Pregnancy Complications In Patients With Other Headache Conditions
Only few studies included pregnant patients with other primary headache conditions than migraine. Maggioni et al. Conducted a retrospective study on 430 women after delivery: 126 suffered from primary headache disorders, among them 81 had MO, 12 MA and 22 TTH . They detected no differences in APGAR scores and malformations between women with and without primary headaches, regardless of the headache subtype .
Sanchez et al. Observed that history of headache correlated significantly with placental abruption, i.e. The separation of the placenta from uterus before delivery . The odds ratio for MA was 1.59, for MO was 2.11 and for TTH was 1.61 .
Finally, Marozio et al. Conducted a prospective study on 376 pregnant women with headache compared to 326 pregnant women without headache . Among women with headache, 264 had migraine with or without aura and 103 a TTH. Preterm deliveries occurred significantly more often within the headache group and headache subtypes did not differ regarding pregnancy complications .
In conclusion, migraine is a risk factor for pregnancy complications, particularly vascular events . The risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia is increased in pregnant migraineurs and active migraine during pregnancy is associated with increased risk for stroke, cardiac diseases and thromboembolic events . Therefore, migraineurs should be considered at higher risk for complications during pregnancy and monitored closely .
Round Ligament Pain: Do I Need To Move More Or Less
If you are experiencing round ligament pain, its important to listen to your body. In general, gentle movements like the ones listed above can help alleviate pain by keeping things moving and mobile.
However, staying as comfortable as possible during pregnancy is definitely a delicate balancing act. On one hand, you want to rest often. On the other hand, youll want to take frequent breaks throughout the day from any prolonged positioning. Its up to you to find that sweet spot
What Is A Cluster Headache
Cluster headaches are one of the most disturbing forms of headaches. It happens in cluster periods. You may feel a sharp pain in an eye or a portion of your head during a specific time. This attack may last for a week or several months. After those time you wont feel the headache. This time is called the remission period.
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Xiii Role Of The Funder
This project was funded under Contract No. HHSA290201500002I from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The TOO will review contract deliverables for adherence to contract requirements and quality. The authors of this report will be responsible for its content. Statements in the report should not be construed as endorsement by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
What Causes Headaches In Pregnancy
The exact cause of a headache isnt always clear. In the first trimester, changing hormone levels and blood volume may play a role. A dull, overall headache can come with stress, fatigue, and eyestrain. Sinus headaches may be more likely because of the nasal congestion and runny nose that are common in early pregnancy. Hunger and low levels of blood sugar can trigger headaches, too. Women who suddenly stop their morning coffee and sodas may experience caffeine withdrawal headaches. Those who also suffer with nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy can become dehydrated. This can also bring on a headache.
Migraine headaches are a common type of headache in pregnancy. These painful, throbbing headaches are usually felt on one side of the head and result from expansion of the blood vessels in the brain. The misery is sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. A small percentage of women with migraines also have an aura with the migraine. They see flashes of light or feel tingling in their arms and legs.
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Diagnostics Of Headache In Pregnancy
Headache during pregnancy can be both primary and secondary, and in the last case can be a symptom of a life-threatening condition. During pregnancy, migraine and TTH are most common, however, there may occur conditions that resemble primary headaches but are symptoms of disorders first appearing during pregnancy. Early diagnostics of the disease manifested by headache is important for mother and fetus life.
For a differential diagnostics of headaches is important to collect the anamnesis: it is necessary to investigate family aptitude to headache, the age of its debut, whether it is a new or emerging condition it is also important get a detailed description of its episode and its accompanying symptoms. The presence of headache before pregnancy is an important predictor of its development during or after pregnancy. It is also important to find out possible associated diseases that could trigger or worsen the course of headache. In addition, it is mandatory to consider administered medications. If there is a suspicion of the symptomatic character of the headache, it is necessary to carry out a neuroimaging, lumbar puncture and other methods .
Breastfeeding And Bottle Feeding
Australian guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding for babies to around six months of age. Breastfeeding is then recommended to continue alongside suitable foods for infants until 12 months or age and beyond, for as long as the mother and child wish.
Whether to breastfeed or not, or for how long, is a very personal decision. Even mothers without arthritis can have issues that can prevent breastfeeding, or make it very difficult.
There are usually no physical reasons that prevent women with arthritis from breastfeeding, apart from possible discomfort if you and your baby are not positioned correctly during feeding. You can get advice on this from your child health nurse or lactation consultant at your local hospital. The choice to either breast or bottle feed your baby will depend on many factors, such as your milk supply, your baby and the medications you are taking.
Breastfeeding and medications
Many arthritis medications are safe to take during breastfeeding as they do not pass into breast milk, or only in very low levels that are safe for the baby. Others can pass into your breast milk and will not be safe for your baby. Talk to your healthcare team, including your rheumatologist, about your plans for breastfeeding so that the best treatment plan, for both you and your baby, can be put into action when your baby is born.
See the table above for a summary of the safety of arthritis medications during breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding and joint pain
Here are some tips:
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Advanced Imaging In The Pregnant Patient
Advanced neuroimaging should be obtained for patients with sudden onset severe headache, rapidly increasing headache frequency or neurologic deficits, and should be considered for patients with new onset headache or headache that differs from baseline. Non-contrast head CT is the initial study of choice.
The estimated fetal radiation dose from a head CT is very low, < 1 rad.57 At eight to fifteen weeks GA, the fetus is at greatest risk for radiation-related injury. A fetal dose of 12 rad may increase the risk of leukemia to 1 in 2,000 children compared to 1 in 3,000 children for the general population. The risk of fetal anomalies, growth restriction, or abortion is not increased with radiation doses of < 5 rad.5,6 Most CT contrast agents contain iodine derivatives, which have not been formally studied in pregnancy. However, neonatal hypothyroidism has been associated with some iodinated agents taken in early pregnancy. Contrast should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.58
How To Treat Patients For Migraine During Pregnancy
Its important for providers who treat women during their reproductive years to be aware of treatment options that are safe during pregnancy. Many women with migraine who are pregnant or considering pregnancy stop taking their migraine medications and assume they dont have safe treatment options availablebut this is simply not true.
Women typically start to experience migraine attacks during adolescence, which aligns with when menstruation begins. The highest incidence of migraine is between ages 18 and 44, which are also the year many women experience pregnancy. The rate of migraine among women is three times higher than it is for men. Because of these figures, it is believed that fluctuations in estrogen levels play a role in migraine development.
Dr. Tracy Grossman, an obstetrician-gynecologist who has completed a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine and earned a masters in neuroscience, shares the range of treatment options available for pregnant patients with migraine.
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Headaches In Early Pregnancy
Nearly all women have occasional headaches, but having a headache in pregnancy is not fun. And, managing headaches is especially tricky in the first trimester when you should avoid many medicines. Whether your headache is from tension or is a full-blown migraine, there are some things you should know.
What Precaution Should You Take
Try and stick to a good exercise schedule which keeps the joints and muscles strong and healthy. Use correct postures to distribute the weight evenly across the body and reduces any untoward pressure on the joints. Keep mental stress levels low and have a healthy diet that enriches any vitamins and nutrients needed to boost bone development.
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Is It Common To Get A Migraine During Pregnancy
The frequency of pregnancy migraines varies. Experts estimate that about 1 in 5 women will have a migraine at some point in their life, and studies have shown a small number of women experience their first migraine while pregnant, most often in the first trimester.
Some good news about migraines during pregnancy: In one study, about two-thirds of women who were prone to migraines noticed that their migraines actually improved when they were pregnant. Other women noticed no change or found that their migraines become more frequent and intense.
However, women who have migraines tend to have higher rates of preeclampsia, a serious high-risk pregnancy condition marked by high blood pressure especially if they didn’t get migraines before pregnancy so it’s important to let your healthcare provider know if you suddenly start having them.
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What Are The Different Types Of Headaches
The headaches youre suffering from while pregnant are just like the ones you can get at any other time, so its worth learning about some of the most common types. Heres a short primer to help you figure out what kind of headache you might have:
- Tension headaches: If youre under stress, hungry or feel pain in your neck or shoulders, you could have a tension headache, which feels like a mild to moderate dull ache. Its one of the most common types.
- Migraines: With a migraine headache, you can expect moderate to severe pain that throbs and lasts for hours or even days. Some women with migraines also experience blurred vision, light flashes, numbness and nausea.
- Sinus headaches: Pressure around your eyes, cheeks and forehead plus a stuffy nose may signal a sinus headache. These typically occur with a sinus infection, but theyre also commonly confused with migraines. In both cases, the pain can get worse when you bend forward or lie down.
- Cluster headaches: These head pains are what they sound like headaches upon headaches that start quickly and get worse, lasting for days or longer. The searing pain usually centers on one eye or affects one side of the head. The good news: Cluster headaches are rare, especially in women compared to men.
- Chronic headaches: If youre getting headaches on more than half of the days in any given month, they could be considered chronic. This includes migraines and other headache types chronic just refers to how frequently they happen.
The Headache Of Dealing With A Migraine During Pregnancy
I cant get rid of it fast enough! Caroline was 5 months pregnant and at her wits end when she contacted MotherToBaby. My migraine is so bad that I can barely get out of bed, but I feel like theres nothing I can do about it since Im pregnant. I dont want to harm the baby! We often get questions like Carolines from people planning a pregnancy or already pregnant who would like information on the prevention and treatment of migraine headaches, so I start by asking Caroline what she would have used if she werent pregnant. Caroline told me that she would have taken ibuprofen and or sumatriptan.
Migraine preventions and treatments fall into three basic categories:
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What Can I Do About Headaches
Steps to manage headaches include the following:
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Avoid any known headache triggers, including allergens and certain foods, like monosodium glutamate, cured meats, and strong cheeses.
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Smoking is never a good idea in pregnancy. You should also avoid secondhand smoke.
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Try to eat well and drink plenty of fluids, especially if you are prone to morning sickness.
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Reduce your stress level. Try a massage or cold pack to help with tension headaches.
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If your headache is a migraine, rest in a cool, dark room with no noise, and try using warm or cold compresses or an ice pack.
There is good news, however. Most women have fewer headaches during pregnancy, especially after the first trimester. And those with a history of migraines often find there is improvement during pregnancy.
Headache In Pregnancy: What’s In The New Acog Guidelines
Randy Dotinga
May 11, 2022
SAN DIEGO If a medical professional is trying to figure out the best medical treatment for a pregnant woman with headache, it may be helpful to review data from randomized clinical trials . Well, make that data from the RCT. There’s just been one, Northwestern Medicine obstetrician-gynecologist Catherine Stika, MD, told colleagues at the annual clinical and scientific meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Only a single efficacy RCT has examined headache in pregnancy, said Stika. “Overall, we have very limited data in pregnancy to tell us exactly what to do,” she added.
But ob.gyns. aren’t entirely in the dark, according to medical specialists who spoke at the session. Expert opinion and fetal safety data offer insight into the best treatments, as does a new ACOG clinical practice guideline on headaches during pregnancy and post partum that was coauthored by the speakers.
And there’s some good news: Pregnancy itself is often a good treatment for headaches.
But simply discontinuing every headache treatment during pregnancy may not be the right approach, Mercer said. Instead, she said, consider the benefits and risks.
Divalproex sodium and topiramate must be avoided because of fetal risk, she said. “In fact, we will prefer that people stop these medications before they discontinue their contraception if they’re planning on getting pregnant,” she said.
Mercer and Stika report no disclosures.
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Top 5 Exercises For Round Ligament Pain During Pregnancy
Sep 19, 2022 | Uncategorized | 0
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While stomach pain is common during pregnancy thanks to a growing belly and lots of shifting, new pains can also be anxiety-inducing. Round ligament pain is one type of pain that pregnant women often experience that is harmless, but super uncomfortable and can feel scary due to the sharp pains that often accompany it.
What Can I Take For A Headache While Pregnant
It’s always best to talk to your healthcare provider before taking any medicines while you’re pregnant, but when it comes to headache relief, acetaminophen is considered the safest over-the-counter pain reliever to take during pregnancy, if used as directed. Don’t exceed the recommended daily dose, and because acetaminophen may not be safe to take for prolonged periods, take it only as it’s needed.
If your headaches aren’t getting any better, your ob-gyn or midwife may be able to prescribe some other safe options, so talk to them.
If you’re prone to severe migraines, ask your provider which medications you can take. One well-known class of migraine drugs, triptans, have been generally shown to be safe during pregnancy, but you may need to be monitored by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist or a neurologist during your pregnancy if you’re taking them.
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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.
