Do u get headaches in early pregnancy
Headaches during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby
Headaches during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content9-minute read
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If you have a severe headache during pregnancy that is not usual for you, seek medical help immediately.
Key facts
- It’s common to get mild headaches in the first few months of pregnancy because of hormonal changes.
- If you usually suffer from migraines, they may get better, worse, change or stay the same when you’re pregnant.
- Headaches during pregnancy may be triggered by poor sleep, stress, dehydration, low blood sugar or eye strain.
- If your headache doesn’t settle with simple measures (for example, rest and rehydration), you can take paracetamol.
- A headache after 20 weeks can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, which is a serious pregnancy condition that needs medical attention – see your doctor or midwife.
Does pregnancy cause headaches?
Many people get mild headaches when they are pregnant. Headaches can often be triggered by a change in hormones. They are more common in the first few months of pregnancy.
If you usually suffer from migraines, you might notice a change when you’re pregnant. There’s a good chance that your migraines will improve after the first trimester. This may be because your oestrogen level starts to stabilise. However, some people don’t notice a change, or may get worse migraines during pregnancy. You also might notice different changes from one pregnancy to the next.
Headaches can develop for many different reasons — it’s not always because of pregnancy hormones.
Why else might I get headaches during pregnancy?
Besides hormonal changes, there are many triggers that cause headaches in general, but might occur more often when you’re pregnant, such as:
- not getting enough sleep
- withdrawal from caffeine — such as in coffee, tea or cola drinks
- low blood sugar from not eating regularly
- dehydration
- feeling stressed, anxious or depressed
- eye strain — especially as your eye muscles relax during pregnancy
Many of these triggers can cause tension headaches, which are very common.
The pain is usually mild and on both sides of your head.
Some of these triggers can cause migraines, which are more severe and mostly occur on one side of your head. If you have migraines, you might also feel sick or vomit and be sensitive to light or sound.
Pre-eclampsia
If you start getting frequent headaches after 20 weeks of pregnancy, this could be a sign of a more serious pregnancy condition called pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is when you have high blood pressure that affects your kidneys and sometimes other parts of your body. If you have a pre-eclampsia headache, you may find that simple pain-relieving medicines like paracetamol don’t help.
It’s very important to tell your doctor or midwife if you are getting headaches in the second half of pregnancy, or if your headaches are very severe.
If you have a severe headache during pregnancy, call your doctor or midwife. It could be something more serious.
Health conditions
Just like when you’re not pregnant, a headache can sometimes be a sign of other health conditions, including:
- infections, such as an ear infection or flu
- sinusitis
- problems with your teeth
- an aneurysm or stroke
What can I do to treat a headache when I’m pregnant?
If you have a headache, you could try:
- having a nap, or resting with your eyes closed
- drinking water
- having something to eat
- putting a cold or heat pack on your forehead or the back of your neck
- asking someone to give you a gentle neck massage
If you need to take medicine for pain relief, paracetamol is safe during pregnancy.
Pain-relieving medicines can actually cause headaches if you take them too often, so don’t take paracetamol more than 3 times a week.
When you’re pregnant, avoid anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or aspirin and medicines that contain caffeine.
What can I do to prevent headaches during pregnancy?
If you find you are getting mild headaches often, it’s a good idea to:
- getting more sleep
- drink at least 8 cups of water a day
- go to pregnancy yoga classes or do some other type of exercise
- learn relaxation or stress management techniques
- don't go more than 4 hours without eating
- avoid processed foods
- see an optometrist for an eye check
What can I do if I suffer from migraines during pregnancy?
If you suffer from migraines, try to avoid things that may trigger migraines for you. People have different triggers for migraines, so it’s important to learn what your personal triggers are.
Keep a headache diary, and see if your triggers include:
- specific foods such as chocolate, or food additives such as caffeine or MSG
- bright or flickering lights, strong smells and loud sounds
- not enough sleep, or too much sleep
- skipping meals
- computer or movie screens
- strenuous exercise
- emotional triggers such as arguments or stress
Check with your doctor, pharmacist or midwife before you take a medicine for your migraine, to make sure it’s safe during pregnancy.
Paracetamol is the safest option for pain relief. If paracetamol doesn’t help and you need something stronger, ask your doctor about if you can take codeine. Try not to take codeine often, as you could become dependent on it and your baby could have withdrawal symptoms after they are born.
Most triptans (migraine medicines) are not considered safe in pregnancy. If you don’t get relief from paracetamol and codeine, you may be able to take sumatriptan occasionally.
This medicine is available from a pharmacist and requires a prescription. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist before using it to help you understand the risks and the benefits of this medicine during pregnancy.
You can take metoclopramide if you suffer from nausea or vomiting with migraines.
Acupuncture can help treat migraines. Talk to your doctor or midwife first to check it’s safe for you. Make sure to tell your acupuncturist that you’re pregnant, so they can avoid certain points that shouldn’t be used in pregnancy.
When should I see a doctor?
See your doctor or midwife if you have symptoms of pre-eclampsia, including:
- a headache that doesn’t get better with paracetamol
- severe pain below your ribs
- heartburn that doesn’t disappear after taking antacids
- sudden swelling in your face, hands or feet
- blurred vision
Headaches can sometimes be a sign of other serious health conditions. Contact your doctor straightaway if you have:
- a sudden severe headache
- a change in your usual headaches
- your first-ever migraine
- a headache together with fever, neck stiffness, sensitivity of your eyes to light, drowsiness or weakness of your arm or leg
- a recent head injury
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — If you are feeling unwell and not sure what to do next, check your symptoms using the healthdirect Symptom Checker tool.
- Speak with your doctor or midwife, particularly if you have any concerns about pre-eclampsia.
- For more information about headaches, visit Migraine and Headache Australia.
- For more information about medicines you can take during pregnancy, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
Sources:
Tommy’s (Headaches in pregnancy – should I be worried?), NSW Government (Having a baby), Migraine & Headache Australia (Adults and headache), Migraine & Headache Australia (Migraine), Migraine & Headache Australia (Headache triggers), Migraine & Headache Australia (Headache treatment – no absolute cure), Migraine & Headache Australia (What is headache?), Migraine & Headache Australia (Tension headache), RANZCOG (Pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure in pregnancy), Royal Women's Hospital (Medicines in pregnancy), NSW Health (Migraine in pregnancy and breastfeeding), RANZCOG (Q&A: severe headache in the third trimester), Migraine & Headache Australia (Self-Care & Trigger Management)Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: September 2022
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Headaches in Early Pregnancy
Nearly all women have occasional headaches, but having a headache in pregnancy is not fun.
And managing headaches is especially tricky in the first trimester when you should avoid many medicines. Whether your headache is from tension or is a full-blown migraine, there are some things you should know.
What causes headaches in pregnancy?
The exact cause of a headache isn’t always clear. In the first trimester, changing hormone levels and blood volume may play a role. A dull, overall headache can come with stress, severe tiredness (fatigue), and eyestrain. Sinus headaches may be more likely because of the nasal congestion and runny nose that are common in early pregnancy. Hunger and low levels of blood sugar can trigger headaches, too. Women who suddenly stop their morning coffee and sodas may experience caffeine withdrawal headaches. Those who also suffer with nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy can become dehydrated. This can also bring on a headache.
Migraine headaches are a common type of headache in pregnancy. These painful, throbbing headaches are often felt on one side of the head and result from expansion of the blood vessels in the brain.
The misery is sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. A small percentage of women with migraines also have an aura with the migraine. They see flashes of light or feel tingling in their arms and legs.
When should I be concerned?
When a headache is severe, or just doesn’t go away, or when you have dizziness, blurred vision, or changes in your field of vision, you should contact your healthcare provider. Headaches can sometimes be related to blood pressure problems in pregnancy. If they are persistent or severe and happen after 20 weeks of pregnancy, let your healthcare provider know. Although strokes during pregnancy are rare, migraines can increase a pregnant woman’s risk for them. If you have migraines, report them to your provider.
What can I do about headaches?
Steps to manage headaches include the following:
-
Stay away from any known headache triggers, including allergens and certain foods, like monosodium glutamate, cured meats, and strong cheeses.
-
Smoking is never a good idea in pregnancy. You should also stay away from secondhand smoke.
-
Try to eat well and drink plenty of fluids, especially if you are prone to morning sickness.
-
Reduce your stress level. Try a massage or cold pack to help with tension headaches.
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If your headache is a migraine, rest in a cool, dark room with no noise, and try using warm or cold compresses or an ice pack.
There is good news, however. Most women have fewer headaches during pregnancy, especially after the first trimester. And those with a history of migraines often find there is improvement during pregnancy.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Daniel N Sacks MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Donna Freeborn PhD CNM FNP
Online Medical Reviewer:
Heather Trevino
Date Last Reviewed:
10/1/2020
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All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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Migraine during pregnancy: what to do
Migraine is a benign disease, it does not affect the course of pregnancy and fetal development. However, migraine and pregnancy is a combination that requires a responsible attitude. Especially with frequent migraines (more than 2 times a week) and migraines with aura, because:
-
medicines approved for use, few,
-
and the approach to the treatment and prevention of migraine during this period is extremely individual: it depends on the frequency, severity and duration of headache, the degree of impact on life.
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Our neurologist Daria Korobkova conducted a live broadcast on the clinic's Instagram account, where she told how migraine and pregnancy are connected, why attacks become more frequent or disappear, and answered subscribers' questions. The ether was saved, see “Air recording: migraine during pregnancy and GV.
We will tell about migraine during breastfeeding separately.
The statistics of clinical observations of migraine during pregnancy looks like this:
In 60-70% of pregnant women with migraine, headache attacks become less frequent, milder, or even completely disappear in the second and third trimesters. This is due to the stabilization of estrogen levels. By the beginning of the second trimester, it rises 6 times and its fluctuations stop. nine0003
In other women, migraines during pregnancy either remain unchanged or worsen. But as the duration of pregnancy increases, the proportion of such women gradually decreases:
If at the end of the first trimester the frequency and intensity of attacks persist, then it is most likely that migraine will disturb the woman throughout the entire period of pregnancy and after childbirth too.
How to manage migraine during pregnancy?
The main thing here is to learn how to control seizures and, if necessary, seek medical help. nine0003
-
Follow lifestyle advice:
-
get enough sleep;
-
drink enough fluids;
-
eat fractionally and without long breaks;
-
rest;
-
avoid stressful situations. This is one of the main provocateurs of migraine. Psychotherapy, relaxation and stress management are here to help you.
-
Keep a headache diary. This will help you take control of migraine triggers.
Yes, these simple recommendations are sometimes enough to make seizures less frequent! Pregnancy is a special state of a woman. If in other periods of life we do not take such recommendations so seriously, then in this situation it is worth trying to change the philosophy of life and attitude towards ourselves =)
How to relieve an attack?
-
Favor non-drug methods.
Sometimes, in order to relieve an attack, it is enough to eliminate an unfavorable factor:
-
dry biscuits, ginger, or applesauce may help with nausea;
-
for dehydration - diluted juice or other liquid;
-
sleep, walking or breathing exercises can also help to cope;
-
If the attacks are severe, interfere with your life, then under the supervision of a specialist, you can resort to drug therapy. nine0003
PARACETAMOL is considered the safest and can be taken throughout pregnancy.
All other drugs have nuances. For example:
-
ibuprofen can be taken in the second trimester, and in the first trimester it is better to limit, in the third trimester the drug is contraindicated for use;
-
aspirin is prohibited in the 3rd trimester and is undesirable for taking in the first two, as it can cause extremely undesirable consequences; nine0003
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It is strictly forbidden to use ergotamine and opioid analgesics;
-
triptans are not officially approved for use during pregnancy as no controlled studies have been conducted.
However, clinical observations of women around the world who took them on their own showed no adverse effects on the fetus. We discussed this issue in more detail on the air.
!Other than paracetamol, we do not recommend the use of any drug without a doctor's prescription. nine0003
When to see a doctor:
-
migraine occurred for the first time during pregnancy;
-
if migraine attacks suddenly become more frequent and stronger;
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if the aura became longer or appeared for the first time;
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if the headache is rapidly increasing and has an unusual character;
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if the pressure rises during the headache.
Follow our Instagram to read the latest materials on the diagnosis and treatment of headaches!
How do doctors diagnose headaches? If you are pregnant and suffer from migraines Anxiety headache nine0003
Migraine during pregnancy - Juno
Migraine during pregnancy - Junohome
Articles
Migraine during pregnancy
How to recognize an attack and deal with it properly - read on.
We will tell you how dangerous migraines are and how to get rid of them safely during pregnancy.
Contents of the article
Features and manifestations of migraine during pregnancy
If a woman was worried about migraines before pregnancy, then during the bearing of a child, the attacks are more likely to stop, or become milder and rarer. Improvements come from the 2nd trimester and are due to the fact that fluctuations in estrogen levels stop. In the early stages, the likelihood of migraine is higher. In the 1st trimester, ailments often occur, including headaches. But it's not always a migraine.
Migraine symptoms in pregnant women are similar to those that occur in other people. Approximately the picture looks like this: nine0003
- Harbingers. They are not characteristic for everyone and may be absent. They occur 1-3 days before an attack, manifest as irritability, depression, or, conversely, a surge of activity.
- Headache.
Very intense, more often covers the temporal or frontal region, has a pulsating, arching character. It can be localized in one half of the head, but sometimes it spreads to the entire head. The pain lasts from 2-3 hours to several days, it is difficult to remove. nine0005 Aura. It also doesn't happen to everyone. The phenomenon accompanies headache and lasts 10-40 minutes. Patients note flashes of light, spots, flies before the eyes, sometimes numbness of the extremities worries. With an aura, it is almost impossible to do something around the house or work.
Even after the pain passes, the expectant mother experiences depression, fatigue, irritability. Unpleasant sensations continue for about a day.
Why do pregnant women get migraines
The exact cause of the disease has not been established. However, specialists involved in the management of pregnancy distinguish hormonal changes in the body and an increased load on the body during pregnancy among the provoking factors.
General risk factors:
- sudden change in weather - especially for weather-sensitive women;
- stress and depression have a bad effect on blood vessels and the nervous system;
- violation of the diet - long intervals between meals, overeating, abuse of citrus fruits, smoked products and chocolate; nine0008
- overwork - physical fatigue at home and at work, sleep disturbances;
- irritants - unpleasant odors, stuffiness, excessive light or noise;
- fluid deficiency - dehydration due to insufficient water intake;
- concomitant pathologies, for example, hypertension.
The condition of pregnant women is adversely affected by weight gain, hypothermia and overheating. This can also provoke migraine attacks, especially if they have happened before. nine0003
Are seizures dangerous for the fetus
By itself, migraine during pregnancy is not critical. If the seizures are not caused by more serious problems - hypertension, eclampsia, then a woman is highly likely to give birth to a healthy child at term.
Migraine does not increase the risk of preterm birth or developmental anomalies in the fetus.
But despite the safety for the baby, migraines are debilitating for a pregnant woman. This affects general well-being - worsens sleep, nutrition, causes stress, decreased activity. Therefore, too frequent seizures can result in problems with the nervous system, fetal hypoxia. It is important to help yourself in time. nine0003
Treatment of migraine during pregnancy
Tablets should be taken only as a last resort. In the early stages, strong drugs are prohibited. First, try to cope with non-drug methods:
- Drink sweet tea or cola. Caffeine in small doses is harmless and can help relieve headaches.
- Take a walk in the fresh air, do simple exercises. This contributes to the outflow of blood from the vessels of the brain and the elimination of pain. nine0008
- Apply a warm or cool compress to the head. It can be a towel moistened with water or a heating pad.
- Take a cool shower (but not too cold). The procedure is useful as a prevention of varicose veins and migraines.
- Relax and sleep in a quiet, dark room.
- Do not hold back the urge to vomit - it can relieve an attack of pain.
- Rub essential oils of lemon, orange, lemon balm into whiskey - just a little is enough. Too much oil can make headaches worse. If you have previously noticed such a reaction of your body to odors, you should not apply this method now. nine0008
- Drink freshly squeezed juice or clean water. Replenishing fluids often helps get rid of a migraine.
If the above measures do not help, and the seizures are disturbing enough, you need to consult a doctor. The specialist will prescribe treatment, for example, prescribe pills that will help to cope with pain. The safest drug is paracetamol. It can be taken on its own. The doctor may prescribe magnesium for treatment - it has a beneficial effect on blood vessels.
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In some cases, ibuprofen and aspirin are acceptable (only in the 2nd trimester). Opioid analgesics and triptans are strictly prohibited. If a migraine is growing or has appeared for the first time, an aura has joined, pressure rises, you should definitely consult a doctor in the near future.
Prophylaxis
Dealing with migraines during pregnancy is not always easy. It is better to follow some rules that will help reduce the risk of seizures: nine0003
- Stick to a sleep and rest routine.
- Control sweets and fatty foods.
- Try to walk every day, do light exercises.
- Massage or self-massage the head and collar area. Movements should be light: it is better if the specialist shows what they should be.
Even if an attack has already happened, try not to abruptly get involved in worries and affairs after it. Remember that you are responsible not only for yourself, but also for the child. Do not be shy to turn to your loved ones for help and do not be heroic.
Be healthy! nine0003
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