What are the signs of low blood pressure during pregnancy. How can low blood pressure affect your pregnancy. When should you call your doctor about low blood pressure during pregnancy. What causes low blood pressure in pregnant women. How can you manage low blood pressure symptoms at home.

Understanding Low Blood Pressure in Pregnancy

Blood pressure is a crucial health indicator during pregnancy, with both high and low readings potentially causing concern. While high blood pressure often receives more attention, low blood pressure can also impact maternal and fetal well-being. During pregnancy, blood pressure is considered low when it falls below 90/60 mmHg.

Many women experience a drop in blood pressure during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester. This is generally considered a normal physiological change. However, understanding the signs and potential risks associated with low blood pressure is essential for maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

10 Common Signs of Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Recognizing the symptoms of low blood pressure can help pregnant women seek timely medical attention. Here are ten common signs to watch for:

1. Light-headedness, especially when changing positions
2. Dizziness
3. Unusual fatigue
4. Blurred vision
5. Increased thirst or dehydration
6. Nausea
7. Fainting or near-fainting episodes
8. Difficulty concentrating
9. Cold, clammy, or pale skin
10. Shallow, rapid breathing

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider promptly.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure in Pregnant Women

Several factors can contribute to low blood pressure during pregnancy:

• Hormonal changes causing blood vessel dilation
• Increased blood volume and changes in circulation
• Prolonged exposure to hot environments
• Certain medications
• Anemia
• Extended periods of bed rest
• Dehydration
• Infections
• Allergic reactions
• Malnutrition
• Internal bleeding
• Endocrine disorders
• Underlying heart conditions

In rare cases, very low blood pressure could indicate more serious complications, such as ectopic pregnancy. Understanding these potential causes can help pregnant women and their healthcare providers identify and address any underlying issues.

Potential Risks of Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

While research on the effects of low blood pressure during pregnancy is less extensive compared to studies on high blood pressure, some potential risks have been identified:

• Increased risk of having smaller babies
• Higher perinatal mortality rates
• Possible increased risk of stillbirth (in cases of continuous low blood pressure)

It’s important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the impact of low blood pressure on pregnancy outcomes. Regular prenatal check-ups and open communication with your healthcare provider are crucial for monitoring and addressing any potential risks.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Low Blood Pressure

While doctors are generally less concerned about low blood pressure compared to high blood pressure during pregnancy, certain situations warrant immediate medical attention:

• Experiencing severe dizziness or fainting spells
• Persistent or worsening symptoms of low blood pressure
• Blood pressure readings consistently below 90/60 mmHg
• Symptoms accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, or severe headaches
• Any sudden, unexplained changes in blood pressure

Is it necessary to call your doctor for every instance of low blood pressure during pregnancy? Not necessarily. Mild, occasional symptoms that resolve quickly may not require immediate medical attention. However, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and consult your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

Home Remedies and Management Strategies for Low Blood Pressure

While it’s essential to work closely with your healthcare provider, there are several strategies you can employ at home to manage low blood pressure symptoms:

1. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day
2. Eat small, frequent meals to maintain steady blood sugar levels
3. Avoid standing for long periods and change positions slowly
4. Wear compression stockings to improve circulation
5. Elevate your feet when resting
6. Include salt in your diet (unless otherwise advised by your doctor)
7. Engage in gentle, pregnancy-safe exercises as approved by your healthcare provider
8. Avoid hot showers or baths, and limit time in hot environments
9. Get adequate rest and avoid overexertion

Can these home remedies completely resolve low blood pressure during pregnancy? While they can help manage symptoms, it’s important to remember that some degree of blood pressure fluctuation is normal during pregnancy. Always consult your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

The Importance of Regular Blood Pressure Monitoring

Regular blood pressure monitoring is crucial during pregnancy, regardless of whether you have a history of blood pressure issues. Your healthcare provider will likely check your blood pressure at each prenatal visit, but in some cases, home monitoring may be recommended.

How often should you check your blood pressure at home during pregnancy? This depends on your individual circumstances and your doctor’s recommendations. Some women may need to check daily, while others may only need to monitor occasionally.

When using a home blood pressure monitor:

• Choose a device approved for use during pregnancy
• Ensure proper cuff size and placement
• Take readings at the same time each day
• Record your readings and share them with your healthcare provider

Regular monitoring can help detect any significant changes in blood pressure, allowing for timely intervention if needed.

Nutritional Considerations for Managing Low Blood Pressure

Proper nutrition plays a vital role in managing blood pressure during pregnancy. While it’s important to maintain a balanced diet, certain nutritional strategies may help alleviate symptoms of low blood pressure:

• Increase iron-rich foods to combat anemia
• Consume adequate protein to support blood volume expansion
• Include foods high in vitamin B12 and folate
• Eat potassium-rich foods to help regulate blood pressure
• Consider adding a moderate amount of salt to your diet (unless contraindicated)

How much should you adjust your diet to manage low blood pressure during pregnancy? It’s crucial to consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before making significant dietary changes. They can provide personalized advice based on your specific needs and health status.

Sample Meal Plan for Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Here’s an example of a day’s meal plan that may help support healthy blood pressure:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with berries and a hard-boiled egg
• Mid-morning snack: Greek yogurt with almonds
• Lunch: Spinach salad with grilled chicken and avocado
• Afternoon snack: Apple slices with peanut butter
• Dinner: Baked salmon with quinoa and steamed broccoli
• Evening snack: Whole grain crackers with cheese

Remember to stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking water and other healthy fluids.

The Role of Exercise in Managing Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Regular, moderate exercise can help improve circulation and potentially alleviate symptoms of low blood pressure during pregnancy. However, it’s crucial to approach exercise cautiously and under the guidance of your healthcare provider.

What types of exercises are safe for pregnant women with low blood pressure? Generally, low-impact activities are recommended, such as:

• Walking
• Swimming
• Prenatal yoga
• Stationary cycling
• Light strength training

How often should pregnant women with low blood pressure exercise? The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week for pregnant women, spread out over several days. However, this may need to be adjusted based on individual circumstances and symptoms.

Exercise Precautions for Low Blood Pressure

When exercising with low blood pressure during pregnancy, keep these precautions in mind:

• Start slowly and gradually increase intensity
• Stay hydrated before, during, and after exercise
• Avoid exercises that require sudden position changes
• Listen to your body and stop if you feel dizzy or lightheaded
• Wear comfortable, supportive clothing and shoes
• Exercise in a cool, well-ventilated environment

Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or modifying an exercise routine during pregnancy.

Understanding the Difference Between Low Blood Pressure and Preeclampsia

While low blood pressure is generally less concerning than high blood pressure during pregnancy, it’s important to understand the distinction between low blood pressure and preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure.

How can you tell the difference between low blood pressure and preeclampsia? The key differences include:

• Blood pressure readings: Low in hypotension, high in preeclampsia
• Protein in urine: Not present in low blood pressure, often present in preeclampsia
• Swelling: May occur with both conditions, but more severe and sudden in preeclampsia
• Onset: Low blood pressure often occurs early in pregnancy, preeclampsia typically develops after 20 weeks
• Associated symptoms: Preeclampsia may include severe headaches, vision changes, and upper abdominal pain

If you experience any symptoms of preeclampsia, such as severe headaches, vision changes, or sudden swelling, seek medical attention immediately, even if your blood pressure has previously been low.

Long-term Outlook and Postpartum Considerations

For most women, low blood pressure during pregnancy resolves on its own after delivery. However, it’s important to continue monitoring your blood pressure in the postpartum period.

How long should you monitor your blood pressure after giving birth? Generally, your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure before you leave the hospital and during your postpartum check-ups. If you experienced persistent low blood pressure during pregnancy, you might be advised to continue monitoring at home for several weeks postpartum.

Postpartum considerations for women who experienced low blood pressure during pregnancy include:

• Gradually returning to normal activities
• Staying hydrated, especially if breastfeeding
• Eating a balanced diet rich in nutrients
• Reporting any unusual symptoms to your healthcare provider
• Attending all scheduled postpartum check-ups

In most cases, blood pressure returns to pre-pregnancy levels within a few weeks after delivery. However, if you continue to experience symptoms of low blood pressure or have concerns about your blood pressure, don’t hesitate to consult your healthcare provider.

Understanding and managing low blood pressure during pregnancy is crucial for ensuring the health and well-being of both mother and baby. By recognizing the signs, understanding the causes, and knowing when to seek medical attention, pregnant women can navigate this aspect of their pregnancy with confidence. Remember, every pregnancy is unique, and what’s normal for one woman may not be for another. Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice and care throughout your pregnancy journey.

10 Signs of Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy: When to Call Doctor

January 13, 2021Childproofing, Health Care, Healthy Pregnancy, Pregnancy Blogs, Pregnancy Brain, Pregnancy SafetyHealthy Pregnancy, Low Blood Pressure, Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy, Newborn, pregnancy, pregnancy blogs, Pregnancy Brain, Pregnancy Meditation, Pregnancy Safety, Relaxation, Safety Tips, Stages of Pregnancy, Women’s HealthMithu Kuna

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You’ve probably read about the dangers of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

But what about low blood pressure?

During early pregnancy, many women notice their blood pressure drop and aren’t sure what to do. Although it isn’t as risky as a high reading, it may still be a cause for concern in some situations. And, even if it’s not, the symptoms can be annoying.

In this post, we’re sharing the signs of low blood pressure during pregnancy and home remedies to keep them at bay.

What is Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy?

Blood pressure is the pressure of your blood against vessel walls as your heart pumps. Although there’s a healthy range, it’s normal for your blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day. For example, it may temporarily increase if you get excited.

Your doctor will probably check your blood pressure during every prenatal visit. If you have fewer in-person appointments or you have a high-risk pregnancy, your healthcare provider may also suggest getting a blood pressure cuff so you can check it at home.

Blood pressure is an indicator of health. If it’s too high, it could hint at conditions like preeclampsia. There are fewer complications associated with low blood pressure. However, too low may also be problematic for you and your baby.

Whether you check your own blood pressure or have your doctor do it, you may notice it’s lower than usual in the first trimester. This is normal within the first 24 weeks. For reference:

• Normal blood pressure:Below 120 mmHg systolic (top number) over 80 mmHg diastolic (bottom number).
• Low blood pressure: Below 90 mmHg systolic (top number) over 60 mmHg diastolic (bottom number).

10 Signs of Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

The best way to tell your blood pressure is to check it using a cuff. If you don’t want to wait until your next prenatal appointment, you can buy one in your local pharmacy or online.

You may not know you have low blood pressure until you experience physical changes. Signs of low blood pressure during pregnancy include:

• Light-headedness— Any time, but most noticeably when sitting or standing up
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Dehydration or unusual thirst
• Nausea
• Fainting
• Problems concentrating
• Cold, clammy, pale skin
• Shallow, rapid breathing

If you experience any low blood pressure signs, contact your doctor.

What Causes Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy?

During the first 12 weeks, you may notice your blood pressure drop and hover around that low level for the first and second trimester.

One reason could be because your blood vessels get bigger to transfer blood to the uterus, affecting your circulatory system. Other non-pregnancy related factors can also decrease blood pressure.

• Staying in hot bath too long— Pregnant women should avoid staying in water that’s hot enough to raise their body temperature higher than 102.2°F for more than 10 minutes.
• Medication— Some drugs can decrease blood pressure, so be sure to tell your doctor which medications you’re taking.
• Anemia— Anemia is another possible cause of low blood pressure and may be more common during pregnancy since your body needs enough ironto make more red blood cells.
• Prolonged bed rest— If you’re having a rough pregnancy that requires you to spend a lot of time in bed, it’s possible that’s contributing to low blood pressure
• Dehydration
• Infections
• Allergic reactions
• Malnutrition
• Internal bleeding
• Endocrine disorders
• Heart conditions

If your blood pressure is very low, it could hint toward more serious complications. For example, it can be a sign of ectopic pregnancy (when the egg attaches outside the uterus). 

Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy: When to Call Doctor

You may know that high blood pressure can be a sign of serious pregnancy complications. However, doctors are typically less concerned about low blood pressure.

While there’s many studies on the bad effects of high blood pressure, there’s less research on how low readings can affect the fetus. Some data suggest that low blood pressure is associated with small babies and high perinatal mortality (late fetal death and early baby death). Another study found that continuous low blood pressure raises the risk of negative pregnancy outcomes, like stillbirth.

However, it’s important to realize that there’s many unanswered questions surrounding the effects of low blood pressure, so more research needs to be done. It’s possible that low blood pressure itself doesn’t impact your health, but other factors do. For example, women with low blood pressure often feel lightheaded when they go from sitting to standing. If this leads them to faint, they could have a rough fall that impacts the baby.

To put it simply, low blood pressure during pregnancy isn’t usually a problem, but since the effects may be unknown, it’s an important number to keep your eye on.

Whether you got a low reading from a cuff or are experiencing low blood pressure symptoms, you should tell your doctor in case they have specific recommendations. However, in many cases, low blood pressure can be expected in the first trimester and doesn’t require treatment. As your pregnancy progresses, it will likely rise to a normal level by the third trimester.

In more rare situations, blood pressure doesn’t rise back up or is unusually low to begin with. To see if there’s any underlying causes, your doctor may recommend a few tests.

Treatment for Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Low blood pressure during pregnancy doesn’t usually need to be treated. There are some exceptions though:

• Medication— If your blood pressure is unusually low, your doctor may prescribe medication.
• Prescription Change— If your doctor believes your low blood pressure is caused by a medication, they may give you an alternative prescription until it returns to normal.
• Test for Underlying Conditions— Blood pressure that’s very low can be a sign of another more serious condition. If this could be the case, your doctor will run a few tests to pinpoint the cause. Treatments will depend on the condition. For example, if anemia is causing low blood pressure, they may prescribe an iron supplement. Other treatments may be more extreme. For example, if the cause is an ectopic pregnancy, the baby cannot survive and the tissue needs to be removed by medication or surgery.

Home Remedies Low Blood Pressure Pregnancy

Although low blood pressure doesn’t usually need medical intervention, the symptoms may be bothersome. In that case, there’s some home remedies you can try until your level is back to normal.

Take It Slow

Sitting or standing quickly can cause you to feel lightheaded or faint. Make it a habit to sit down and stand up very slowly.

Wear Loose Clothing

Loose clothing may help prevent you from feeling dizzy.

Try Compression Socks

Compression socks help increase circulation, which may help increase blood pressure.

Stay Hydrated

Low blood pressure can make you feel dizzy and nauseous, possibly leading to vomiting. On top of that, you may already be throwing up because of morning sickness. It’s important to replace the fluids you lost, so try to stay hydrated. Warm herbal teas may also help ease nausea.

Eat Small, Frequent Meals

Instead of eating 3 large meals, try to eat several smaller ones. That’s because large meals can cause bigger drops in blood pressure as your body works to digest them.

Eat More Salt, If Recommended

Many doctors would rather you limit your salt intake since it can cause high blood pressure and complications that come alongside it. However, in some cases, a doctor may recommend adding a bit more salt to raise your blood pressure. With that being said, you should always check with your healthcare provider before raising your salt intake.

Low BP During Pregnancy: Gender Predictions

You may have heard that your blood pressure hints at which gender you’re having, but is it true?

One study showed that a child’s gender may be linked to the mother’s blood pressure six months before she becomes pregnant. A higher blood pressure pre-pregnancy could mean better chances of having a boy. And a low reading could mean you’re more likely to have a girl. It’s important to note they took volunteers’ blood pressure before becoming pregnant, so readings during pregnancy may not have the same association.

However, even the lead author was quick to point out that they discovered an association, not a cause-and-effect. That is to say, more research needs to be done to uncover any links that may exist.

Summary: Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Having low blood pressure during pregnancy isn’t usually a cause for concern because it normally rises back in the third trimester. In this case, you may want to try the home remedies listed above to manage symptoms.

Sometimes, blood pressure is abnormally low or remains low. In these situations, a doctor may prescribe medication or suggest tests to find the underlying cause.

P.S. Nervous About Your Baby? Hear Her Heartbeat from Home with a Fetal Doppler!

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Blood Pressure Chart – Systolic & Diastolic Pressure Readings by Age

Developed by Vanessa D’Rozario, B. Sc., (Allied Health Sciences), PGDHHM

Medically Reviewed by Dr. P Manokar, MD, DM (Cardiology), FACC, FSCAI

Last Updated on Feb 16, 2023

Blood pressure (BP) chart calculates how age can affect systolic and diastolic pressures. As you get older the risk of hypertension (or high blood pressure) rises. The BP chart displays the systolic blood pressure (top number) and diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) readings that are classified as normal or borderline or high (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Physiology, Blood Pressure Age Related Changes

Go to source). The likelihood of isolated systolic hypertension too increases with age.