Why does a baby have low blood pressure?
Babies can have low blood pressure for many reasons. It is especially common in preemie babies just after birth. Reasons for low blood pressure include:
- blood loss before or during delivery
- fluid loss after delivery
- infection
- medications given to the mother before delivery
Sometimes it is not known why a baby’s blood pressure is low. Low blood pressure is seen often in babies who have Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
How can low blood pressure be treated?
- a baby may be given extra fluid by vein.
- a baby can be placed on a medication to increase blood pressure. These drugs are referred to as “pressors”.
- a baby may be transfused with blood from the blood bank. This is most often done if the suspected cause of low blood pressure is blood loss.
