Drop in Blood Pressure during Pregnancy

There are many reasons as to why a woman can experience a drop in blood pressure during pregnancy and not all of them are alarming ones. Pregnancy forces the heart to increase its pumping rate and the body to manufacture at least 40% more blood. It is natural for a woman to reach her lowest blood pressure in mid pregnancy. There are several other reasons as to why blood pressure can drop. Here are few reasons why blood pressure may drop during pregnancy. In this articleStanding up Too QuicklyLying Straight on the BackVasovagal SyncopeHypoglycemia and DehydrationOverheatingWhen to Contact a Doctor?Standing up Too QuicklySitting down suddenly makes the blood pool down to the lower part of the body especially when you are pregnant. When you stand up after sitting down for a long time your body is not able to react fast enough and as a result insufficient amount of blood is pumped back to the heart from the legs. This makes blood pressure drop and instigates a faint dizzy feeling.How to Combat: Do not indulge in sudden upwards motion when you have been sitting down for a long time. Sit up very slowly and then take your time standing up.Lying Straight on the BackWhen you are into your second or third trimester the growth of your uterus can start to slow down the blood circulation in the legs by exerting pressure on the vena cava (this pumps blood from lower body to heart). If you lie straight on your back during the later stages of your pregnancy you can suffer from a problem called supine Hypertensive syndrome. This can make you feel dizzy and weak due to a drop in blood pressure.How to Combat: Most of the doctors recommend sleeping on sides. But you must consult your doctor for an appropriate sleeping position during pregnancy.Vasovagal SyncopeDuring pregnancy it is common to experience a drop in blood pressure when you cough, pass urine or pass bowel movements. These movements can trigger a fall in blood pressure and heart rate which leads to fainting spells. Dehydration and tension can also act as a trigger for fall in blood pressure.How to Combat: Once you experience these symptoms lie down slowly and try to relax.Hypoglycemia and DehydrationNot consuming enough food and water can be the primary reason for Hypoglycemia or dip in blood sugar along with dehydration. These conditions naturally lead to low blood pressure. If you are pregnant you can keep your blood sugar and fluid levels normal by eating small proportioned meals throughout the day and sipping on water at regular intervalsOverheatingIf you are pregnant and have spent a lot of time taking a nice hot bath then it is natural to experience a dip in blood pressure and feel dizzy. This happens because the blood vessels dilate in the heat and this automatically lowers the blood pressure.How to Combat: The best solution to this problem is to avoid being in overcrowded hot places and to take warm baths instead of hot ones.When to Contact a Doctor?If you have experienced a drop in blood pressure due to the reasons stated above then that is not cause for worry as your blood pressure will stabilize soon. However, if you follow the solutions mentioned above but still do not see any improvement then contact your obstetrician immediately.If you actually faint due to a sharp drop in blood pressure then it’s a medical issue which requires the attention of a doctor. Remember that the slightest warning signs in pregnancy should not be ignored as this concerns the health of both mother and baby.