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Headaches During
Pregnancy
Headaches are common during pregnancy, especially during the
first and third trimesters. They rarely signal a serious
problem.
Causes of Headaches During Pregnancy
The cause of headaches is uncertain. During the first trimester,
they may be caused by changes in your hormone levels and an
increase in blood volume and circulation. Pregnancy-related
headaches may disappear in the second trimester, when your body
becomes used to the hormonal changes. During the third
trimester, headaches tend to be related more to posture and
tension from carrying extra weight.
Some women often have tension headaches, which cause squeezing
pain or a dull ache on both sides of the head or the back of the
neck. The headaches may increase during pregnancy, especially if
the woman experiences any of the following:
-
Stress
-
Fatigue
-
Caffeine
withdrawal (especially if she suddenly stops or cuts down on
coffee drinking or other sources of caffeine when she learns
she is pregnant)
-
Lack of
sleep
-
Dehydration
(lack of fluids)
-
Hunger or
low blood sugar
Some
women may have migraine headaches for the first time in early
pregnancy. These headaches cause severe, throbbing pains on one
side of the head. The woman often also has nausea or vomiting.
But many women who are prone to migraines may notice that they
improve during pregnancy. Some migraine sufferers may notice no
change during pregnancy or may find that their headaches become
more frequent and intense.
During the second and third trimesters, headaches may also be
caused by a serious condition called preeclampsia (high blood
pressure during pregnancy). Preeclampsia requires immediate
medical attention.
Headaches: What You Can Do
Before taking any medications or herbal remedies, always talk to
your health care provider. If you regularly suffer from
migraines, ask your health care provider before taking the
medications you normally used before becoming pregnant.
The following tips may safely help relieve or prevent headaches
during pregnancy:
-
Warm or
cold compresses. To soothe a headache in the sinus area, apply warm compresses to
the front and sides of your face and around your nose, eyes
and temples. To relieve a tension headache, apply a cold
compress to the back of your neck.
-
Reduce
stress.
Avoid placing yourself in stressful situations. Relaxation
exercises, which may consist of deep breathing or simply
closing your eyes and imagining a peaceful scene, may also
help.
-
Rest and
exercise.
Resting in a dark, quiet room can soothe headaches. Getting
enough sleep and exercise can also be helpful. Always be
sure to find out from your health care provider what
exercises are safe for you, and how long you can maintain
your exercise program.
-
Eat
well-balanced meals. Eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day can help
keep your blood sugar from getting too low.
-
Maintain
good posture,
especially during the third trimester.
-
Get a
massage.
Massaging your temples, shoulders and neck can help reduce
the pain of headaches.
-
Avoid
headache triggers. Different kinds of food or stresses can trigger headaches. Keep a
diary, and review the kinds of foods and activities that
tend to trigger tension or migraine headaches. Triggers of
migraine headaches include certain foods, such as chocolate,
aged cheese, peanuts and preserved meats.
When to Talk to Your Health Care Provider
Most headaches during pregnancy are harmless, but headaches can
sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem. If you have a
migraine for the first time during pregnancy, or if you have a
headache that feels unlike any you’ve experienced before, call
your health care provider to make sure it is not a sign of more
serious problems.
Call your health care provider right away if your headache:
-
Is sudden
and explosive or includes a violent pain that awakens you
from sleep
-
Is
accompanied by fever and stiff neck
-
Becomes
increasingly worse, and you have vision changes, slurred
speech, drowsiness, numbness or a change in sensation or
alertness Occurs after falling or hitting your head
-
Is
accompanied by nasal congestion, pain and pressure
underneath your eyes, or dental pain (since this may be a
sign of sinus infection)
In
the second or third trimester, headaches can be a sign of
preeclampsia, a serious condition that includes high blood
pressure. Contact your health care provider immediately if your
headache:
-
Does not go
away or recurs often
-
Is sudden
and very severe
-
Is
accompanied by blurry vision, spots in front of your eyes,
sudden weight gain, pain in the upper right abdomen, and
swelling in the hands or face
-
Is
accompanied by nausea and vomiting
If
you've been having any problems with high or rising blood
pressure, call your health care provider even if you have a mild
headache. |
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