low blood pressure

[lotusma]

can anyone tell me what constitutes low blood pressure, what causes it (and thusly how to rectify it) and the risks it poses to mother/baby? i'm suspecting now that mine was low the last time i checked (both numbers in the double digits, but can't remember exactly) and am highly curious now as i've been feeling like crap and another thread helped me make the connection.

i eat well, and often, btw. (20 lb gain at 31 weeks)

[lillymonster]

I am not a doctor, I have always had low blood pressure even during pregnancies and I don't know of any risks, except if it gets too low you get dizzy.

Lots of water and salt usually helps me. Check your iron too, just in case, that sometimes causes the feeling like crap issue.

[hawthornehill]

there was just a thread here on it a few days ago. low blood pressure is considered anything below 90/60. but on it's own, it is not a problem...only if there are accompanying issues should it be looked into further. some people just have low blood pressure. mine is normally low, around 90/60, but this past week was 83/53 so lower then normal which can be comman in mid pregnancy. more water and more sodium in your diet can help.

[Just1More]

It can also cause you to see "floaters", have anxiety, heart palpitations (especially after eating), and confusion or difficulty staying on track (which can just seem like pg brain). Sometimes symptoms can mimic low blood sugar. Also, it can cause back aches, or stiff necks, and nausea. When you are hot, it can be particularly bad because your blood vessels expand and cause it drop even farther. The heart palpitations occur sometimes anyway, but can be extra bad after eating because your body reroutes your blood to digest.

I watch my iron intake carefully, and eat regularly to avoid eating a lot at once. I am very careful about hydration, and rest, and not to get too hot. B vitamins are good also. Oh, and I do salt my food a bit. I didn't used to salt anything...I didn't even bake with it. If I do all that...I'm good. If I goof it up, within a few days I start to feel pretty rotten.

Low blood pressure has caused so many random symptoms for me that I was honestly a little worried about what was wrong with me. Now that I've stumbled on this and am "cured", I'm amazed what a simple fix it was. I feel SO much better, and all of my random symptoms are gone!

[HeatherB]

Great info, Just1More! I had not seen low BP associated with floaters. I have some type of floaters chronically, but have occasionally been experiencing bright light "floaters." I wonder if it's related. They're definitely not a HIGH BP issue because mine has been lower than ever before in my life!

Low BP is very relative, as even when you're at a "safe" level, you could be at a sub-optimal level for you. My sister has been fighting dangerously low BP (and heartrate - she ended up with a pacemaker at 30) due to cardiac issues. She would work very hard to keep her BP above whatever number the doctors said, but still felt awful. Now, she's figured out where her *optimal* levels are (a good bit higher), and feels SO much better when she's at the right spot. Even in the last few months, I've figured out that when it gets sub-optimal I feel rotten, even though it's still above 90/60.

I have read that anemia can be a factor in low BP issues - both iron and B-vitamin anemia. Taking Floradix will give you good sources of both iron and b-vitamins and may help a lot. Also, salt is definitely important with low BP. When my sister feels bad, she drinks a full-salt V8 or full-sodium bouillon to help it get back up. Rest is also important. I know I accidentally mixed up the perfect low-BP storm the other day by being very hungry, a bit dehydrated, being on my feet for a long time, and, of course, being pg on top of it. I felt very woozy and a few minutes later my BP was 102/69 - super low for me, and I was already feeling better because I was sitting down. Resting and eating helped and I felt fine.

I know my sister has adrenal fatigue which also causes low BP, and I also have the adrenal issues (hers are worse). I'm not sure if that's why my BP is so low this pregnancy (but it's better than it being too high!). If you continue to experience problems with it post-pregnancy, keep in mind that the adrenals can get totally shot in pregnancy and long-term effects could be adrenal fatigue.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

Great info, Just1More! I had not seen low BP associated with floaters. I have some type of floaters chronically, but have occasionally been experiencing bright light "floaters." I wonder if it's related. They're definitely not a HIGH BP issue because mine has been lower than ever before in my life!

Indeed... I get them ALL the time, even when not pregnant, because I have low blood pressure.

The odd thing is I get the SAME ones when my blood pressure rises too much (I average around 90/50... but lately have been around 120/80, which is high for me!) So I can usually tell my blood pressures fine by the ability to strain myself and not see them.

[ein328]

I have low blood pressure (exacerbated by pregnancy, of course!) and I would urge everyone to be VERY careful when getting up after sitting for a long period, laying down, etc.

I've fainted twice in Mass after kneeling for long periods and then standing up....I learned the hard way that kneeling and pregnancy aren't compatible with me!