Low blood pressure during pregnancy

Pregnancy and low blood pressure

One of the most exciting experiences in a life of a woman is pregnancy. The expectant mother is excited about the baby she is carrying inside of her. However, pregnancy also causes many problems that the pregnant woman has to cope with, such as morning sickness, nausea, vomiting, mood swings and many other discomforts that occur due to hormonal changes.

Low blood pressure or hypotension during pregnancy is not a normal condition. However, it is not as dangerous as hypertension or high blood pressure in pregnancy. Since hormonal changes happen in the body of a pregnant woman, these changes might affect the cardiovascular system. The heart starts to beat rapidly and therefore, the amount of blood in the body is increased. As a consequence, the blood pressure levels tend to vary.

The normal blood pressure is considered to be 120/80 mm Hg. The blood pressure may drop by 5 to 15 points in the first three months of the pregnancy, but it usually restores to normal by the end of the sixth month. However, when the blood pressure is lower than 90/60 mm Hg during pregnancy, it is regarded as hypotension or low blood pressure.

The pregnant women who suffer from low blood pressure may experience fainting or dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, the common symptoms of this condition are depression, fatigue, blurred vision and weakness.

Causes of low blood pressure during pregnancy

Hypotension during pregnancy may be caused due to many reasons. For example, dehydration, certain hormonal changes and expansion of the cardiovascular system could be responsible for the occurrence of this condition. Supine hypotension is hypotension caused by the pressure that the enlarging uterus makes on the large blood vessels, especially when lying down. Postural hypotension is hypotension a result of the blood pooling in the legs while getting up from a sitting position or lying position. Low blood pressure in pregnancy may also be induced by anemia and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels).

Treatment of low blood pressure during pregnancy

In order to restore normal blood pressure, there are several things that every pregnant woman with this condition should be cautious about. It is very important to consume healthy foods several times a day in small amounts. Furthermore, water and other liquids should be consumed in large amounts. It is also important to rise slowly from the sitting or lying position and to lie on the side rather than on the back. Moreover, regular mild exercising is also highly recommended during pregnancy.