Low blood pressure during pregnancy could make the pregnancy difficult to enjoy. You know, pregnancy is considering as the most amazing joyful experience in a woman's life.
Hypotension pregnancy
The cardiovascular system normally undergoes various changes during pregnancy; heart rate increases, the amount of blood increases in the body and numerous hormonal changes, which causes a blood pressure variation. Hypotension during pregnancy would mean that the blood pressure ranges are below 90/60, the normal blood pressure being approximately 120/80.
Your blood pressure always rises and fall throughout the day depending on what you are doing, and it is normal for your blood pressure to change more during pregnancy.
Causes of Low Blood Pressure during Pregnancy
Most women begin experiencing a drop in blood pressure early in the first trimester with the middle of the second trimester often has the blood pressure lowest.
Low blood pressure during pregnancy can be of various causes, such as:
- Dehydration - even if you don't feel thirsty make sure you are sipping water throughout the day.
- Prolonged bed rest may be the cause.
- Expansion of blood circulation during pregnancy lowering the blood pressure.
- During pregnancy hormonal changes (progesterone) occurs that causes the blood vessels to dilate and lower blood pressure.
- The uterus enlarges, puts pressure on the large blood vessels causing hypotension. It is usually experiencing while lying down known as supine hypotension.
- Postural hypotension is causing by the pooling of blood in the legs, which restricts the flow of blood to the brain. It happens while rising from a sitting position or lying position.
- Anemia and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) can also cause low blood pressure during pregnancy.
- Other risk factors such as folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency.
Your blood pressure starts to rise gradually from 24 weeks of pregnancy. Your blood pressure should back to pre-pregnancy levels a few weeks before the birth of your baby.
Low Blood Pressure Treatment during Pregnancy
You can avoid low blood pressure during pregnancy by healthily changing your lifestyle.
- Have a healthy food to prevent anemia or hypoglycemia (low blood glucose).
- Drink enough even plenty of water or other liquid such as fruit juices to avoid dehydration.
- Rise slowly and carefully, while getting up from a sitting or lying position. Do not stay at a particular position (sitting or standing) for a long time.
- Lying on the left side is advisable instead of lying on the back. Laying on the back causes the uterus to pressurize the blood vessels, which restricts the blood flow and causes to lower blood pressure.
- Do mild, regular exercise such as walking to prevent the symptoms of low blood pressure by improving blood circulation.
- Compression stockings- Wear supporting stocking provides tight-fitting to your legs and abdomen helps to increase your BP.
- Avoiding standing for a long time, this helps to prevent low BP due to miscommunication between the brain and heart.
- Sitting or lying down for a while after eating, because after eating your blood circulation diverted to the digestive system. Thus low circulation to another area thus activity prevent this natural behavior and leads to low blood pressure.
- Avoiding strenuous exercises as your blood pressure tends to drop lower after workout session or after physical activity.
There is nothing really to worry about whether the symptoms are mild, just consider it a part of the package and prepare to welcome the little bundle (baby) of big joy!