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Severe headaches in early pregnancy


Headaches in pregnancy - Should I be worried?

Maternity care is still essential during the coronavirus pandemic and services are still running. If you have any concerns about your pregnancy call your GP, midwife, nearest early pregnancy unit or maternity unit.

How can I treat a headache in pregnancy?

 

If you have a mild headache, it’s safe to take paracetamol. Make sure you follow the instructions on the packet for how much you can take.

There are some painkillers you should not take while you’re pregnant. These include tablets or capsules that:

  • contain added caffeine (sometimes sold with 'extra' on the label)
  • contain codeine
  • are anti-inflammatory, like ibuprofen or aspirin.

Some women may be advised to take a low dose of aspirin as a treatment if they have had miscarriages before or they are at risk of pre-eclampsia. This will be prescribed by a doctor. Aspirin should not be taken as treatment for a headache.

Try to take the lowest dose of paracetamol that works and for the shortest amount of time. Your midwife, GP or pharmacist can give you more advice if the pain is ongoing and doesn’t go away with paracetamol.

Find out more about drugs and medicines in pregnancy.

What can I do to prevent headaches in pregnancy?

 There are some things you can do to prevent headaches. Try to:

  • drink at least eight glasses of fluid a day to avoid dehydration
  • get enough sleep
  • eat a healthy, balanced diet
  • rest and relax  as much as possible. You could try things like mindfulness or yoga.

When should I call a doctor or midwife about a headache in pregnancy?

Call your midwife, doctor or hospital maternity unit if you have a very bad headache or a headache that won’t go away. This could be a symptom of pregnancy induced hypertension.  This is a type of high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks and goes away within 6 weeks of the baby's birth. It’s also known as gestational high blood pressure or gestational hypertension.

Call your midwife, doctor or hospital straight away if you have a headache and vision problems and sudden swelling on your hands, feet, face or stomach. This could be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy condition that can be dangerous for you and the baby if it is not monitored and treated. 

Call your midwife, doctor or hospital maternity unit if you have a headache and any of the following symptoms:

  • discomfort in the lowest part of your stomach (pelvis)
  • back pain
  • loin pain (your sides between the lower ribs and pelvis, and the lower part of the back)
  • needing to wee a lot or an uncontrollable need to wee
  • cloudy, foul-smelling (fishy) or bloody wee
  • a raised temperature  (over 37.5°C)
  • feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting.

This could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. UTIs cab be treated with antibiotics that are safe to use in pregnancy.

Migraines in pregnancy

Migraines are a common type of headache. Many people who have migraines may have:

  • severe pain, which feels like a throbbing, pounding or pulsating pain
  • nausea (feeling sick)
  • pain brought on by bright lights
  • an ‘aura’, such as flashing lights before the migraine starts.

 Talk to your doctor or midwife if you’ve had migraines before and if you are taking or have taken any medication for them. This is because some migraine medications can contain codeine, aspirin or ibuprofen, which are not recommended in pregnancy unless prescribed by a doctor and the benefits outweigh the risks.

Don’t wait until you have an attack. Your doctor should be able to give you advice on how you can manage your symptoms while you’re pregnant and if you choose to breastfeed.
 

Will a migraine hurt my baby?

Women with migraines are at slightly higher risk of developing high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia. This risk is very small and most women with migraines will not have high blood pressure.

If you have any worries at any time, talk to your midwife.

What do I do if I have a migraine in pregnancy?

If you’ve never had a migraine call your midwife, doctor or hospital maternity unit. Serious conditions like pre-eclampsia can be like a migraine, so although it’s unlikely anything is wrong, your healthcare team may want to see you.

If you have always had migraines, you may find that they get better during your pregnancy. But pregnancy can also change the nature of migraines, so if you have a migraine that feels different to what you’ve had before, call your midwife, doctor or hospital maternity unit. 

What can I do to prevent migraines?

One of the best ways to prevent migraines is to recognize what triggers an attack and trying to avoid them. For example, stress, eating certain foods or lack of sleep may bring on an attack.

Avoiding your triggers can be difficult when you’re pregnant. For example, if you have morning sickness you may not feel like eating or drinking much. This can cause low blood sugar or dehydration, so it’s important to try and find ways to cope.

Getting enough sleep may also be difficult during pregnancy. Try our tips for a better night’s sleep.

You should also try to

  • drink at least eight glasses of fluid a day to avoid dehydration
  • eat a healthy, balanced diet
  • rest and relax as much as possible. You could try things like mindfulness or yoga.

Acupuncture

You could also try acupuncture, which has been recommended by NICE as helpful for people with migraines. Acupuncture is a type of complementary therapy that involves a practitioner inserting thin needles at particular points on your body. It’s used to control and relieve pain.  Research has shown that it can also help with back pain  for pregnant women.

Acupuncture is generally safe to have when you’re pregnant but talk to your midwife or GP before you book a session. If you do want to try it, make sure your acupuncturist is fully qualified and that they use disposable needles at every treatment session. Tell your practitioner that you’re pregnant because certain acupuncture points can’t be used safely in pregnancy. 

More information and support

Migraine Action

Migraine Trust

Pregnancy and Headaches: When Should I Worry?

Pregnancy is a beautiful thing to be celebrated, but few people fill you in on the not-so-great symptoms that may occur during the journey. Namely, heartburn, gas, constipation and, for some pregnant mamas, headaches.

While headaches can be just another normal symptom of pregnancy, should they ever be a cause for concern?

“Headaches are common in women both in and outside of pregnancy,” said Kelley Saunders, MD, an OBGYN with Banner – University Medicine Women’s Institute. “But whether they are normal or not should always be discussed with your doctor."

Here is some insight into what causes headaches during pregnancy, some remedies to treat them and why your doctor should be kept in the loop.

Is it a headache or something else?

It isn’t always easy to tell what kind of headache you’re having, but the most common types of headaches during pregnancy are tension-type headaches, migraines and cluster headaches.

Tension headaches are the most common kind of headache in pregnant women. It can feel like someone is trying to squish your head like a watermelon. If you carry your stress in your shoulders and neck, you may be more susceptible to this kind of headache.

Migraines are a particular type of headache that occur on one side of the head. For some women, migraines can get worse the first few months and then improve in later stages of pregnancy. For others, they may experience no change, decrease or difference in their migraines.

Cluster headaches are less common but can occur during pregnancy. You’ll suddenly have severe pain around your eyes or temples usually about the same time every day.

The good news is that there are plenty of pregnancy-safe things you can do to prevent and relieve the most common pregnancy headaches.

Tips for relieving mild headaches

  • Get plenty of rest. Sleep is especially hard later in your pregnancy but is so important to physical and mental health. Find yourself a comfy prenatal pillow and snuggle away.
  • Drink plenty of water. Pregnant moms require more water than the average person. While you may want to avoid extra trips to the bathroom, adequate fluid intake is important for you and baby.
  • Eat regular, well-balanced meals. To prevent low blood sugar, eat small meals throughout the day. Avoid sugar, like soda and candy.
  • Get a prenatal massage. A full-body massage can release tension in the muscles of your neck, shoulders and back.
  • Use warm compresses on head, neck and shoulders.
  • Avoid triggers. Keep a journal to help identify specific triggers so you can learn what to avoid. Some common headache triggers include strong odors and nitrites or nitrates.
  • Try exercise and relaxation techniques. There’s evidence that regular exercise can reduce stress and boost overall mood. Check with your doctor first before starting any new fitness routines.
  • Take acetaminophen to relieve symptoms (as approved by doctor).
  • Take caffeine in doses less than 200mg in a day (as approved by doctor).

If you have a history of migraines, however, your doctor may treat them differently during pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor what medications are safe to take during pregnancy.

Is my headache a cause for concern?

Sometimes. Headaches tend to be more common in the first and third trimesters, but they can occur in the second trimester as well. While there are common causes for headaches during pregnancy, it’s important to note that headaches during the second and third trimester can also be due to high blood pressure, called preeclampsia.

“Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related condition that requires prompt evaluation and management with an obstetrician or maternal fetal medicine specialist,” Dr. Saunders said. “Elevated blood pressure prior to pregnancy puts a woman at increased risk for preeclampsia.”

When should I call my doctor?

Whether you experience headaches or not, it’s always important to discuss your pre-pregnancy history, obstetrical history and concerns with your doctor for an individualized assessment and management plan. However, if none of the above treatments resolve your mild headache or your headaches become more frequent and severe, talk to your doctor to determine the cause.

“This includes new headaches that present after 20 weeks, a sudden onset of severe headaches, headaches associated with a fever, mental health changes, elevated blood pressure and vision changes,” Dr. Saunders said. “It’s important to keep an open line of communication with your physician and let them know about any changes in your health so they can rule out anything serious."

Got questions? We can help!

If a headache is keeping you up at night and your doctor isn’t available, call the Banner Nurse Now line, a free health care service that offers advice 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Call 844-259-9494.

Check out other pregnancy articles on our Banner Health blog

Pregnancy is an exciting, but also a bit scary time (especially if this is your first baby). Here are some other reads to help guide you through the trimesters and welcoming baby:

  • 5 Tips for Having a Happy, Healthy Pregnancy
  • Expect the Unexpected: How Your Body Changes During Pregnancy
  • What To Expect In The Second Trimester
  • Understanding Pulmonary Embolism Risk During Pregnancy

Women's Health Pregnancy

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Pregnancy: how to beat a headache without pills | 74.

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Headache is quite a frequent companion of pregnancy (especially during its first trimester). Every fifth expectant mother suffers from this disease. The causes of pain can be so different that it is not always possible to immediately make a diagnosis. In addition, such a pattern was revealed: in the early stages of pregnancy, as a rule, blood pressure decreases, which may well provoke headaches and dizziness. Pregnant women often react sharply to weather changes - increased meteosensitivity can also be the cause of ailments. nine0003

A common cause of headache is migraine, in which attacks develop due to changes in the tone of the vessels of the head. It just so happened that in women this disease is much more common than in men, however, it should be noted that the frequency and severity of migraine decreases with the onset of pregnancy, especially in the second half, which is associated with changes in hormonal levels. Usually, with this ailment, it “aches in the temples”, a throbbing headache may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting. In the classic form of migraine, headaches are usually preceded by "flies" or flashes before the eyes. nine0003

Headache of moderate intensity is common, covering the head, squeezing it like a hoop, or pulling. It is usually associated with stress, physical or emotional strain. In some cases, it may be associated with muscle strain: in particular, the muscles of the neck and upper shoulder girdle during prolonged work in an uncomfortable position.

In addition to hypotension (low blood pressure), headache can also be caused by hypertension (high blood pressure), which is one of the symptoms of a serious pathology of pregnancy - late toxicosis (preeclampsia). Pain is often accompanied by swelling and protein in the urine. nine0003

The treatment of headache during pregnancy is very limited, since most drugs have a negative effect on the course of pregnancy and the formation of the fetus.

Lie in a comfortable position in a dark, ventilated room, in silence. Usually the pain goes away after a short sleep. Head massage can also help: make circular movements with your fingertips, while trying to relax as much as possible. Another simple but very effective way is washing your hair with warm water or a cold compress applied to the temporal or occipital region. nine0003

Mint, rosehip, chamomile decoctions can be used to relieve headaches. They have a calming and analgesic effect. With reduced pressure, strong sweet tea helps. Before pregnancy, did a cup of coffee help with pain? Most likely, now this method will have to be abandoned: doctors do not recommend strong coffee to pregnant women.

Try to eat fractionally and in small portions. Feeling hungry can also trigger a headache. Snack not on chocolates and chips, but on dried fruits, cookies or an apple. nine0003

Do not forget that good sleep is very important for a pregnant woman. However, a significant increase in sleep time can also trigger a headache.

Try to walk more, breathe fresh air. If you work at a computer, remember to get up every 30 minutes, do some light exercise, or just walk down the hallway.

Be sure to remember: it is important to know and believe that you can and should cope with a headache without pills. This is very important not only for you, but also for the baby. Be healthy! nine0003

Galina KIM

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    Pregnancy headache: where it comes from and how to get rid of it

    November 14, 2020 Likbez Health nine0003

    Sometimes you just need to get some sleep, and sometimes you need to call an ambulance immediately.

    When to call an ambulance

    Call 103 or 112 urgently if you experience the following symptoms:

    • sudden and severe headache;
    • consciousness becomes confused or completely lost;
    • pain gets worse over 5 minutes;
    • flies, spots flash in the eyes;
    • throbbing and noisy in ears;
    • speech has become slurred, words are drawn out; nine0112
    • arms and legs become weak, convulsions set in;
    • the muscles of the neck are very stiff, it is impossible to reach the chest with the chin;
    • fever of 39 °C or more;
    • increased heart rate at rest;
    • severe shortness of breath;
    • the child pushes without stopping or stops abruptly;
    • leaking water or blood;
    • lower abdomen hurts, as if contractions had begun.

    Why pregnant women can get headaches

    Pregnancy headaches are not always life threatening. But the doctor needs to be told about it in any case. If the symptom appeared for the first time and does not hurt much, postpone the conversation until a scheduled visit. If your headache is recurring or gets worse, it's best to make an appointment as soon as possible. The gynecologist will decide what needs to be done or refer you to another doctor. nine0003

    There are many causes of headaches. Scientists have found that in pregnant women in 57% of cases it is primary, that is, not associated with other diseases. The most common are migraines and tension headaches.

    Everything else is a secondary headache caused by various pathologies. Usually it is high blood pressure and infections. But there are also more dangerous reasons.

    1. Stress and fatigue

    A pregnant woman's body experiences increased stress, because it has to work for two. If at the same time the expectant mother is exposed to stress, strong feelings or sleeps little, she develops a tension headache. nine0003

    Discomfort lasts from 30 minutes to several days. The head hurts in the forehead, occiput, both temples. But there is no feeling that they put on a tight hoop or helmet. The pain does not get worse when bending over, walking, or climbing stairs, bright lights, or sounds.

    What to do

    Tension headache can go away on its own: just get some fresh air or sleep. Sometimes pleasant emotions help, which distract from experiences.

    If the pain persists for 2-3 consecutive days, see a doctor. He will select painkillers that are safe for the child. nine0003

    2. Taking medications

    Any medication that enters the stomach or bloodstream can cause headaches even if the dosage is correct. In pregnant women, this often occurs due to drugs for high blood pressure, heart disease, antibiotics, anticonvulsants.

    Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for headaches may cause the opposite effect: the pills do not remove, but provoke symptoms.

    What to do

    If your head hurts a few hours after taking the medicine, you need to see a doctor to change the drug. Do not drink non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for more than 3-5 days. If they do not help, you need to tell the doctor about it.

    3. Love or rejection of coffee

    Coffee can cause headaches during pregnancy. Unpleasant symptoms occur if you drink more than 3-4 cups a day.

    Abrupt refusal of coffee is also harmful. It is worth finding out about pregnancy and stopping brewing a fragrant drink, and after 1-2 days, aching pain will appear in the temples and the back of the head. nine0003

    What to do

    Avoid coffee during pregnancy. If a headache occurs a day after this, you can drink a small cup of the drink and wait a day again. Gradually, the dependence on coffee will pass.

    Coffee drinkers can reduce their drink intake to 1-2 cups per day.

    4. Infection with fever

    Acute viral (usually ARVI) or bacterial (eg, streptococcal tonsillitis) infections cause fever and headache. This is a normal reaction to foreign microorganisms. nine0003

    But any infection is dangerous for pregnant women. It can cause fetal defects, growth retardation and even miscarriage. And with meningitis, especially listeriosis, there is a threat to the life of the mother.

    What to do

    If you have a headache with fever, call your doctor. He will prescribe safe medications or give you a referral to the hospital if a severe infection is suspected. In this case, you need strong antibiotics, droppers to maintain the body and sometimes hormones.

    5. Preeclampsia and preeclampsia

    Preeclampsia may develop in pregnant women after 20 weeks. This is a disease in which one of three symptoms or a combination of them may appear: high blood pressure, edema, and protein in the urine.

    Without proper treatment, preeclampsia turns into preeclampsia. The pressure rises sharply, the head and lower abdomen hurt unbearably, the baby pushes unusually hard or, on the contrary, suddenly calms down. Preeclampsia can lead to placental abruption, damage to the liver and other organs, bleeding, and even seizures. Without urgent medical care, the fetus and mother die. nine0003

    What to do

    When the first signs of preeclampsia appear, the pregnant woman is hospitalized to find treatment. After that, she is discharged home under the supervision of her gynecologist.

    But if her health worsens, the doctor again sends the woman to the hospital, where she is prescribed medicines to reduce pressure, special droppers to keep her body functioning. If improvement does not occur within a day, a caesarean section is performed.

    6. Migraine

    One of the causes of migraine is a change in estrogen levels. But the disease very rarely appears due to pregnancy. On the contrary, in 70% of women, the symptoms subside dramatically after conception. Nevertheless, migraines torment many. nine0003

    It may begin with an aura: flashes of light, spots before the eyes, tingling in the hands or numbness of half of the face, sometimes tinnitus. Each symptom can last from 20 minutes to an hour.

    A migraine attack develops after the aura. In this case, one side of the head hurts and throbs, nausea or vomiting appears. A woman is irritated by bright lights, loud noises, smells. They make the pain worse.

    Seizures last from a few hours to a week or more. After a migraine, there is a feeling of severe fatigue, exhaustion, and an awkward turn of the head can return the pain. nine0003

    What to do

    Any medication for migraine during pregnancy must be prescribed by a doctor. In some cases, drugs from the group of beta-blockers are used.

    Studies have shown that frequent migraine in pregnancy is associated with a lack of magnesium. The doctor will help you choose the appropriate type of vitamin and mineral complex and its dosage.

    7. Cerebral vascular disease

    Hormone problems in some pregnant women increase blood clotting, which increases the risk of thrombosis, stroke or bleeding in the meninges. These conditions are very dangerous: a woman can die within a few minutes or remain disabled. nine0003

    Vascular involvement is always accompanied by several symptoms:

    • severe headache on one side;
    • nausea and vomiting;
    • blurred vision;
    • loss of consciousness;
    • convulsions.
    What to do

    Urgently call an ambulance. The pregnant woman must be laid or seated so that she does not hit when she falls. You can't give medicine! You can only open the window so that there is more air in the room.

    Which treatment the doctor prescribes depends on the specific disease. These can be drugs that reduce blood clotting and dissolve blood clots. In some cases, urgent surgery is needed. nine0003

    8. Brain tumors

    Studies show that progesterone and estrogens during pregnancy can trigger or accelerate the growth of tumors in the brain. Symptoms of the disease appear slowly, over several months, and depend on the size and location of the tumor.

    The headache may gradually increase, then vision, speech, hearing deteriorate, limbs go numb and convulsions appear. Sometimes it is difficult for a woman to keep her balance.

    What to do

    If a pregnant woman often has a headache or she forgets what she wanted to buy in the store and how to cook her favorite borscht, confuses her way home, you need to go to a neurologist. First, he will prescribe standard treatment, simple and safe medicines, rest, good sleep.

    If this does not help, the symptoms persist or worsen, a deep examination is needed. The pregnant woman will be sent for an MRI of the brain. This procedure is safe for the fetus. If the diagnosis is confirmed, surgery may be required. nine0003

    What to do if the doctor cannot find the cause of the pain

    If you have been examined and the doctor cannot tell you why your head hurts and diagnoses you with vascular dystonia, this is a cause for concern. There is no such disease.

    Seek another doctor. Perhaps he uses new diagnostic methods that will help to deal with the problem and choose a treatment.

    How to avoid pregnancy headaches

    Experts recommend: