Pregnant with low blood pressure

[Climbergirl]

Ok, I normally have really low blood pressure. Yesterday at my midwife appointment, it showed 88/50. And honestly, my heart was racing a little bit because I was nervous about what she would say about it. Which she looked at me at said, yep, you're right, it is pretty low.

I have been noticing that I can't get out of bed as quickly. I have to roll to my side, and then slowly get up. In the middle of the night when I jump up (to attend to DS), I have this period where I get seriously dizzy (things turn kinda black and if I wait it out, it passes). I had this a lot when I was younger but as I got older, I guess my pressure change enough that this was not as much of an issue. Now it is back, and annoying.

Anyway, I was wondering if this could end up being an issue later. We want to avoid the hospital because of our last experience. But I am worried I may have a problem because of my BP. I will talk to my midwife, but I do want to know what kinds of things I should be asking her about.

Anyone else have the same issue? Any way to raise my BP just a teeny tiny amount so I am not going to DS room and things turning black??

[wholewheatchick]

My BP is normally a little higher than yours; 90 -94 over 60 -68. But still, lower than most peoples. I have to drink A LOT of water. A ton. If I don't, and I mean 3 - 4 quarts a day, I get headaches, super dizzy even when sitting down, etc. Eating salt helps me. Sometimes I'll even drink broth (made from bullion or powder) just because of the sodium content. That actually helps a lot.

[lillymonster]

mine has always been lower. At the end of my first pregnancy, it raised to "normal" levels and my OB was a little concerned, I guess because it went up at all. I too have had doctors and such tell me I need MORE salt in my diet.

From what my mom tells me, you can have low blood pressure your whole life and then it can go up at some point, she was the same way. But it was never an issue in my pregnancy as something my OB was worried about.

[Climbergirl]

Hum, now I am wondering if that is why I have been getting more headaches lately. Ok, need to up sodium intake. I just feel like with my blood volume increasing, that my blood pressure is dropping a bit. I am only in the first tri so I am a little worried about when my blood volume increases more.

[wolfmom]

yup. I've had this all my life. I thought as a teenager everyone was like that. I even passed out once when I got out of bed too fast. It never caused a problem in my pregnancies except that it is really hard to drink enough water and I generally look ahead when I get up to walk in case my vision clouds over. That way I can reduce the number of things I walk into! I also try not to get up and walk too quickly with out something/someone to hold on to if my fluid intake has been low because I can get so dizzy that it is hard to stay standing. After all these years, my dh is kind of use to it but I think it still freaks him out sometimes. Oh, and for what it's worth, my grandfather was the same way and my mom said he used to take a bunch of salt pills, especially in the summer.

[BlackSheepPDX]

I also have generally low BP and am prone to dizzy spells when I get up too fast. DH has learned to spot that glazed look of "oh gee, I can't see, and I might fall over."

As PPs have said, I'd start by focusing on hydration status. With the increased blood volume and the increased rate of kidney filtration to work through the blood and amniotic fluid, you need a lot more water during pregnancy. Making sure your diet has a bit of salt and/or the things you're drinking are electrolyte balanced will help make sure the water you take in is getting used effectively.

I think it's normal and expected for BP to trend slightly upwards due to the increased blood volume, but significant increases should be watched and compared to YOUR normal. I usually run about 110/68ish, so if I went up to "normal" and was like 130-140/80, something would be weird. I don't think my BP ever got that "high" during my last pregnancy, but I'm always joking/warning my midwives that they need to know what "normal" looks like for me to make a good judgement.

[AmyKT]

Mine is generally around 95/60, and so far it hasn't been an issue for me at all during pregnancy. When I was younger and played sports, I used to have some dizziness and blackout issues, but not lately. My mw has never commented on my bp other than it being excellent.

I did bleed rather excessively immediately after my first birth (still within normal, but on the very high end of normal) and I had some major dizziness for a few days. Not sure if the bleeding was related to blood pressure or not. The nurses said it's normal for "pale red-headed types."

[frolick16]

Low bp, continues to to drop...yesterday it was 98/58...I had a cbc done, am on iron and feel like I am going to fall flat on my face. I actually started drinking Gatorade (yucky I know, but I CRAVE the lemon-lime like you cannot believe) this actually helps me feel better and of course is restoring electrolytes. I am 36 weeks.

OH, and I am also a pale red head!

[HeatherB]

LOTS of sodium can really help. Like, regular V8 with extra salt. And celtic sea salt by the spoonful (have applesauce on the spoon, add salt, add more applesauce, swallow). My sister has very low BP (dangerously low until she got a pacemaker, and now she's mostly doing better), and has to constantly keep on top of fluids and salt intake. When she starts feeling bad, she drinks V8 with added salt. She'll get headaches, shaky, moody, tired, etc.

Of course, anemia can cause low BP, in which case you also need a good iron supplement (most folks here recommend Floradix, and I hear cholorphyll is good for stabilizing blood pressure, too). In my research for my own low(er) BP, I found that it can be iron OR B12 deficiencies that cause it. Floradix supplements both, which may be one part of why it tends to be pretty effective. Not sure if standard "iron pills" do that.

Hope you are able to get it under control!

[kittywitty]

Mine is usually really low. I eat tons of sodium-way too much for the average person, by far. I like salty food! But a high for me is 110/65. I think that might have been my highest ever.

[aloneinid]

I always have low BP, including in all three of my pregnancies, and I have never had any problems. I usually run 90/60, last check 90/50. I suppose I get dizzy if I get up too fast, but just assumed it is from being pregnant. No health care provider has ever commented on my BP being a problem and I did not have any complications in my first two births, both out-of-hospital. I would not anticipate any problems due to low BP alone and feel lucky I get to cross BP issues off my list of stuff to worry about when pregnant- god-knows there are plenty of other things to worry about!

[lmk1]

Mine is usually pretty low (around 90/55), but my heart rate is usually around 80. During this pregnancy, it seems to be around 95. I asked the OB about it, and he wasn't concerned, just thought it was due extra blood volume. With my last pregnancy, I ended up getting an epidural, and that caused my bp to drop dangerously low (80's/30's), and I ended up getting other drugs to raise it. That would be my only concern with low bp, if I want to get an epidural again.

[Climbergirl]

I think my iron levels are ok, but I have low stores? I'll have to look at my lab results again to see exactly what the issue was. I am taking B-12 and a complex B vitamin. I need to start taking the prenatal again, but it is 3 huge big pills and that seems a lot after my morning pills.

I also have hypoglycemia and hypothyroidism. And from what I read, those 2 things DEFINITELY don't help the low pressure situation.

Argh.

It was annoying when I was in the hospital after my c-section and they kept saying my BP was "normal" and I was like, WHAT? 120/90????? That is WAY too high. And they basically laughed it off. 5 days later in the hospital again with complications from the c-section. And they were so confused. Yeah, I tried to explain to you that was too high, but you didn't listen. Thanks for letting it go so far that I was going into cardiac failure.

[HeatherB]

How are your adrenals? I'm pretty sure that's why my sister's is so low - severe adrenal fatigue. I also have adrenal fatigue, tho I'm not sure how much thyroid issues play into that, too. There's a great thread here in Health & Healing about adrenals and thyroid and how they play off of each other. It seems that you really must heal the adrenals FIRST, then the thyroid can work properly. (I, unfortunately, have yet to accomplish either.)

[celestialdreamer]

Not preggo, but I saw this under new posts and wanted to comment. I ended up with low BP (too low for me - 88/54ish) with my last baby at times. I was symptomatic in that I was having dizzy spells and was really weak. My midwife encouraged me to up my protein, salt (sea salt, not processed) and fluid intake. I ended up starting the Brewer diet in the 3rd trimester plus I drank about 3 quarts of fluid a day and added extra salt to my meals. My BP stabilized and I quit having dizzy spells. Just wanted to say check out the Brewer diet and really watch your fluids/salt intake. Good luck!

[dannic]

I have low blood pressure--like 88/59. I am not light, red headed, lol. I agree that adequate protein and fluids is important. And salt. I put a pinch of seasalt under my tongue--pretty effective that way. And it's true about the adrenals causing more issues with it. I bleed too much after birth as well. I think the low bp is part of the cause. Liquid chlorophyll seems to help me during pregnancy as well. I take one tbsp/day til about halfway through my preg, then I take 2 tbsp/day.

[Climbergirl]

My adrenals could be better. Not exactly sure what I could do to improve that during pregnancy. I am taking some supplements. My last pregnancy/delivery really did a number on me and I honestly don't feel that I have come back 100%. But I think it is harder with breastfeeding at the same time, so it is what it is.

Where is the world do you get chlorophyll? Does it taste good? Is it cheaper than Floridix (because that stuff is pretty expensive).

Good think I have a ton of sea salt in the house. Now to start using it. Maybe this is why I have been craving pickles????

Really appreciate all the responses. It is good to know I am not alone. I just need to get off my butt and really concentrate on what I am drinking and increasing my salt intake.