headaches while pregnant

[pinkandblue]

I am 9 weeks pregnant and have been getting headaches everyday. For the last few weeks I have had low blood pressure which may be why I am getting headaches. I have been taking 2 panadols each day to get rid of my headaches but I was wondering if there is anything else I can do or take to get rid of them? The doctor said it is ok to take panadol but I end up taking it everyday and I dont know if this is good or not.
Thanks

[draught]

I found that if I didn't watch my water intake I got headaches while pregnant, so maybe keep your intake up - it is good training for when you are breastfeeding and drink gallons! Remember - your body is making all sorts of extra fluid etc so you need more fluid to go in than normal.

[willsmum]

I agree, dehydration is a major cause of headaches. Also try to eat regularly - have a morning and afternoon snack as well as your main meals - dried fruit is good, or grainy crackers. Something low GI to keep your blood sugars level, and have a snack before you go to bed (a glass of skim milk is good - low GI so it's slowly absorbed and you need the calcium anyway).

I had migraines early on, but they stopped after 12 weeks .

[nkenward]

Hi there MLN-Natalie,

I also get headaches most days, the midwives have said that the recommended dosage of parcemetol (panadol) is fine. They said that pregnant women will experience more headaches due to the increase blood flow through the body.

Increase fluid intake like water are important and will help decrease the severity of headaches. But with me for the first few weeks I did not have any coffee/tea etc, which may have lead to withdrawal symptoms and headaches. A dietician I spoke to at the hospital said that it was ok to have up to 3 cups of coffee a day or 5 cups of tea/cola drinks per day. With that being said I have my morning cup of coffee a day and I seem to be a lot better.

Another remedy which I think most of us ladies enjoy - go and have a massage (or get hubby to give you one). A place I went to had what they call 'pregnancy massage', you lie on your back, and they concentrate on your head, shoulders and neck - it was heaven!!!

Good luck - hope you feel better.
Natalie :)

[veve]

hey guys -

I love this site!!!! everyday when I feel something is frustrating me, or something new (or scary) happens, there is a thread about it!!!!!

thank you everyone who posted!! I feel less alone now :) (huggles)

I am 12 weeks pregnant, and although I am not feeling nauseous anymore, the headaches are killing me!! I have tried to keep my fluids up, and am resting as much as possible- and I still often waking with a headache in the morning....

I too am trying to take as little panadol as possible, but I also hate using a sick day, which I might need later!

A friend told me that the headaches are related to the extra hormones floating around during pregnancy (as if the mood swings, tears and constant brain malfunctions - such as putting your car keys in the fridge - aren't enough!!!!)

I guess it is just another joy of pregnancy :)
xxxx
veve

[braydensmum]

I used to get bad headaches in early pregnancy also, and didn't like taking panadol. I used migrastick, it costs about $10 and you can get from chemists and most supermarkets. It is a mixture of peppermint oil and lavender oil and you just roll it on your temples and neck, the relief is almost immediate. It helped me alot.
If your lucky like I was my headaches soon started to dissapear and I never had a single one throughout the rest of my pregnancy!!

Good luck with everything! :)

[TwoBlue]

Hi all with headaches

With my first pregnancy i suffered with headaches, panadol, panadol, massage, rest, water, it didnt matter i still got them.
Anyway someone said to me "go and get your eyes checked" so i did.
Turns out when i am pregnant i develop a stygmatism in one eye! glasses when reading, watching tv / computer ad driving stopped all headaches !

so maybe you should try an eye test.

by the way apparently headaches mean your carrying a boy.... i was!

Take care all
Tracey

:p Samuel 21.3.2004
:rolleyes: #2 EDD 30.11.2005

[pregasaurus]

I didn't have headaches with my first 2, but this one I had them until 14 weeks my midwife suggested I take iron. It might be coincedental but they stopped almost straight away.

[madvoice]

I don't know how true that tale is about having a boy with headaches. I had quite severe headaches when I was pregnant (most of the way through) and often drank water and took panadol. I had some really nasty migraine days where I reached for the codine tablets.

[kamckellar]

my dr said my headaches could be caused by not having enough salt in my diet.i dont and cant eat salt.i just dont like it.but someone suggested eating olives which i dont mind.it worked but then again the headaches couldve just stopped at the same time as i started the olives.

[Miaow]

Ive been having more headaches than usual also - especially in the mornings:( they've eased up a bit though the last few weeks which is good and I'm hoping they go away all together soon (crosses fingers). I drink alot of water when im at work but find on the weekends I dont drink as much.

[maybe1more]

They are a problem to say the least, i had them really bad with my first baby(boy) and had them till i was about 6 months pregnant. Ive got them again with this pregnancy(hopefully that doesnt mean im having another boy) some times they get that bad i cant even open my eyes cause i feel dizzy and want to chuck :eek: Ive got the migrain stick and it does take the edge off the pain but dont do what i did and reach for it a night an accidently get it in your eye(it hurts like hell). The joys of motherhood :rolleyes:

[Briannabear]

I got headaches pretty bad when I was pregnant with my daughter.
I didnt want to take anything for it so I just drank heaps of water, avoided chocolate, caffine and junkfood. I found that those things aggravated it. :)

[willsmum]

I was advised not to use the migraine stick cos it contains lavender and this isn't recommended in pregnancy??

[Briannabear]

Ive also heard that about lavender. Its a relaxant and apparently it can drop the baby's heartrate or something. I steered clear of lavender through my pregnancy.

Although they say it can be good to use it through labour (to calm you), so I dont know.... :)

[newy]

Hi,
I was just at the chemist yesterday and I asked about the migrain stick, as I've been using it for the last few days to ease my headaches. The chemist said that natural oils were not recommended, especially during the first trimester as it can somehow affect the pracenta. So that's it also for my wonderful lavender sleep ease! bummer! :o

[blessed]

There is certainly evidence that links lavender and miscarriages in the first trimester. I am not sure if it is just when it is applied directly to the skin or if it includes a fe drops in the bath. Worth doing some research