A Parent's Guide to the NICU

Low Blood Pressure

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.