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Headaches During Pregnancy


There is no widely accepted definitive cause of headaches. Researchers believe that hormones are an important factor in headaches, since migraines and tension headaches affect women more often than men. During pregnancy, a woman's hormones go through sudden dramatic changes, which it is believed to contribute to headaches.

As those hormonal changes smooth out during the second and third trimesters, as the body adjusts, headaches typically become less frequent and intense. Fortunately, it isn't necessary to passively accept headache pain at any time. There are things that expectant mothers can do during the entire pregnancy to minimize discomfort.

Stress is a common contributor or trigger for headaches, and pregnancy can certainly be stressful. Large-scale, long-term lifestyle changes are happening and the future will hold even more. Meditation techniques and gentle exercise can help reduce the odds of getting stressed, and minimize the severity when it happens.

Proper rest is essential. One common trigger for both migraines and ordinary headaches is lack of sleep. Fatigue ups the odds of getting a headache and increases its intensity when it starts. But not only the amount is important, regularity is equally healthy. If your body naturally feels drowsy in the afternoon, take a short nap. But take care not to sleep so long during the day that a complete night's sleep becomes difficult to maintain.

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause damage to the fetus, though controversy remains about the amount. As with any chemical, dosage is important and alcohol is no different. However, it's unclear how much is too much - and the amount varies from person to person, of course.

Red wine in particular is a common trigger for headaches for those who are sensitive, and the degree of sensitivity can change during pregnancy. It isn't necessary to have a hangover to produce an alcohol-related headache. Each individual will have to set his or her own limit, but doing without is probably the safest bet for anyone.

Caffeine consumption, both tea and coffee, should be curtailed. Many women today find that double-strength latte in the morning to be the perfect pick-me-up at the start of a busy day. Best to order the regular for a few months.

Ironically, certain headache medications (Excedrin, for example) contain caffeine. A small amount may actually be helpful. But read the label on any medications taken. It's easy to overdose and excess caffeine is a common trigger for headaches. Instantly eliminating all caffeine can also be problematic, however. Taper off gently.

Acetaminophen is generally considered safe for pregnant women. But aspirin and ibuprofen are to be avoided. Any medication you consider should be discussed with your physician, particularly if you suffer from migraines.

There are other methods of relieving the pain associated with headaches during pregnancy. One good option is using hot or cold compresses on your neck and head. Also try sitting in a quiet room or using gentle massage to alleviate painful headaches.



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Bitter Girl posted a photo:

since my last pregnancy a few years ago, i have been suffering from frequent migranes. i started taking blood pressure meds last year and that has helped significantly. my headaches are much less frequent, but when i do get them, they are very intense. they start with a flashing light in my left eye that intensifies until 80% of my vision is occluded. then i get a pain down my right jaw, much like a toothache. after that comes a pain on the right side of my head like i'm being stabbed. then the pain diminishes in intensity and spreads through my entire head. i sometimes have nausea and light and sound sensitivity, but not always. these headaches last for 3 to 6 days. i used to spend about half the month in this condition.

so about a year ago, when i began having reproducable pain and tenderness behind my eyes, i just figured it was part of the whole migrane drama. however, about 3 weeks ago i noticed a change in my vision. i'm having a lot of trouble seeing. since until now, my vision has been a stupendous 20/15, i'm really concerned. a few days ago i started reading about this pain i have and found out it is called optic neuritis. apparently, most everyone experiences it as some point during their life due to a virus. but when it lasts more than 2 or 3 weeks, it can cause permanent damage. all i can say is EEK! i can't believe i've let this go on for so long.

i'm not one to complain about aches and pains and i often let things get out of control before i see the doc. the last time it almost killed me. i ended up being heliported to Camden and had to be on a ventilator for over a week. i've got to get to the eye doctor pronto. it would be just my luck if i went blind right after i finally got an awesome camera.