Pregnancy And Migraine Medication
Pregnant women have to be very careful about what they put into their bodies, which is also true for most migraine medications. Women in early stages of pregnancy and on migraine medication should call their doctor as soon as they learn that theyre expecting. For women who do experience migraine attacks during pregnancy, some medications are safe for pregnant women to use, including Benadryl and Tylenol, but call your doctor to confirm. An obstetrician should work quite closely on a treatment plan with a mom-to-bes migraine management team, whether that includes a primary care physician, neurologist, headache specialist, or someone else. Of course, migraine and the experiences of pregnancy vary from person to person. Women who have their headaches accompanied by aura may not see the same improvement other migraine sufferers do, Robbins said.
When To Worry About Migraines During Pregnancy
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Experiencing a migraine during pregnancy is sometimes problematic. If a pregnant woman understands the warning signs and symptoms of a migraine attack, she can treat her migraine pain properly. Now, lets examine some of the key questions surrounding migraines during pregnancy, and how pregnant women can treat their migraine symptoms.
Using Painkillers When Pregnant
Some medicines, including painkillers, can harm your baby’s health.
Paracetamol is generally considered safe during pregnancy. Always check the packaging for the correct amount of tablets to take, and how often you may take them.
If you find you need to take paracetamol for more than a couple of days, you may need to speak to your GP.
Ibuprofen is sometimes recommended for headaches during pregnancy. You can only take this at certain times during your pregnancy. Always check with your GP, pharmacist or obstetrician before taking ibuprofen.
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How Is The Acute Attack Treated In Pregnancy
The two main areas of concern are treating an acute migraine and preventing attacks. When planning pregnancy, women should find it useful to discuss the treatment options that exist for the acute attack .). It should be noted that ergotamine is specifically contraindicated in pregnancy. Paracetamol is a safe treatment for acute migraine in pregnancy, but it may provide no benefit.
Cautions About Headaches During Pregnancy
Most headaches and migraines are not cause for alarm. However, severe migraines sometimes require hospitalization so you can receive fluids, pain medication, or anti-nausea drugs.
During pregnancy, a bad headache can signal a medical emergency such as stroke or preeclampsia I had the latter when I was pregnant.
Seek care right away if you experience any of these symptoms:
- Lasting headache
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Treatment Options During Pregnancy
Certain medications used for migraine treatment and prevention are contraindicated for pregnancy, due to safety concerns for the developing fetus. For patients who use oral contraceptives to regulate their hormone levels and manage migraine, having a conversation about migraine treatment options may happen when they want to go off of birth control and start trying to conceive. The good news is there are safe options for migraine prior to and during pregnancy.
Im always telling my patients, either preconception or patients that are pregnant, that we recommend in general to use the number of different medications for anything that were treating, Dr. Grossman says. And also, of course, the lowest dose possible that we can use in pregnancy and preconception is what we recommend. Her first-line treatment is non-medication options, and she then layers in other treatments as needed.
When To Call The Doctor About Headaches During Pregnancy
Many women, even those who haven’t previously experienced a lot of everyday headaches, will get them during pregnancy. The vast majority of pregnancy headaches are primary meaning your head hurts, but theres nothing serious or anything to worry about.
But if your headaches persist for more than two or three hours or you have other symptoms , let your practitioner know right away.
In rare cases, so-called secondary headaches signal something else going on in your body, such as hypertension or risk factors for preeclampsia, and youll want to make sure you get both the headaches and the underlying conditions taken care of ASAP.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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Frequency Of Migraines During Pregnancy
Many women have migraines for the first time when theyre expecting others, including women with a history of migraines, get them more often.
Blame your out-of-whack pregnancy hormones, plus all those other pregnancy-related triggers you’re experiencing: fatigue, tension, blood sugar drops, physical or emotional stress, nasal congestion and overheating or a combination of all of these.
That said, some women who have a history of migraines related to their menstrual cycle actually end up getting these headaches less often when theyre expecting, particularly during the second and third trimesters.
Thats because their migraines are likely caused by the “withdrawal” of estrogen that occurs just before menstruation during pregnancy, estrogen levels remain consistently high.
Is A Headache During Pregnancy Something To Worry About
Pregnancy is a beautiful thing to be celebrated, but few people fill you in on the not-so-great symptoms that may occur during the journey. Namely, heartburn, gas, constipation and, for some pregnant mamas, headaches.
While headaches can be just another normal symptom of pregnancy, should they ever be a cause for concern?
Headaches are common in women both in and outside of pregnancy, said Kelley Saunders, MD, an OBGYN with Banner University Medicine Womens Institute. But whether they are normal or not should always be discussed with your doctor.”
Here is some insight into what causes headaches during pregnancy, some remedies to treat them and why your doctor should be kept in the loop.
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Never Be Afraid To Consult Your Doctor
If you have a very severe headache or one that comes on very quickly, it is best to consult your doctor. Its better to be safe than sorry. One phone call can give you that peace of mind.
Remember, headaches are a normal part of pregnancy, so try not to become alarmed every time you develop one.
Take Note
Other Causes Of Migraine Attacks
Certain risk factors, such as age and family history, can play a role in whether you get migraine or menstrual migraine. Simply being a woman puts you at increased risk.
Of course, you cant control your sex, age, or family tree, but it may help to keep a migraine diary. This can help you identify and avoid triggers.
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Hormonal Changes In Pregnancy
How a pregnancy might affect your migraine and how you will manage is a common question for women who have migraine and are trying to get or are pregnant. Key issues include what medicines are safe to use and whether your attacks will change, including whether you will have aura for the first time.
Hormonal change is a common trigger for women with migraine.
During pregnancy, oestrogen levels increase sharply, while progesterone levels decrease and rise again towards the end of the pregnancy.
Overall migraine improves during pregnancy especially during the second and third trimesters. This improvement may be due to the increased oestrogen levels and increased levels of natural pain-killing hormones .
These hormones are several times higher during pregnancy, and though the relief from migraine attacks they provide might last the whole pregnancy, the levels settle back down after delivery, normally allowing migraine attacks to return.
However, not everyone will see an improvement in their migraine, especially in the early weeks of pregnancy. For some women, their migraine is unaffected. Some women experience worsening migraine during pregnancy although this is rare.
During breastfeeding, stable oestrogen levels continue to be protective against having headache again after pregnancy.
However you are affected, it can help to identify any migraine attack triggers that you have, such as lack of sleep, stress, missed meals and dehydration.
Migraine Triggers During Pregnancy
Hormonal change is a common trigger for women with migraine. During pregnancy, oestrogen levels increase sharply, while progesterone levels decrease and rise again towards the end of the pregnancy.
Overall migraine improves during pregnancy especially during the second and third trimesters. This improvement may be due to the increased oestrogen levels and increased levels of natural pain-killing hormones .
These hormones are several times higher during pregnancy, and though the relief from migraine attacks they provide might last the whole pregnancy, the levels settle back down after delivery, normally allowing migraine attacks to return.
However, not everyone will see an improvement in their migraine, especially in the early weeks of pregnancy. For some women, their migraine is unaffected. Some women experience worsening migraine during pregnancy although this is rare.
During breastfeeding, stable oestrogen levels continue to be protective against having headache again after pregnancy.
However you are affected, it can help to identify any migraine attack triggers that you have, such as lack of sleep, stress, missed meals and dehydration. Keeping a headache diary may help pinpoint your triggers so you can avoid those things. Log when the headache happened, what triggered it, and how long it lasted. Common triggers include but are not limited to:
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How To Prevent Migraines
Often the best way to treat a migraine is to prevent it from happening in the first place. And while it isn’t always preventable, there are some steps you can take to cut down on the odds and frequency of an attack:
- Keep a migraine journal. Jot down what you ate, where you were and what you were doing just before you experienced a pregnancy migraine. Common triggers include glaring lights or loud noises, excessive heat or cold, tobacco smoke and foods such as chocolate, cheese, artificial sweeteners and nitrates in processed meats though youll want to avoid the latter during pregnancy anyway. Once you notice a pattern of what commonly precedes your migraines, try to avoid those potential triggers.
- Cut back on stress. Because stress is a common migraine trigger, it’s thought that holistic therapies including acupuncture, biofeedback, massage, meditation and yoga can help alleviate migraine pain.
- Get enough sleep. Theres no doubt that it can be hard to get adequate shut-eye during pregnancy. But since sleep disturbances and fatigue can trigger migraines, try to make sleep a priority.
- Exercise. Regular, pregnancy-safe aerobic exercise like walking, swimming and bicycling can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines during pregnancy and its good for the rest of your body and your baby, too. Once a migraine hits, though, dont whip out your sneakers and head for the gym exercise can make symptoms worse.
What Causes Your Migraines And Headaches
There are many different triggers for migraines, but estrogen is the primary culprit for pregnant women. It is even possible for a woman who has never experienced a migraine to start having them when she becomes pregnant. Elevated estrogen levels increase the probability of migraines.
Some lucky women notice their migraines disappear once they become pregnant, but others notice an extreme increase in intensity . There is significant evidence linking migraines to hormones.
Of course, there are other reasons you may suffer from one of these nasty headaches. Some triggers include:
- Chocolate.
- Sleep deprivation.
In addition to chocolate and caffeine, many believe processed food is a migraine trigger. Try to avoid processed food if possible, and eat a balanced diet throughout your pregnancy. Also, I always tell my patients to remember to eat. It may sound ridiculous, but pregnancy brain can make you forget a surprising number of things! Low blood sugar from not eating can also be a migraine trigger.
Editor’s Note:
Dehydration can also be a big trigger for pregnancy-related migraines, especially in the first trimester when you are likely to suffer from morning sickness . Be sure you are hydrating as best you can, and call your doctor if you cannot keep anything down.
It should come as little surprise that many pregnant women will be sleep deprived or under stress. Its not an easy feat to adjust your life and body around the growing baby inside you.
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When Should I Be Concerned
When a headache is severe, or just doesnt go away, or when you have dizziness, blurred vision, or changes in your field of vision, you should contact your healthcare provider. Headaches can sometimes be related to blood pressure problems in pregnancy. If they are persistent or severe and happen after 20 weeks of pregnancy, let your healthcare provider know. Although strokes during pregnancy are rare, migraines can increase a pregnant womans risk for them. If you have migraines, report them to your healthcare provider.
Symptoms Of Migraines During Pregnancy
A migraine usually starts out as a dull ache and then eventually becomes a throbbing, constant, and pulsating pain in the temples, in front of the head, or base of the head. Migraines are sometimes accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light, vomiting, dizziness, and auras, which are spots or lines that can occur across ones vision. The pain can sometimes make it difficult to focus, and symptoms can be debilitating.
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Tracking Triggers With A Migraine Diary
Hormone changes during pregnancy are not the only thing that can trigger migraine headaches. Most women have a combination of triggers. For instance, stress, skipped meals, and lack of sleep may all trigger a migraine. And something that triggers a migraine one day may not bother you at all the next.
Some migraines last a few hours. Others, if left untreated, could last a couple of days. Migraines are quite unpredictable. So while pregnancy may make them worse for one woman, they might completely disappear for another.
A headache diary can let you track your particular triggers. This will help your doctor decide on what treatment will work best to relieve your specific symptoms. It may also help you recognize a pattern that tells you which triggers to avoid while you’re pregnant.
Each time you have a headache, write down:
- Your specific symptoms: where you feel the pain, what the pain feels like, and any other symptoms such as vomiting or sensitivity to noise, smells, or bright light
- The time your headache started and ended
- Food and beverages you had during the 24 hours before the migraine
- Any change in your environment, such as traveling to a new place, a change in weather, or trying new kinds of food
- Any treatment you tried, and whether it helped or made the headache worse
- Foods that contain the preservatives MSG and nitrates
- Aspartame, the sweetener in NutraSweet and Equal
What Is The Best Treatment For Headaches While Pregnant
If youre hoping to stop a headache naturally, there are plenty of pregnancy-safe steps you can take to battle your symptoms based on the common headache types:
- For tension headaches and migraines: Lie in a dark, quiet room for a few minutes or if you’re at work, close your eyes and put your feet up. You can also put an ice pack or cold compress on the back of your neck for 20 minutes while you relax. Deep breathing and quiet meditation are two more smart ways to channel calming vibes.
- For sinus headaches: A stuffy nose is very common in pregnancy, so try steam inhalation to relieve congestion and a humidifier to add moisture to the air. Apply hot and cold compresses to the achy spot, alternating 30 seconds of each for a total of 10 minutes, four times a day. Drinking lots of fluids, especially herbal tea or broth, can help clear stuffiness. And ask the doctor whether you could have a sinus infection and if theres a safe nasal decongestant you can use.
- For all headaches: While you shouldnt take ibuprofen or Aleve when you’re pregnant, acetaminophen can bring relief and occasional use is considered safe for pregnancy. Always check with your practitioner for the right dosage and never take any medication without getting your doctors okay first.
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What Are Possible Complications Of Migraines
If you have a history of migraine headaches, and have no other health problems, migraines during pregnancy are not usually a concern.
But if a first-time migraine-like headache occurs in pregnancy, it is important to check for any other type of condition that may be dangerous. This includes bleeding in the brain, meningitis, high blood pressure, or tumors. You may need further testing to find the cause of the headache. This testing may include urine and blood tests.
Headache And Migraine Remedies That Are Safe During Pregnancy
Most women deal with headaches at some point in their lives. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that one in five women had a severe acute headache or migraine in the previous three months. Additionally, migraines are more common in women than men approximately 18 percent of women have them compared to 6.5 percent of men.
Because headaches and migraines are so common, its probably no surprise that many women deal with them during pregnancy. For the majority of pregnant women, occasional headaches or migraines are no cause for alarm, and most standard treatments are safe. However, suffering a severe headache at key times during or after pregnancy can indicate a serious medical emergency.
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