Pregnancy and headaches

Why do pregnant people get headaches?

There are lots of reasons: lack of fluids, stress, stuffy nose and sinus congestion, fatigue, hunger, allergies, and tension in the body are just a few. Some of these causes are particularly on the nose during pregnancy. Hormonal changes, nausea, poor sleep and the fatigue that comes with creating a new life, or stress over how everything is about to change. In addition, having a heavier body has an impact and can further contribute to – or cause – pain in your head, or even migraines during pregnancy.

Are headaches common during pregnancy?

It’s fairly common to have headaches when you’re pregnant, even if you’ve never had an issue with headaches before. They are mostly harmless and tend to pass quickly. If you already had issues with headaches, being pregnant could either help the problem or make it worse. If you’re experiencing a new kind of headache that you aren’t used to, then it’s good to be a little observant.

Hormonal headaches while pregnant

Late in your first trimester and well into your second, headaches due to hormones are common. You’re experiencing a massive upswing in oestrogen, progesterone and HCG, and your body may very well react. Hormonal headaches tend to be at their worst early in pregnancy, between weeks 12 and 18.

How do you get rid of headaches and is there anything you can do to alleviate and prevent them?

• Drink plenty of water
• Rest in a dark and quiet room, and maybe do some relaxation exercises while you’re there
• Try alleviating the pain with something cold or hot, to increase blood circulation. A heat cushion or a bag of ice behind your neck might help. Or why not a massage!
• Stuffy nose and congested sinuses could be the culprit behind a persistent headache. It might help to sleep with an extra pillow behind your head; you can also try a salt solution nasal spray or nasal irrigation. Humidifiers can help, and an open window to let in some fresh air may also help relieve swollen mucous membranes.
• Avoiding stress is a good idea for lots of reasons; preventing headaches is just one of them.
• Try to get enough sleep; too little can cause tension headaches and migraines.
• Headaches can be caused by low blood sugar; eat regularly and try to avoid sweet foods, which will send your blood sugar on a rollercoaster.
• Listen to your body! Migraines and headaches could be a cry for more peace and quiet.

Migraine tablets and ibuprofen should not be taken while pregnant, but paracetamol is fine. Talk to a pharmacist or your doctor or midwife to get the right headache medicine.

Pregnant with a migraine

If you get migraines regularly, pregnancy might help or it might make things worse. If hormones are behind your migraines, chances are good that you won’t have any while pregnant – but things might also go the other way. Hormones usually don’t vary as much during pregnancy as they do during your menstrual cycle, which often reduces the risk of getting migraines. But blood sugar swings and higher stress in general are common during pregnancy, which can lead to migraines.
If you aren’t pregnant yet and are just planning ahead, be aware that some migraine medications can be dangerous to the foetus, so be sure to talk to a doctor and phase out any preventive migraine medication.

When should you seek help?

If these tips don’t help, then it’s important to get help elsewhere. You should also get help if you are having a new and unfamiliar kind of headache, if your headache gets worse, doesn’t subside, or turns into a migraine and you haven’t ever had one before.

If a headache strikes suddenly and you also have vision symptoms, like flashing lights or vision loss, along with sudden weight gain, fever and swelling, it could be a sign of preeclampsia. In that case, you should promptly contact your doctor, midwife, or clinic to schedule a checkup.

Please note that all information above is based on Swedish recommendations.