PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for July, 1999: Re: A question or two about blood pressure

Re: A question or two about blood pressure

From: Marshella

anonymous@obgyn.net

Tue, 20 Jul 1999 16:59:32 -0500 (CDT)

Wow, that is really good BP, though a bit low, as you said. I wouldn't worry about the upper number being 130. It is normally below 140, and that is good and its not too far under that, either. The top number (I forget if its the diastolic or systolic, but I know what it represents), is a measurement of basically, as I understand it, how fast/how much force the blood is flowing from the heart during a heart contraction, that also creates your pulse. The bottom number is usually between 60-80 and it is a measurement taken when your heart is relaxed between contractions, when you don't feel your pulse, the pause between the pressure you feel when taking your pulse. It is taken as to be the force that is required to return the blood to the heart. At my last physical check-up my doctor said that its normal for BP to drop in early pregnancy. I would think that this is from relaxation of the blood vessels due to hormones? If the blood pressure is too low, especially the lower number, you could have symptoms such as fainting or feeling light-headed, especially when rising from a sitting or standing position because it takes longer for the blood to get from your lower extremeties back to your heart and brain. That is my understanding, and I'm certainly not a medical professional! I wouldn't think that it would affect your baby, but I may be wrong.

Mars due 2/10/00 with #1 after 5.5 years of infertility.

At Tue, 20 Jul 1999, JoAnn wrote: >
>At my OB appointment today, my BP was 130/58. While in and of itself,
>that is not a horrible BP it is somewhat high for me. I've been
>checking my BP weekly at the "Y" and it consistently runs around 90/50
>(this week it was 85/62). I do believe that the high rating at my docs
>office is probably due to "white coat syndrome" so I'm not too concerned
>about it. (At my last appointment 3 weeks ago it was 125/84.) However,
>my doc did mention that the lower number was a bit low (and of course, I
>come up with all of my questions after the fact.) What does the lower
>number stand for? What concerns are there if it is low? Is there anyway
>to get it higher? I understand that low BP can effect circulation, does
>that mean there is a danger to the baby? I know there are ways to treat
>high BP, but what about low BP?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>JoAnn
>
>--
>Mommy to Elliot James s/b 1/5/99 & little Creature due 1/1/00
>

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