Low blood pressure is common during pregnancy. Moreover, sometimes the problem arises even among women who have never encountered it before.
Many feel weak and have difficulty doing everyday activities. Although it also happens that this does not affect a woman’s well-being, it is still recommended to consult a doctor.
Low blood pressure: normal or pathological?
During pregnancy, blood pressure spikes up or down often occur. If normal pressure for healthy men and women is considered to be 120 to 80 mm. Hg, then in pregnant women it may differ slightly.
With the onset of pregnancy, colossal changes occur in a woman’s body, including blood pressure.
However, if the lower or upper blood pressure readings change by more than 20 units, then this is already considered a pathology. Most often, such a deviation is accompanied by some symptoms and poor health. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause of the change in blood pressure.
Folk recipes
Most pregnant women refuse to take medications for fear of harming the baby.
In this case, you can resort to traditional medicine. Natural remedies are not addictive and have no side effects. Let's consider several effective means:
- Green tea. Contains caffeine, so this drink is recommended for all pregnant women with hypotension.
- Viburnum decoction with onion skins. You need to boil all the ingredients in 500 ml of water for 10 minutes, then leave to infuse for half a day. Strain and drink half a cup before meals.
- Apple vinegar. Compresses are made from this product. To do this, stir 1 tbsp in 500 ml of water. vinegar, soak pieces of cloth in the solution and apply to the heels for 15-20 minutes.
Hypotension can be eliminated with pomegranate or beetroot juice (freshly squeezed). You need to drink 80 ml of them before meals.
Causes of hypotension during pregnancy
Most often, hypotension occurs during pregnancy due to hormonal changes in the body or dehydration, but there are other possible causes:
- Malfunction of the kidneys and adrenal glands;
- Heart failure;
- Toxicosis and/or anemia;
- Salt deficiency in a woman’s body;
- Low blood sugar;
- Emotional stress;
- Lack of nutrients in the diet;
- Endocrine system disorders.
If a woman suffered from hypotension before conceiving a child, then during pregnancy the situation may worsen due to changes in the body. Often, the condition of the expectant mother worsens significantly during sudden changes in weather conditions, since pregnant women are weather dependent.
Diagnostics
After low blood pressure is detected during pregnancy, the expectant mother is sent for a series of examinations. Their goal is to find out the reasons for changes in indicators and to understand whether hypotension threatens the health of the mother, fetus and the process of pregnancy and delivery with serious adverse consequences. The woman is sent for a consultation with a cardiologist, endocrinologist, ophthalmologist and a number of other specialists, and undergoes the following diagnostic procedures:
- Ultrasound;
- ECG;
- EchoCG;
- electroencephalogram;
- ophthalmoscopy.
Why is hypotension dangerous during this period?
When blood pressure drops, blood circulation deteriorates. This makes it difficult for oxygen and nutrients to reach not only the heart and brain of the expectant mother, but also the fetus inside the womb. The most dangerous thing is that placental insufficiency begins, the child stops receiving the necessary substances for proper development and hypoxia occurs.
It is very important to register with the housing complex and regularly visit a doctor
If you do not start timely treatment, placental abruption is possible in the 1st and 2nd trimester, and in the later stages, a miscarriage most often occurs. In addition, the child begins to develop dangerous pathologies that can lead to his death.
Important! Most often, blood pressure drops at night when a pregnant woman sleeps on her back. This is due to the fact that the fetus puts pressure on the vena cava, as a result of which the blood supply deteriorates. This is why it is best to sleep on your side in late pregnancy.
Exercises and breathing exercises
Unfortunately, most women, having learned about their pregnancy, urgently change their lifestyle, believing that physical activity will negatively affect the development of the fetus. However, as practice shows, this is incorrect behavior. Physical activity during pregnancy is a must unless there are medical contraindications. Let's list some benefits of classes:
- childbirth is faster and less painful;
- after the birth of a child, the body recovers faster;
- a pregnant woman experiences malaise less often and tolerates toxicosis more easily;
- the risk of varicose veins is reduced;
- blood pressure is normalized;
- shortness of breath disappears;
- posture is maintained, which significantly reduces lumbar pain;
- muscle tone increases and sleep normalizes.
A doctor or a trainer-instructor from a special health group can help determine physical activity. Don’t forget about the undeniable benefits of breathing exercises, which will help the expectant mother:
- eliminate anxiety;
- improve the functioning of internal organs;
- will ensure maximum oxygen delivery to the fetus;
- reduce the manifestation of toxicosis;
- will strengthen the immune system and prepare the body for the upcoming birth.
Today, breathing exercises for pregnant women using the Strelnikova method are popular. It is clear, simple and allows you to start classes from the first days of pregnancy.
Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure
In almost all cases, low blood pressure is accompanied by painful symptoms:
- Constant weakness and fatigue;
- Fatigue and drowsiness;
- Cardiopalmus;
- Dizziness and nausea;
- Noise in the ears and black spots before the eyes;
- Regular headaches;
- Loss of appetite;
- Constant thirst;
- Pallor of the skin;
- Depressive state;
- Vomiting not associated with toxicosis;
- Unpleasant smell of urine.
Due to the fact that blood circulation is impaired, the feet and palms may become cold. Fainting is also possible, which is very dangerous for both the mother and the fetus. In addition, if there is toxicosis, then with a decrease in blood pressure it can worsen, which often leads to the threat of premature birth in the early stages.
You should tell your doctor about all ailments in order to begin treatment of the disease in the early stages.
Safe treatment of hypotension in pregnant women
To begin with, the doctor may recommend non-drug treatment:
- It is best in this case to reconsider your diet. Since a possible reason is a lack of nutrients, it is necessary to add more fruits, vegetables, parsley and dill to the menu;
- For drinks, it is better to drink homemade juices or compotes, as well as tonic green tea. You should not overuse liquids, as this can lead to swelling;
- If hypotension is caused by a lack of salt in the diet, then it is necessary to replenish it. Eating a lot of salty food is harmful, but eating 100 grams of salted cabbage or 1-2 pickled cucumbers will not hurt;
- Lean meat will also help increase blood pressure. You can prepare various broths, goulash, etc.;
- In addition, to increase vascular tone, it is recommended to consume various seafood and sea fish;
- Walking in the fresh air will be useful, as even the slightest physical activity contributes to an increase in blood pressure;
- Coffee is not recommended during pregnancy, but if you have low blood pressure, you can drink a cup of weak coffee. It’s better to make a drink from ground beans; instant drinks won’t do any good.
If you have low blood pressure, you can pamper yourself with a cup of natural coffee.
If these measures are not enough, then drug therapy may be prescribed, but only by a doctor. Self-medication is unacceptable.
What to do
Hypotension at the initial stage is relieved with both medications and herbs
But at the secondary stage, attention is already paid to the organ whose disease caused the decrease in pressure.
Drug treatment
In the most common cases, herbal-based medications are prescribed, which have a more gentle effect:
- Pantocrine. Created with deer antlers extract, it stimulates the nervous system and normalizes the condition of blood vessels. Developed in tinctures, capsules, for injections.
- Dipyridamole . Makes blood vessels wider.
- Eleutherococcus extract . Normalizes blood pressure, increases functionality and immunity.
- Caffeine. Available for injections.
- Radiola pink. Available in tincture form. Stimulates brain activity, strengthens blood vessels, increases blood flow.
- Zamanikha . Recommended for sleep disorders and fatigue. You can take it for no more than a month.
If a pregnant woman feels that her blood pressure has dropped sharply, this is accompanied by a rapid pulse, weakness and headache, the following steps must be taken:
- Rest for about half an hour.
- Drink a serving of sweet green tea.
- You can use a slice of dark chocolate, but not more than 70% cocoa.
- To drink high-quality coffee, you should dilute it with milk. It is better to replace drinking with chicory.
Traditional methods
Decoctions and tinctures can help cope with low blood pressure, but medical advice is required first.
Hibiscus tea
Ingredients:
- Sudanese rose – 5 flowers.
- Water – 0.5 liters.
Preparation: pour boiling water over the inflorescences and leave for 20 minutes. Strain. Drink up to 3 cups a day, with honey or lemon.
Viburnum tea
Ingredients:
- Berries - 0.5 cups.
- Water – 0.5 liters.
Preparation: crush the viburnum, pour boiling water, leave for 1 hour. Strain, squeezing the juice from the berries. Drink 120 milligrams per day, you can add honey.
Hare cabbage decoction
Ingredients:
- Grass – 1 tbsp. spoon.
- Water – 200 grams.
Preparation: pour boiling water over it and wait for the grass to settle. Strain. Take 50 ml, 2 times a day, before meals.
Tincture of calendula
Ingredients:
- Dried flowers - 2 tbsp. spoons.
- Alcohol – 100 milliliters.
Preparation: put the raw material in a bottle, add alcohol, and put it in the refrigerator for 10 days. Strain. Take 10 drops morning and evening, diluting with water.
Diet
It is very important for pregnant women to follow a diet so that the child receives all the nutrients. And if low blood pressure appears, then the diet requires special attention
You need to eat often, in small portions.
Recommended:
- Cottage cheese, meat, eggs, where there is a lot of protein.
- Bran and cereals contain carbohydrates.
- Vegetables and fruits are a storehouse of vitamins.
- Celery, strawberries - normalize blood pressure.
For breakfast, it is best to eat biscuits or biscuits. It is important to drink moderate amounts of fluid.
First aid for fainting
Unfortunately, fainting during pregnancy with low blood pressure is not uncommon. In this case, it is necessary to help the victim as much as possible:
- First of all, the woman needs to be placed on a flat surface.
- To regulate breathing, you need to open the windows for fresh air.
- A cold compress should be placed on the victim's forehead.
- Lemon improves body tone well. You can give the woman a glass of cool water mixed with a few teaspoons of lemon juice. Or give a slice of fresh citrus.
If this is not enough, then you should soak a cotton pad in ammonia and let the victim smell it. As a rule, after all these measures, the woman’s condition returns to normal.
Amount of water
Another important factor is drinking enough water! There are several opinions on this question. Water consumption depends on the duration of pregnancy, the individual characteristics of the body, as well as physical activity and climatic conditions.
Don't lose sight of your body weight. Doctors are unanimous on one thing: in the first trimester, fluid intake should be maximum: 2500-2800 l/day. It is during this period that amniotic fluid is formed and the volume of circulating blood increases. The above volume will help a woman tolerate toxicosis more easily.
The second trimester also requires a sufficient amount, as the development of a new organism continues and amniotic fluid is renewed every 3 hours. However, during this period, most women are faced with the phenomenon of edema. There can be many reasons for its appearance, they are determined by the doctor who monitors the course of pregnancy. As for the last third trimester, despite the need for fluid, it is recommended to reduce its amount to 1.2 - 1.5 liters per day.
