Pregnant women often have troubles with their blood pressure because of the cardiovascular changes. Although having a low blood pressure is not as common as having high blood pressure, it is still a matter of concern, because the symptoms of hypotension are dizziness and fainting. Taking a fall due to these reasons might be dangerous for both the mother and the child.

During the first quarter of pregnancy, experts expect the blood pressure to drop by five to fifteen points. However many other situations can also cause occasional or frequent falls to occur. One of the biggest causes of hypotension in pregnancy is dehydration. A mother loses a lot of fluids, which, if not supplemented adequately, can cause drastic drops in blood pressure. Another situation may be orthostatic hypotension, which occurs because the added weight around the abdomen makes blood accumulate at the lower extremities. The widening of the uterus also exerts pressure on the circulatory system, a situation called supine hypotension. Anemia or low blood sugar levels (known as hypoglycemia) can also cause hypotension.

All these can be counteracted by certain preventive actions. Taking lots of fluids, sufficient quantities of salt and being careful while standing up from a sitting position are some of the most basic measures.