Blood Pressure: Low Blood Pressure What causes low blood pressure during pregnancy?

Some women experience low blood pressure during their pregnancy-especially during the first 24 weeks. Low blood pressure is known as hypotension and does not usually occur until the second trimester. Hypotension often causes pregnant women to feel dizzy and there are three common reasons for hypotension during pregnancy.

The first cause of low blood pressure during pregnancy lies within the circulatory system. Because your baby depends on you for an adequate blood supply, the circulatory system has to expand quickly to accomodate the needs of your baby. This can cause low blood pressure until the fetus's system is fully developed.

One other cause of low blood pressure in pregnancy is when the growing uterus puts pressure on the aorta and vena cava. This occurs when you are laying down and you can prevent it by laying on your side. It is best to stay off of your back while sleeping.

Another cause of low pressure during pregnancy is rising quickly from a sitting, kneeling or squatting position. Your blood pressure drops when you rise rapidly, as blood leaves your brain due to gravity. You can prevent the problem by rising slowly from a sitting or lying position.

Of course, these are not the only reasons that pregnant women suffer from hypotension. There are cases that are centered around pre-exisitng conditions. Heart problems and complications within the endocrine system can cause low blood pressure in pregnant women. You and your doctor should work together to make sure that no prior condition puts your baby at harm.

Women that suffer from low blood pressure might feel dizzy, fatigued, depressed, cold, nauseas and thirsty. Pregnant women might also suffer from fainting, rapid breathing, blurred vision and low concentration. Your caregiver will check your blood pressure at each prenatal visit. While it is common for blood pressure readings to be slightly different over a period of time, your doctor will mark any sufficient changes within your readings and treat your condition accordingly. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and increase blood volume.

Comments: Blood Pressure - Low-Blood-Pressure

Comments 1 to 24 of about 43.
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*Babylicious* - 20 days ago.
OMG!! I can't believe I've found this information!! In the mornings, my head has been spinning for the last 3 days and at night I am getting palpitations when I'm lying down. I am almost 12 weeks and went to the out of hours GP today and she said it could be hypotension (low blood pressure). I always sleep on my back and have been doing since I became pregnant. Also when I stand up from sitting or make a movement, I feel faint and dizzy. Everything this artiical describes is so true! I'm so glad I've found it as I tought I was going crazy feeling like this all the time!

tracysluv - 32 days ago.
I had dizzy spells yesterday and my blood pressure was reading 86/57 ~ because I was sleeping on my back ~ It was a terrible feeling now I will be much more aware of how I sleep

fisheagle74 - 42 days ago.
I went to the doc. on March 26th and my bp was 94/50! Mine is normally 120/70ish.. Has anyone else had this and what is this bad for the baby?

TammyLC - 78 days ago.
Hi Ladies, Your comments have actually been the best resource that I've encountered. I'm 42 and 38+ weeks along. For several years I've had BP readings as high as 140/90 but for some reason this pregnancy has changed that. Today I had a 94/70 reading and t his is pretty much how it's been throughout this pregnancy..... low for me. I've tried to not be concerned about it but I do wonder sometimes if this will be a problem during delivery. Thanks for submitting your own comments and readings because I now know that I'm not alone!

kater - 95 days ago.
i have low blood pressure,and i find my arms and legs getting pins and needles/numbness in my arms and legs during the night because it drops so low. its pretty scary when you dont realize its a blood pressure problem. my doctor told me to increase my water intake, increase salt intake and have glucose lollies on hand to ease it. i have been doing these things for a few days and most of the time i feel ok. i get very lightheaded, i hear like a 'shhhhhhhh' sound and feel like im going to vomit and/or faint. i also lose my sense of where i am i space, if my eyes actually go blank, i cant remember which direction im facing, or whats up and down. i really hope this goes away soon, ive had low BP for years but ive not had a huge amount of symptoms, i cant wait till it goes away!!

lilreysmama - 109 days ago.
I'm pretty new to the site.I suffer from low b/p and tachicardia(rapid heart rate)it was a pre-exsisting condition but it wasnt something that affected me very much.It did however become very noticeable when I became pregnant.I was put of Florinef for it and my b/p is 90/60 on average when I take the pill when I dont take the pill I'm in the 80s and 40s sometimes the 70s and 30s.I feel ok when I take the pill but the dizziness gets pretty bad.I have a hard time with my balance due to it.Sometimes the pills don't have that great of an affect but it's better than nothing.My docs monitor me closely to make sure the baby is getting the adequate blood flow due to the rapid heart rate and low b/p.I would love to hear from anyone that may have similar symptoms.Thanks all

faith7520 - 125 days ago.
to TESSA1 I am new to the forum and I was reading about your headaches. I would say that it is not at all related to low BP. I never had Migrains until I had my first child and now they are constant and I take a daily med. for them and I have had a second and on a third. They don't go away and my BP was never on the high side. I am fairly very thin so I guess thats normal for a low BP. But I am curious of what your doc. has done for you now and how you are holding up.. I know that excedrin migrain helped me LOTS when I was pregnant and the ibuprofin didn't work..Best of luck

angiemomo5 - 134 days ago.
I think you are probably fine. I too have low b/p (90/50) even before pregnancy. Kind of freaked out the nurse at my last appt. I always feel faint if i stand suddenly or get up from a squatting position. I drink loads of water and no change in my b/p. I have found that if I feel too faint or shaky, drinking a 1/2 can of Pepsi helps. I also have mitral valve proplapse with regurg and that makes me have palpitations off and on throughout the day. The doc tried low doses of meds for that and my b/p dropped to 60/40. It's funny 'cause my mom, grandma, and my aunt all have high b/p's. The only thing I would advise is that later in pregnancy, if your b/p does go up like around 140/90, that could be too high for you. Just question it if you don't feel right. One pregnancy I went up to 180/90 and they told me it was fine but I was puffy like a balloon. Luckily I delivered the next day. I think was in pre-toxemia and it irks me when med staff don't listen to when we say something isn't right.

shrinky9 - 141 days ago.
Hi, I'm 12wks and during the nite I couldn't stop the room spinning. I ended up on the floor on elbows and knees with a bucket cos I thought I would throw up. We rang my midwife at 2am. She came out at 2.30am and took my blood pressure. It was 110/50. On monday when I felt fine it was 100/60. She sed the top number was up a wee bit cos I was so freaked out and panicked and the bottom number was just down a bit. She didn't even seem worried. She reckoned I may be dehydrated. Well now its today (noon in NZ) and although the rooms not spinning, I still feel lite headed and just plain weird in the head. I'm eating ok and feel fine health wise. Does anyone have any ideas whats wrong with me?? Its really scary.

mplsmama - 149 days ago.
Hi I was at the dr today and my BP was 96/54 - they didn't seemed concerned since I tend to be on the lower side, but that really seems low... I used to feel faint when I was in wks 5-9, but I'm almost 14 wks now and haven't felt faint in a while. I'm in pretty good shape too (exercised almost daily before PG) which is also why I think it's been on the lower side. Anything I should do to make sure it doesn't drop too low? I notice on the website it says to stay hydrated & I drink an obnoxious amt of water everyday already... so I don't know if I should do anything else!

Lily - 162 days ago.
I am 28 weeks and I had my BP 90/56, usually its 105/60, my nurse told me to make sure I am not dehydrated, and that I was ok.

Georgiann - 167 days ago.
I'm 23 wks with a BP of 107/62, but I haven't had any problems, the Dr. says it's better than high BP. If the doctor is not worried Then I'm not.

MommyTLC - 175 days ago.
I was at the Dr monday and my BP was 90/40......I had low blood pressure when I was pregnant with my last daughter too. My doctor didn't really say much about it, I think I am going to ask because thats really low! Im 9 weeks now, and everytime I shower I get really light headed and have to get out and sit down ASAP or else it feels like I might faint. Its a really scary feeling.

jackiejosh - 175 days ago.
i have low blood preasure too. right now my dr isnt concerned. Could this be why i get headaches all the time? I'm 17 weeks pregnant. Thanks everyone.

jackiejosh - 175 days ago.
i have low blood preasure too. right now my dr isnt concerned. Could this be why i get headaches all the time? I'm 17 weeks pregnant. Thanks everyone.

jasklihani - 179 days ago.
I had high blood pressure (preeclampsia) during my last pregnancy. My average bp was about 165/95 then - really high. After having that baby, my bp dropped down to an average of about 135/85. It didn't need to be treated. I was worried about getting high blood pressure during this pregnancy too but the opposite has happened! I'm now 34 weeks pregnant and it seems every week that goes by my pressure drops more. I monitor it closely b/c I'm at risk of developing high blood pressure again. Last night, my pressure was 104/56. Do you think that's any reason to worry? I always get 'white coat' at the docs so my readings there are not as low -- averaging around 120/65.

kayleighrobo - 198 days ago.
shonak everytime i go the docs mine is 100/60 and that is normal for me but not for other people if your blood pressure wasnt normal they would of said something hun try not to worry next time you go just ask them when they take ur bp if that is normal x

jennya4 - 198 days ago.
shonak-depends on what your normal readings are. Mine was 100/60 last visit at 15 weeks. I am on high blood pressure meds, so that was low for me but doc did not say anything about it. It really does depend on your normal readings and if you feel good or not. epe

shonak - 198 days ago.
ma bp was 100/50 last time is that low?

res - 205 days ago.
tessa1- When my pressure drops,and I feel faint, I get really bad headaches right afterwards.

TESSA1 - 205 days ago.
TO ANYONE THAT I CAN HELP, I HAVE THESE AWFUL HEADACHES SINCE I HAVE BEEN PREGNANT. I MEAN I HAD HEADACHES BEFORE ONCE A WEEK ARE SO BUT IF I WOULD TAKE A ADVIL ARE SOMETHING IT WOULD BE OKAY NOT ANYMORE AND MY OB DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG SO AT FIRST HE PRSCRIBED ME SOME MEDICATION AND IT WORKS GREAT BUT HE SAID THAT HE WILL NOT GIVE ME ANYMORE AND THAT I NEED TO SEE A NEUROLIGIST BUT I CANT AFFORD THAT WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO NOW I CANT HEADACHES. SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT I COULD BE HAVEING HEADACHES LIKE THIS BECAUSE OF LOW BLOOD PRESSURE IS THAT TRUE ARE HAS ANYONE EVER HEARD OF THAT?

res - 206 days ago.
My doctor has just told me that I might have vaso vagal reaction. I passed out at work yesterday, and on many occasions, especially in the morning, I feel really lightheaded. Any suggestions on what to do would be helpful.Thanks.

mom*of*six - 252 days ago.
shortncrazy, do you take Florinef also? I'll need to go to your page and see what happened at the doctor for you. Especially Suzanne at 38 weeks is still fainting. It's become an everyday thing for her, and I'm really concerned!

shortncrazy2 - 252 days ago.
mom of six i have the same problem as your daughters. I went to see the doctors yesterday. i posted in my site how that went. feel free to read it. Mine has to be controled more then just with what I am eating.

mom*of*six - 256 days ago.
Both of my pregnant daughters have a condition called neurally mediated syncope, or vaso vagal syncope. It's when the vagus nerve, which is responsible for blood pressure and heart rate, just shuts off momentarily. My girls were both on a medication called Florinef before pregnancy and saw a cardiologist on a regular basis. They are also to eat high sodium foods and lots of gatorade, water or other fluids that are not diuretic (no sodas or other caffeinated drinks). So if you are having trouble with low blood pressure during pregnancy, try a high fluid and high sodium diet. My girls are both past the early stages (my older daughter is about ready to deliver) and they still have low b/p. So ask your doctor about it next time you see him. Meanwhile, have a bag of Cheetos and a big Gatorade!


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