experienced any issues, both births were homebirths that went well. My midwife thought my bp in my second preg was low, she did seem a little surprised but did not mention anything in particular to change it. Anyway, no issues with me. Good luck! Mary