

Preeclampsia is a rare condition that affects about five to ten percent of pregnancies. If you are unsure about a headache, it is important to see your prenatal care provider to get an accurate diagnosis.Ī severe headache in the second or third trimester of pregnancy can be a warning sign of preeclampsia, or high blood pressure in pregnancy. Pregnant women may also experience other types of headaches such as cluster headaches, sinus headaches, or headaches caused by other rare problems. Because of this, pregnant women are usually counseled to avoid these medications.

There is very little information about how migraine medications such as Sumitriptan (Imitrex), Ergotamine (Cafergot) or Midrin affect the developing baby. He or she will help you find the medication with the least risk. If you need medication for migraine headaches while you are pregnant or nursing, discuss the use of prescription pain medication with your doctor or midwife. Some people are able to reduce the number of migraine attacks by avoiding common triggers and getting the right amount of sleep. The best way to treat migraine headaches in pregnancy is to avoid them. However, some women find that their migraine headaches worsen or stay the same while they are pregnant. Migraine headaches usually occur less frequently in pregnancy, especially after the first trimester. During the aura, the person may have problems seeing normally (such as seeing lines or flashing lights), speech problems, or a tingling sensation in their hands or face. Some people experience an “aura” a few minutes before a migraine attack. Migraines may occur with other symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to light or loud noises. The exact cause of migraines is not known, but it is thought that they result from changes in blood flow in the brain. Migraine headaches cause a severe throbbing pain on one (or occasionally both) sides of the head. After consulting with your doctor or midwife, Tylenol may be used to treat headaches that do not improve with other measures.Ībout 18% of women experience migraine headaches at some time in their lives. If headaches occur, try treating them with extra rest, a shoulder massage, or a warm washcloth placed on face. Making an effort to relax, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep will often reduce the number of headaches. Changes in pregnancy hormones may also cause tension headaches. Tension headaches are most often caused by lack of sleep, depression, or caffeine withdrawal. They are often described as a squeezing pain on both sides of the head. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Dehydration (not drinking enough water).Some common causes of headaches in pregnancy include: Especially in the first trimester, headaches may occur more frequently than usual. Headaches are one of the most common discomforts of pregnancy.
