What causes headaches during pregnancy? How can you manage and prevent pregnancy-related headaches? Get answers to these questions and more.

Headaches During Pregnancy: Causes and Triggers

It’s common for pregnant women to experience mild headaches, especially during the first few months of pregnancy. This is often due to hormonal changes that occur during this time. If you typically suffer from migraines, you may notice changes in their frequency or severity during pregnancy. Some women find their migraines improve after the first trimester as their estrogen levels begin to stabilize.

Beyond hormonal shifts, there are several other factors that can trigger headaches in pregnant women, including:

• Lack of sleep
• Caffeine withdrawal
• Low blood sugar from irregular eating
• Dehydration
• Stress and anxiety
• Eye strain

These triggers can lead to tension headaches, which are very common during pregnancy. Tension headaches typically cause mild, bilateral head pain. Migraines, on the other hand, are more severe and usually occur on one side of the head. Migraine sufferers may also experience nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound.

Pre-Eclampsia and Headaches

If you start experiencing frequent headaches after 20 weeks of pregnancy, this could be a sign of a more serious condition called pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure that can affect the kidneys and other organs. Headaches associated with pre-eclampsia may not respond to over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol. It’s crucial to inform your doctor or midwife if you develop persistent or severe headaches during the second half of your pregnancy.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Headaches

In general, it’s a good idea to contact your healthcare provider if you have a severe headache during pregnancy that is unusual for you. Headaches can sometimes be a sign of other underlying health conditions, such as:

• Infections (e.g., ear infection, flu)
• Sinusitis
• Dental problems
• Stroke or aneurysm

If you have a sudden, severe headache during pregnancy, don’t hesitate to call your doctor or midwife, as it could indicate a more serious issue that requires immediate medical attention.

Treating Headaches During Pregnancy

For mild, occasional headaches, you can try the following self-care measures:

• Rest with your eyes closed
• Stay hydrated by drinking water
• Eat a snack to maintain blood sugar levels
• Apply a cold or warm pack to your forehead or neck
• Ask someone to give you a gentle neck massage

If you need medication, paracetamol is generally considered safe for use during pregnancy. However, it’s important not to take it more than three times a week, as overuse can actually cause headaches. Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or aspirin, as well as medications containing caffeine.

Preventing Pregnancy-Related Headaches

To help prevent or reduce the frequency of headaches during pregnancy, consider the following strategies:

• Get enough sleep
• Drink at least 8 cups of water per day
• Engage in pregnancy-safe exercise, such as prenatal yoga
• Practice relaxation techniques to manage stress
• Eat regular meals to maintain blood sugar levels
• Avoid processed foods
• Get your eyes checked for any changes in vision

Managing Migraines During Pregnancy

If you suffer from migraines, it’s important to identify and avoid your personal triggers. Keep a headache diary to help pinpoint your triggers, which may include specific foods, hormonal fluctuations, stress, or lack of sleep. Work with your healthcare provider to find safe and effective ways to manage your migraines during pregnancy.

Conclusion

Headaches are a common occurrence during pregnancy, often caused by hormonal changes or other triggering factors. While mild, occasional headaches can be managed with self-care measures, persistent or severe headaches may require medical attention, as they could be a sign of a more serious condition like pre-eclampsia. By understanding the causes and taking proactive steps to prevent and manage pregnancy-related headaches, you can find relief and ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Headaches during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

Headaches during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

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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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Could My Headache Be related To Gestational Diabetes?

Content

• Overview
• What is gestational diabetes?
• Does gestational diabetes cause headaches?
• Can a severe headache be a sign of diabetes?
• How is a gestational diabetes headache treated?
• When should I see a doctor?
• The lowdown

Pregnancy causes all kinds of changes in a woman’s body, some leading to symptoms that are less than pleasant. Headaches are a common complaint among pregnant women, resulting from a variety of causes. Migraines, exhaustion, and stress are common culprits, but in some cases, headaches can be a symptom of a potentially serious condition called gestational diabetes.

If left untreated, gestational diabetes can be very dangerous for the mother and her developing baby, but with careful monitoring and management, a woman with gestational diabetes can have a healthy pregnancy. Properly controlled gestational diabetes can lessen the number of headaches endured throughout pregnancy.

Let’s look at how headaches are related to gestational diabetes and what you can do to find relief.

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Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects up to 10%¹ of pregnant women in the US each year. It is often diagnosed during the second or third trimester in women who didn’t have diabetes before becoming pregnant. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after the baby is born and a woman’s blood sugar levels return to normal.

Without proper treatment, gestational diabetes can cause severe headaches, and it can be dangerous for your unborn baby’s health as well as your own.

During pregnancy, a woman’s body creates extra hormones to support the development of a baby. Although scientists don’t know exactly why, sometimes a woman’s placenta makes hormones that cause problems with insulin production, and her body is unable to use that insulin effectively. When this happens, sugar can’t enter cells to be converted into energy.

This leads to insulin resistance, and if left untreated, it can cause severe headaches.

Gestational diabetes can also cause glucose to build up in your bloodstream, leading to hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. Without treatment, gestational diabetes can lead to all kinds of health problems for you and your unborn baby, such as:

• Large babies at birth, weighing over 9 pounds

• An increased risk of C-section

• Preterm birth

• High blood pressure or preeclampsia in the third trimester

• Low blood sugar

• Baby with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) at birth

• Stillbirth 

• Increased chance of type 2 diabetes later in life for mother and baby

• Increased chance of obesity for the baby later in life

Women who develop gestational diabetes usually recover after their baby is born, but close monitoring is important to make sure their glucose levels return to normal.

If you have gestational diabetes, after your baby is born, you need to have your glucose checked by your doctor several times over three years. This will ensure that your glucose levels have returned to normal and that you no longer have diabetes.

Although the exact cause is unknown, some risk factors make it more likely that you’ll develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. They include:

• A family history of diabetes

• A history of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol

• Being overweight

• Lack of exercise

• Having previously delivered a large baby

• Being pregnant with multiple babies

• Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your doctor can help you get the best treatment to make sure you and your baby remain healthy throughout your pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes often presents with very few symptoms. In fact, most women don’t even know they’ve got it until they have a blood sugar test in their second trimester.

If your blood sugar isn’t stable and you’ve got gestational diabetes, you may notice the following symptoms (although it is common not to experience any):

• Excessive thirst

• Frequent trips to the bathroom, especially overnight

• Exhaustion

• Excessive weight gain (or loss)

• Thrush or itchy skin

• Blurred vision

Headaches are another symptom caused by gestational diabetes, as your blood sugar fluctuates. Many things can cause your blood sugar levels to go up and down dramatically, including eating foods that are high in carbohydrates and not eating frequently enough. When this happens, your blood sugar levels spike, which is known as hyperglycemia. Other causes of hyperglycemia include stress, lack of sleep, and lack of physical exercise.

Although a headache can be a symptom of high blood sugar levels or hyperglycemia, it can also be the result of many other pregnancy-related issues. Headaches are very common during pregnancy, especially for women who are prone to migraines.

Frequent headaches during pregnancy can also be a sign that your blood pressure is too high. High blood pressure during pregnancy is referred to as preeclampsia, and it can be very serious if left untreated.

Other causes of headaches during pregnancy include:

Since headaches can be a sign of many issues, ranging from mild to serious, it’s important to let your doctor know so they can determine the underlying cause.

If you experience a severe headache during pregnancy, it may signify that your brain isn’t getting enough insulin, and your body has become insulin-resistant. If that’s the case, you may be diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and your doctor will determine the best way to ensure that your body gets enough insulin.

Gestational diabetes headaches can be very painful and can cause throbbing pain in your temples. If you experience this symptom during pregnancy, call your doctor right away.

To quickly treat the pain of a gestational diabetes headache, doctors generally recommend taking acetaminophen since it’s a safe medication for mother and baby.

To treat your condition and lessen the frequency of headaches, your doctor is likely to suggest further testing to make an accurate diagnosis. If you’ve had frequent headaches during your pregnancy, or if you’ve got several risk factors, your doctor may ask you to take an oral glucose tolerance test² (OGTT) to determine whether you have gestational diabetes.

This test is typically performed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, but if you have multiple risk factors or you’ve had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, your doctor may order it sooner. They may also ask you to take an OGTT if you’re exhibiting symptoms of gestational diabetes.

If your doctor asks you to take an OGTT:

1. You’ll be asked to fast during the night and morning before taking the OGTT.

2. A nurse will draw blood when you arrive.

3. You’ll drink the glucose liquid that’s provided (it’s usually fruit-flavored and very sweet).

4. You’ll wait for two hours in the office, without eating or drinking anything.

5. One hour after drinking the glucose drink,  a nurse will draw blood.

6. Another hour later, the nurse will draw blood again.

Once you’ve had your blood drawn the last time, you are free to eat a snack and leave. Your doctor will call you when the test results come in. If your test results indicate that you’ve got gestational diabetes, your doctor will determine the best course of treatment.

Gestational diabetes treatment for headaches

If you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you can manage your condition in the following four ways:

• Eat a well-balanced diet that’s high in protein and low in carbohydrates

• Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes

• Manage weight gain throughout your pregnancy the best you can

• Take medication as prescribed by your doctor to control your gestational diabetes

To manage your gestational diabetes and prevent severe headaches during pregnancy, you must check your glucose levels several times a day. Women are usually advised to have a glucose level below 5.3 before breakfast and below 7.9 one hour after each meal.

It will take practice, but you’ll soon learn how to control your glucose levels, so they don’t fluctuate outside of the normal levels. If you’re able to keep your glucose levels within normal limits, you shouldn’t suffer from gestational diabetes headaches as frequently, and they may disappear completely.

How long does a diabetes headache last?

Unfortunately, a gestational diabetes headache can last from a few hours to several days. A gestational diabetes headache is your body’s warning sign that something is wrong. Typically, this means your glucose levels are too high or too low.

Once you begin to monitor your glucose levels and you learn to control them with diet, exercise, and insulin, you’ll notice that your headaches occur less frequently.

If you have a headache and you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, check your glucose levels immediately. This will help you to determine what your body needs, so you can treat it and find relief from your headache.

Headaches aren’t always a warning sign that your body isn’t well, but they should always be taken seriously — especially during pregnancy. If you’re having frequent headaches, let your doctor know at your next scheduled prenatal appointment. They will listen to your concerns and ask about other symptoms that may point to gestational diabetes or other pregnancy-related issues. 

If you’re experiencing severe headaches during pregnancy, it’s okay to ask to be seen before your next scheduled visit. Gestational diabetes can be serious if it’s left untreated, and it’s always better to err on the side of caution during pregnancy.

Call your doctor right away if you have a severe headache that doesn’t respond to acetaminophen, and if you have any of the following symptoms:

It’s also important to let your doctor know if you’ve got a family history of diabetes and if you have any risk factors such as a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar, or if you’ve had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy. Additionally, call your doctor if you experience headaches and you have PCOS, or are pregnant with multiple babies. 

Your doctor and nurses are available to answer questions and listen to your concerns, and they’re dedicated to making sure your pregnancy is healthy from start to finish.

If you’re worried about severe headaches during pregnancy and you’ve got any symptoms or risk factors that make you concerned about gestational diabetes, give your doctor a call right away. They’ll determine whether further testing is needed. Until then, acetaminophen can help ease the pain.

Gestational diabetes is a condition that causes pregnant women to become insulin-resistant during pregnancy. These women didn’t previously have diabetes, and the condition often resolves itself after childbirth. Gestational diabetes can lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes for the mother and baby along with a higher risk of the baby becoming obese later in life.

Gestational diabetes headaches can be very painful, and they can indicate that your blood sugar is too high or too low. To combat headaches, if you have gestational diabetes, you need to monitor your glucose levels several times a day. Once you’re able to keep your glucose levels within normal limits, your headaches will become less frequent.

Until then, acetaminophen can help with severe headaches caused by gestational diabetes.

There are many reasons a woman can suffer from headaches during pregnancy, and some of them can be quite serious. If you are pregnant and you suffer from headaches, tell your doctor so they can determine whether further testing needs to be done to get to the root cause.

Headache during pregnancy: where it comes from and how to get rid of it

Likbez

Health

November 14, 2020

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

When to call an ambulance

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

• sudden and severe headache;
• consciousness becomes confused or completely lost;
• pain worsens over 5 minutes;
• flies, spots flash in the eyes;
• throbbing and noisy in the ears;
• speech has become slurred, words are drawn out;
• arms and legs weaken, 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.

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.

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.

2. Medications

Any medicine 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 medicine. 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 for coffee or rejection of it

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.

What to do

Coffee is best avoided 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.

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

5. Preeclampsia and preeclampsia

After 20 weeks, preeclampsia may develop in pregnant women. 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.

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 medication to reduce pressure, special drips 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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:

• Avoid triggers. For example, if you notice that certain foods, smells, or situations cause headaches, try not to encounter them.
• Protect yourself from stress, do not worry about trifles.
• Move more. During pregnancy, walk every day in the fresh air and do special exercises for expectant mothers.
• Eat right. Try to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, dairy products, drink at least 2.4 liters of liquid. Every day, the menu should include fish, poultry or lean meat. And it is better not to buy sweet, fast food and other junk food.
• Follow the daily routine. You need to sleep at least 8 hours a day and go to bed no later than 22-23 hours in order for melatonin to be produced normally.
• Learn to relax. Learn simple meditation techniques or breathing exercises.

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Pregnancy headache

Author:
A. Yu. Limanskaya, Yu.V. Davydova

19.01.2017

A.Yu. Limanskaya

Tension headache and migraine are the most common types of headaches (30-78% and 15% respectively). According to the WHO, primary headache is in general in 10th place among all conditions leading to disability, and in women, in 5th place. In 16% of patients, episodic tension-type headache becomes chronic. The economic loss in Western Europe and North America due to headache-related disability is estimated at $17-20 billion a year. To date, there is a trend towards an increase in the incidence of headache in young people.

Yu.V. Davydova

The International Headache Society defines migraine as a throbbing, unilateral headache associated with nausea, sensitivity to light, sound, and turning of the head.

In a broader sense, this pathology can be considered as a hereditary disease in which physiological changes (whether external, such as changes in weather conditions, or internal, such as changes in sleep patterns) often cause stereotypical attacks with migraine symptoms, as defined above. Migraine occurs three times more often in women than in men, with the highest rates in women during active childbearing age, peaking at 27% at age 41 years. To date, there is no evidence that migraine itself affects fertility or the course of pregnancy, but the quality of life in pregnant women with migraine is significantly reduced.

According to some researchers, migraine and tension-type headache in pregnant women are risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension and preterm birth (F. Facchinetti et al., 2009). Pregnancy can provoke the occurrence of diseases accompanied by headache (preeclampsia, thrombosis of the cerebral arteries, compression of the brain as a result of the presence of tumors). Relevant today is the rapid diagnosis of pathology and an adequate choice of therapeutic and obstetric tactics for the treatment of headaches in pregnant women due to the great medical and social significance of the problem.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) associated with an increased risk of thrombosis or recurrent spontaneous abortions. The most serious complications can be in secondary APS against the background of inflammatory systemic autoimmune diseases. Studies conducted in neurological clinics have found that it is migraine, and not headache of all types, that is significantly associated with APLA in patients with systemic autoimmune pathology. However, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), headache is significantly associated with positive APLA titers. Also in this group, cerebral ischemic lesions were significantly more common.

During pregnancy, a woman may experience many health problems. For example, a headache during pregnancy occurs quite often, at different times of the day and for various reasons. Oddly enough, but a woman’s frequent headache may be a sign of pregnancy, which she does not yet know about.

More than 80% of women sooner or later complain of a headache during pregnancy. Even if a woman was absolutely healthy before pregnancy, then during the bearing of a child she gets a headache. Sometimes it becomes so strong that it is difficult to endure. Headache can occur at any time during pregnancy, but it tends to be most common during the first and third trimesters.

There are factors that can cause headaches during pregnancy.

1. Hormonal changes: The state of the nervous system depends on the woman’s hormonal status, that is, on the quantity and quality of hormones produced.

2. Hypotension during pregnancy is associated with the predominance of progesterone over other hormones; the vasodilating effect of progesterone leads to a decrease in blood pressure, cerebral hypoxia and, as a result, to headache.

3. Arterial hypertension and preeclampsia cause headache as a result of generalized vasospasm and circulatory disorders in the central nervous system.

4. Nutritional factors – cold food or eating foods containing tyramine and phenylamine (nitrogen compounds that can affect blood vessels) can cause headache attacks; pregnant women who are prone to migraine headache should be careful in consuming the following foods: chocolate, nuts, yogurt, chicken liver, avocados, citrus fruits, bananas, canned and pickled foods, Japanese cuisine, tea, coffee, cola, sausages, red wine, cheese.

5. Hunger headache occurs as a result of a decrease in blood glucose levels and impaired supply of nutrients to the brain.

6. Overweight.

7. Eye strain or prolonged forced stay in the same uncomfortable position.

8. Allergic reactions.

9. Dehydration of the body.

10. Exacerbation of chronic diseases – spine, especially osteochondrosis, due to increased load during pregnancy, static and dynamic loads often cause headaches; neurocirculatory asthenia as a cause of vasospasm and as a consequence of the appearance of a feeling of heaviness in the head, mood lability and headache.

11. Occurrence of infectious and other diseases such as: meningitis, encephalitis, sinusitis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis and certain ophthalmic pathologies; the characteristic manifestations of this headache are its intensity and the lack of effect of pain medications.

12. Stress factor. Lability of the nervous system, ups and downs in mood, excitement, psycho-emotional stress, depression – all this can cause a headache.

13. Changing weather conditions. During pregnancy, fluctuations in atmospheric pressure can lead to headaches.

14. Physical stimuli – flickering light, noise, strong odors.

15. Weekend headache. If you sleep longer than usual during the day, the cause of headache can be, for example, venous congestion.

16. Indoor climate: too dry or warm air, a lot of tobacco smoke.

The most common form of headache during pregnancy is migraine, which is accompanied by visual impairment, gastrointestinal disorders, nausea, vomiting, photoreaction, and various vestibular disorders.

In the United States, 28 million people aged 12 and older suffer from migraine, of which 21 million are women aged 25-55. In about 25% of families, one of its members suffers from migraine.

A feature of migraine pain is known to be severe, throbbing pain, predominantly hemicrania, often preceded by aura and marked photoreaction.

It is noteworthy that about 15% of women who have never experienced migraine before, first encounter it with the onset of pregnancy. On the other hand, there are cases when during pregnancy a woman completely stops migraine attacks. In this case, this is due to changes in hormonal status and the absence of ovulation and menstruation.

The occurrence of migraine in women under the influence of hormonal changes is possible throughout the entire menstrual cycle. The positive effect of pregnancy on migraine is observed in 55-90% of women during the gestation period, regardless of the type of migraine. The relief of headache symptoms during pregnancy and their possible worsening after childbirth is likely due to uniformly high and stable estrogen levels during pregnancy and their rapid decline after childbirth.

Another type of headache in pregnancy is tension headache. As a rule, it is characterized by medium intensity, unlike migraine, it often covers the entire head. The pain of tension squeezes the head like a hoop, or causes a pulling sensation; occurs mainly as a result of stress or overexertion.

– If a woman has frequent headaches before pregnancy, the risk of developing preeclampsia increases by 2.4 times
– If a woman is diagnosed with migraine before pregnancy, the risk of developing preeclampsia increases by 3.5 times migraine attacks are observed in the early stages – the risk of developing preeclampsia increases by 4 times

Pregnancy headache treatment
A pregnant woman needs medical advice when:

• headache has become almost constant, and has recently changed its character;
• headache in the morning and all day;
• pain is constantly localized in a certain area of ​​the head;
• headache is accompanied by other symptoms – impaired vision, hearing, speech, motor functions, sensitivity, etc. ;
• Pain accompanies high or low blood pressure.

Doctor’s prescriptions depend on the underlying cause of the headache. Sometimes several factors influence at once, so it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. If the headache bothers you regularly, you should contact a neurologist for a specific examination.

Primary therapy during pregnancy – non-drug (relaxation, sleep, massage). For the treatment of acute migraine attacks, paracetamol (1000 mg) is considered the drug of choice, preferably in the form of suppositories. The table shows data on the possibility of using a number of drugs for the treatment of headache during pregnancy.

The risks associated with the use of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) and ibuprofen are considered relatively low if the drugs are taken episodically and removed in the last trimester.

Information on the safety of triptan treatment during pregnancy is available for only a few drugs in this group (sumatriptan, naratriptan and rizatriptan). According to information databases containing information on pregnancy outcomes in women who received these drugs, there were no facts indicating serious risks to the mother and fetus.

With some triptans (sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, naratriptan), there is currently a possibility of a small increase in preterm birth, so triptans are acceptable in severe migraine in exceptional cases. However, data on the use of triptans continues to accumulate and there is not yet sufficient evidence for the safety of the use of triptans during pregnancy.

Dihydroergotamine and ergotamine tartrate are contraindicated in pregnant women.
Headache definitely cannot be tolerated, it must be correctly diagnosed, differentiated and treated.

The American Academy of Neurology recommends a brain scan for the following cases (MRI only is recommended during pregnancy)

– if, in the presence of a headache, a neurological deficit occurs or any, even short-term, changes in the neurological status;
– if the headache has atypical manifestations and does not fit into the strict framework of establishing a diagnosis of migraine;
– if there is a proven immunodeficiency;
– a sudden severe headache in women for the first time.

• Number:
• Thematic issue “Gynecology, Obstetrics, Reproductology” No. 4 (24), chest 2016

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