When Pregnancy Becomes A Headache

Dr. J and I wrote our book Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Pregnancy But Were Too Afraid or Embarrassed To Ask because, well, there are only 24-hours in a day and while we spend so much of our time answering the questions of pregnant women and their families, there are always more questions to be answered. You can check out our book (print and electronic version) on Amazon, and you can get the app (Everything Pregnancy) in the Apple App and Google Play stores. The good folks here at BlackDoctor.org were kind enough to collaborate with us on a new monthly pregnancy and post-partum blog based on our book so keep an eye out for it every month and don't be shy about sharing it.

Let's face it, folks, pregnancy can often be a major headache…..literally. To be fair, there are a lot of things going on, and your body is doing some pretty fantastic work but none of that matters when the side effects of pregnancy, including headaches, makes each day seem like an eternity. Headaches are definitely a part of pregnancy, there is no getting around that, but the question is what can you do about them? Do you just have to suffer for the next nine months or are there safe ways to make pregnancy less of a headache?

What is this?:

Usually, headaches during pregnancy are hormonal headaches though other things like migraines, high blood pressure, and poor posture can also cause headaches.

Why is it happening?:

Hormones happen during pregnancy, it’s just part of the package, and most of the things that bother you during pregnancy arelikely a result of those hormones. One hormone, in particular, progesterone, is responsible for many headaches during pregnancy. Progesterone causes your blood vessels to relax which is actually a good thing because it increases blood flow to your uterus and your growing baby. One not so nice side effect is that dilating blood vessels cause low blood pressure which often causes headaches and dizziness.

When does it happen?:

Hormonally induced headaches tend to start at about 6 weeks of pregnancy, and they get progressively worse until about 24 weeks of pregnancy when the rising progesterone levels finally plateau. After 24 weeks those progesterone levels start to fall, blood pressure starts to go back up, and headaches often get better.

What Can I Do?

While you can’t change hormones during pregnancy, there are things that you can do to lessen their effects.

So, what can you do?:

1. Be well watered: Get lots and lots of hydration, and by hydration, we really mean water (sorry, soda and juice don’t count!). Get at least 72 ounces or more of water every day.

2. Be well fed: Keep your blood sugar levels steady by eating multiple smaller meals and snacks throughout the day, ideally about 300 calories each every three hours.

3. Be well rested: Sleep during pregnancy is essential for a bunch of reasons including headache prevention. Get 8-9 hours of sleep every night andwhen a headache hits, find a dark, quiet environment and take a quick nap. If you can’t nap, at least close your eyes for a few minutes.

4. Ice it up: Applying ice packs to the head and the base of the neck do wonders when a headache hits.

5. Massage it out: A good massage is a great way to relax the entire body while simultaneously treating a headache, so if you can’t get a professional to do the heavy lifting, put your partner to work!

6. Acupuncture: Acupuncture has been medically proven to reduce headache frequency and intensity and it generally only requires a few sessions per month.

7. Don't forget caffeine: Check with your provider first, but for most pregnant women up to 12 ounces of caffeine daily is okay. A bit of caffeine at the start of a headache can frequently prevent the headache from worsening.

8. Tylenol: Check with your provider before starting any new medication; however, acetaminophen/Tylenol is generally safe for use during pregnancy (up to 1,000mg every 8 hours), and much like caffeine, when used at the initial sign of a headache, it tends to work better.

When should I call my doctor or midwife?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should call your doctor or midwife ASAP:

Sudden onset headache of severe intensity.
A headache that will not go away despite interventions.
Frequent headaches especially if they don’t respond to Tylenol.
Headaches associated with visual changes (seeing spots, double vision, seeing stars).
Headaches associated with abdominal pain.
Headaches with extreme swelling of the limbs.
Headaches associated with weakness, dizziness, or feeling faint.

If you want more where this came from, be sure to check out our book Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Pregnancy But Were Too Afraid or Embarrassed To Ask, available in print or electronic versions on Amazon. You can also check out our mobile apps for Apple and Android in the Apple App and Google Play stores. If you have a specific pregnancy-related question, you can submit it to BlackDoctor.org using the hashtag #EverythingPregnancy, and we will try to answer it during our next Facebook live or in a future blog.