Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Low blood pressure during pregnancy is a normal occurrence. Low blood pressure (hypotension) during pregnancy does not usually cause significant health issues, and most women can treat it at home.
However, very low blood pressure can be a cause for concern, and some women experience bothersome symptoms.
120/80hgmm is considered as the normal blood pressure of any human. However, it is known that blood pressure tends to drop in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Considering this, pregnant women are asked to contact a medical practitioner or get medical help immediately if the blood pressure drops below 90/60hgmm.
Signs & Symptoms –
Signs and symptoms of low blood pressure may include:
• dizziness
• lightheadedness, especially when standing or sitting up
• fainting
• nausea
• tiredness
• blurred vision
• unusual thirst
• clammy, pale, or cold skin
• rapid or shallow breathing
• lack of concentration
Causes –
Low blood pressure during pregnancy happens because your body secretes hormones, and progesterone in particular, which help to relax the walls of your blood vessels and increase the flow of blood to you and your baby.
Occasionally, low blood pressure may be indicative of some other problem. It may be the result of an ectopic pregnancy, in which a fertilised egg becomes implanted outside your uterus. And if it’s very low, it may cause falls, or shock, in which your brain and other vital organs don’t get enough blood to work properly.
While this is common, some other factors can contribute to the issue and cause the blood pressure to drop even lower than usual. For pregnant women, this may include –
• allergic reactions
• infections
• prolonged bed rest
• dehydration
• malnutrition
• internal bleeding
• anemia
• heart conditions
• endocrine disorders
Diagnosis –
Low blood pressure is diagnosed with a simple test.
Your doctor or nurse will place an inflatable cuff around your arm and use a pressure-measuring gauge to calculate your blood pressure.
Treatment –
In most cases, a special treatment regime is not required to treat low blood pressure in pregnancy as the blood pressure returns to normal after the third trimester.
In a few cases, depending on nature and the gestation period, there are few medications recommended to treat the underlying reason that is causing the drop in blood pressure. They include hormone boosters and anemia.
Vitamin B-12 can help resolve the anemia and resume the full functions of the blood cells.
Self-care
If you do experience symptoms of low blood pressure, such as dizziness, you might want to try the following –
• Avoid getting up quickly when you’re seated or lying down.
• Don’t stand for long periods of time.
• Eat small meals throughout the day.
• Don’t take very hot baths or showers.
• Drink more water.
• Wear loose clothing.
• Good exercises that includes systematic breathing such as pranayam & meditation.
• It’s also a good idea to eat a healthy diet and take your prenatal supplements during your pregnancy to prevent symptoms of low blood pressure.
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