Headaches During Pregnancy

Head pounding during your pregnancy and you’re a person who doesn’t usually get headaches. You’re not alone. Headaches are one of the most common concerns women bring up to their doctors. These headaches are most likely to occur during the first and third trimesters, though they can occur at any time.

There are many reasons for these headaches. Hormonally, the body is undergoing the most change during the first and third trimesters, as the body first adjusts to pregnancy, and then prepares for childbirth. Other common triggers are a lack of sleep, low blood sugar, and excess stress. If you’ve cut out caffeine for health reasons, your headaches could be from withdrawal. Thankfully, these headaches go away quickly as your body adjusts to a life without caffeine. If you find yourself urinating more frequently, as most pregnant women do, be sure to stay hydrated, as dehydration can cause severe headaches and other serious health issues.

If you experienced migraines before you became pregnant, you’ll almost certainly notice a change. However, that change is different from woman to woman. Some find that their migraines disappear. Others discover that their headaches not only worsen, but increase in frequency. There are medications for migraines, but be extremely careful and consult your doctor before taking anything.

Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy, can cause headaches, and if you experience this you should be monitored by your doctor. During the third trimester, a common cause of headaches and backaches is poor posture, caused by excess weight in the front of the body.

Given the restrictions on medications during pregnancy, it’s important to practice natural forms of headache relief and prevention. Take care to sit and stand with proper posture. Rest when you need to, since fatigue can bring on headaches. Follow a balanced and healthy diet, and
exercise, even if just for a half-hour each day.

If you get a headache, try warm or cold compresses depending on the variety of the headache, and lie down in a dark room. Relaxing showers can also help, especially with sinus headaches. Ask somebody for a neck and shoulder massage, or give yourself a simple massage.

If any headaches becomes severe, seek medical attention to rule out a more serious condition. While you can’t completely prevent headaches during pregnancy, it is possible to manage them, and even decrease their frequency.

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This entry was posted on Monday, February 21st, 2011 at 9:00 am and is filed under Headaches During Pregnancy, Pregnancy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.