Head Aches....please Help!

[eslay2005]

Hi all,

I'm 18 weeks pregnant and have been getting frequent headaches lately. Is this normal?
It only started maybe a few weeks ago and I asked the midwife about it and she said it's not normal but didn't suggest anything else, which left me puzzled. I mainly get it when I wake up in the mornings (I don't go to bed with headaches but I wake up with one), it's normally all day unless I take panadol.

Is anyone out there in the same situation?

Kind Regards,
Eslay

[BubbleBelly]

I'v been having horrible headaches! Mine are linked to low blood pressure and i was told to drink plenty of water. I can drink tones of water every day but the headache still stays!

Sorry i can't suggest anything helpful :rolleyes:

[nkenward]

Hi there ladies,

Yes headaches will be a common occurrence. It is supposedly due to the excess blood being pumped around the body.

Make sure you drink plenty of water. But sometimes if it is because your blood sugar levels are low, maybe have some orange juice or cordial. Dehrydration can be a cause for some headaches.

Otherwise panadol/herron is safe to use. A nice heat pack or cold pack on the neck is also nice. But nothing beats a massage. If it is a tension headache I would recommend having a pregnancy massage, not only is it relaxing, it feels really good. Tell them you are having headaches and they will massage your head, neck and shoulders.

[veve]

hey :)

I'm am 28 weeks preg at the moment... and I have had headaches on and off (sometimes more than one a day) since 18 weeks... my OB isn't worried... as my blood pressure is fine... he just said that during pregnancy everything relaxes... and that can include your eye muscles... at which point you strain them to see... and voila- a headache forms!!

I also found that if I didn't drink a fair bit of water before bed (yes... you WILL have to get up for the toilet at some silly hour if you DO drink it!!!) then I always had a headache when I got up... almost like a hang over reaction to dehydration?? so now I drink water before bed... and also have a few sips if I have to get up during the night... and the headaches are fewer and further between...

there are many theories on why preg women have headaches... could be teeth problems... dehydration.... blood pressure.... sugar levels....could be hormonal- all due to the joys of having a bubs!!!!! just try a few different things and hope that one of them will work for you !!!!!

good luck!!!!
xxxx
Jen

[aardvark]

I'm 17 weeks, and woke with a shocker today.

I think in part mine is due to sleeping in a different position - tummy is stopping me sleeping on my stomach this last week or so.

I think I might book in for a massage of my head, neck and shoulders. That usually helps me.

[bb]

Absolutely normal !!

I had dreadful headaches throughout the first and second trimesters, but they went away towards the end ! They are awful ! I found it totally stressful, as I cannot take tablets or capsules (don't ask why) and usually (ie, when I am not pregnant) I use Aspro Clear, which are a huge no no when pregnant. Bugger ! I tried a few natural things, but nothing worked ! One night, it was so bad that my husband took me to hospital :( ... where they put me on a drip with some sensational pain killer !! Anyway, fortunately I discovered Panadeine soluable, and they worked beautifully !

I sincerely hope that you headaches get better !

Best of luck !

BB

[babytoo]

It really is nice to read of other people experiencing the same problems! I am 15 weeks and have been getting headaches for about 4 weeks. My ob said it was perfectly normal!! I am able to take panadol when I need to..every day if I have to, a couple a day if I really have to. He told me to use a wheat pack on my neck which works when I am at home but if I am at work, I find that rubbing some lavender oil on my temples gets me through and just takes that edge away.

I remember when I was pregnant with my son getting headaches but not so often and then when he was born I never really got headaches. So I have had about 3 years headache free which has been nice! Hope its the same this time around!

[JanetF]

You could definitely see a naturopath or homeopath and get some help with that. You shouldn't have to just live with it. If it were me I'd also go to a chiropractor or osteopath and make sure my neck was aligned. All that beautiful relaxin and progesterone can make bones slip around a bit more than normal. Excellent for giving birth, but sometimes hard in other places!

[Kirstlea]

Hi Eslay

I too suffered headaches with both of my pregnancys and the doctor said the same things, blood pumping faster through my sytem and dehydration.

I found if I drank a glass of water before I went to bed and had another glass as soon as I woke up I didn't suffer the headaches anymore.

Of course I also tried to remember to drink water during the day. I know its a pain in the rear, but I would rather go to the loo frequently than suffer the pain.

Goodluck and hope all goes well

Kirsten