O26.5: Maternal hypotension syndrome

The heart pumps blood through the arteries to every part of the body. The pressure in the arteries must be enough for all the organs to get enough blood. On the other hand, if the blood pressure is too high, the heart, kidneys or other organs may get damaged. Under stress, our blood pressure naturally rises. During the night, our blood pressure usually falls.

The metric for blood pressure always consists of two figures. The first figure is the maximum pressure in the arteries. It occurs when the heart pumps blood out. The second value is the minimum pressure in the arteries. It occurs when the heart is filling up with blood again. A normal blood pressure can be around 120 over 80. Depending on age or pre-existing conditions, a normal blood pressure can also be slightly higher or lower.

There are various reasons why a person might have low blood pressure in pregnancy. For example, the inferior vena cava can be compressed when you lie on your back. The vena cava are large blood vessels. They collect oxygen-poor blood from the body and carry it back to the heart. There is a superior and inferior vena cava. The uterus with the child inside can press on the inferior vena cava.

The uterus pressing on the inferior vena cava disrupts the flow of the blood back to the heart. This means the heart no longer gets enough blood and you can have problems. This is especially true when lying flat on your back and less so when on your side. The symptoms include sweating and shortness of breath. You may also become pale and the child’s heartbeat may get slower.