Migraine management during pregnancy is challenging, but no one prepares you for it. You're also struggling with dramatic hormone shifts and little attack relief.
Sleep, water, and nutrition help reduce migraine episodes, but how do you control increased attacks with simply Tylenol?
Here are some ways to manage pregnancy challenges:
Ask Your Doctor About Your Medications
The FDA registers pregnancy drugs that may endanger the fetus. As most migraine-preventative medications aren't permitted during pregnancy, many pregnant migraine sufferers are advised to wean off them.
However, your OB-GYN may collaborate with your neurologist to assess whether continuing migraine-preventative medication would be worth the risk. Beta-blockers, which are frequently the initial line of treatment, may be used throughout pregnancy.
Talk to your physicians about the drugs you use, their risk categories, and the hazards of continuing and stopping usage during pregnancy.
RELATED: Migraine: The Symptom That Can Predict Your Odds For Pregnancy Complications
Consider Magnesium & Vitamin D
Pregnancy may prevent you from taking certain drugs, but vitamins may assist. Magnesium may prevent migraines and help pregnancy. Migraine sufferers are at risk of persistent hypertension, preterm labor, and mineral deficiency.
Magnesium supplementation may minimize prenatal growth restriction risk. Magnesium IV therapy may be used for severe migraines or dehydration. Vitamin D also prevents migraines and promotes healthy pregnancies. Vitamin D insufficiency may cause preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and migraines.
Maintain A Sleep Schedule As Best You Can
According to the American Migraine Foundation, migraines may be brought on by a lack of sleep and excessive amounts of sleep. The likelihood of having trouble sleeping due to migraines is increased. Keeping a regular sleep schedule with your optimal hours can help you avoid having these episodes in the first place.
It may be more difficult for you to keep up with your normal sleep routine while you are pregnant due to the discomfort of an expanding belly, the many trips to the bathroom that you will need to take during the night, and the overwhelming weariness that may cause you to take additional naps during the day. Drink more water early in the day and less as the evening approaches to reduce the number of times you have to use the restroom throughout the night.
Stay Hydrated
If you have severe morning sickness, it is difficult to remain hydrated, and it is much more difficult to make up for the lost time in terms of hydration. It is necessary to replenish the electrolytes, though. In most cases, this may be treated successfully at home by consuming more water, using electrolyte powders or drinks that are low in sugar, and eating broth or light soups.
Dehydrated women are more likely to throw up if they drink too quickly; therefore, it is best for them to take little sips often. If your condition is not improving, you may benefit from receiving fluids via an IV. In addition to this, regular saline, sometimes fortified with magnesium, is often utilized. In most cases, your OB-GYN and neurologist will be able to help.
RELATED: The 14 Different Types Of Headaches: Which One You’re Experiencing?
Be Mindful Of Your Diet
A migraine elimination diet may be necessary in order to identify your food triggers and get better control over severe headaches. Cravings associated with pregnancy have the potential to derail even the most determined. Because of this, we find ourselves ordering dishes containing MSG, even if we know that doing so harms our brains.
You may fill your freezer with Instant Pot soups like chicken and rice or butternut squash and always have it supplied. Crackers with a limited number of ingredients and foods high in acid, such as green grapes, Granny Smith apples, and fresh fruit popsicles, may be beneficial.