How Common Are Migraine Headaches During Pregnancy?

Headaches are the most common discomfort experienced by most women.

You will experience headaches at any time during your pregnancy, but they are most common during the first and third trimester of pregnancy.

The main causes behind headaches during pregnancy are:

The sudden rise in hormone levels and also the blood volume throughout your body can lead to headaches during pregnancy.

These headaches become worse with an increase in stress levels, poor posture and variations in your vision. Some other reasons for headaches during pregnancy include:

• Caffeine withdrawal
• Dehydration
• Insufficient sleep
• Low blood sugar
• Stress

If you have regular migraine headaches during your normal life, you are likely to experience fewer migraines during pregnancy, while some women may experience the same levels or more intense migraine headaches.

Before planning for pregnancy or during the pregnancy period, it is essential to inform your health care provider about the medications you are taking for migraine headaches.

During the third trimester, most migraine headaches are due to poor posture and tension with the growing weight of your baby. Pre eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) is a condition that can cause headaches during the third trimester.

Treating headaches during pregnancy

The best method in dealing with headaches is avoiding them. Following the below-mentioned steps makes it easier to avoid tension headaches:

• Proper exercise
• Practicing good postures, particularly during the third trimester
• Eating well-balanced meals
• Getting plenty of rest and relaxation

If you cannot prevent the headaches, there are various procedures that you can follow to avoid them. Natural cures can offer you more relief from headaches.

The usage of pain relief medications like ibuprofen and aspirin is not suggested for pregnant women.

Natural remedies to relieve from headaches

• To get relief from sinus headaches, try to apply a hot compress around the nose and eyes. To get relief from tension headaches, try to apply an ice pack or cold compress at the base of the neck.
• Try to get a body massage. Shoulder and neck massage is an effective way to get pain relief.
• Have a warm bath before going to bed.
• Properly maintain normal blood sugar levels by having smaller and more frequent meals. This also helps in preventing future headaches.
• Take rest in a dark room and practice deep breathing.

Other than these natural remedies, you should also avoid some triggers that cause migraine headaches. They include:

• Alcohol
• Aged cheese
• Breads with yeast
• Chocolates
• Preserved meats
• Peanuts
• Sour cream
• Yogurt

Contact your healthcare provider when taking any medications, especially if the headaches become worse, if you don’t get relief from the above remedies, or if you notice any difference in your headaches, if they are accompanied by blurred vision, rapid weight gain, swelling in your face and hands and upper right abdominal pain.