Headaches in Pregnancy: When to Seek Medical Attention

Headaches occur during pregnancy due to hormonal changes taking place inside your body. If there is a constant headache during the first trimester, then it may subside a little in the next trimester or as soon as the pregnancy hormones are balanced. Headaches are caused not only by hormonal activity but also by various other reasons. 

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Hormonal changes and increased blood volume in early pregnancy can cause frequent headaches. Other reasons for this are as follows:

• Disturbances in your blood pressure can cause headaches. 
• If you had headaches or migraines before pregnancy, you are more likely to experience it during pregnancy.
• Pregnancy symptoms such as fatigue, hunger, lack of exercise, dehydration, etc. can also cause headaches in pregnancy.
• Headaches are one of the side effects of consuming excessive caffeine but if you suddenly stop consuming caffeine, headaches also occur.
• Nasal congestion can also cause pain in the back of your cheeks, which can cause headaches. Apart from this, the strain on the eyes due to changes in pressure around the eyes during pregnancy affects vision and causes headaches.
• Stress can cause anxiety and headaches and make the condition worse.
• Dehydration can also cause you to feel pain around the back of your neck, which is a major cause of headaches.

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Get treatment from an experienced and certified doctor only. Here are some treatments that you can get -

• Acupuncture and acupressure

Acupuncture and acupressure stimulate points in your body that reduce headaches. Apart from this, acupuncture is good for migraine and tension headaches. 

• Aromatherapy

Whenever you feel pain, put a few drops of lavender oil and peppermint oil on a tissue paper or handkerchief and smell them. You can also rub the oil on your forehead.

• Homeopathy

Homeopathic treatment can be done to treat mild headaches.

• Osteopathy and chiropractic

If your headache is caused by shoulder or neck pain, then osteopathy therapy works well. It helps realign your bones, joints and muscles by specifically working on the stress points in your body. Another way to treat headaches is to use chiropractic therapy, which uses the spinal cord to treat severe headaches.

• Reflexology

For minor headaches, reflexology techniques work well. It helps reduce the frequency of headaches.

• Steam inhalation

Inhaling steam from a pan of hot water helps clear the sinuses and relieve congestion. You can also get yourself checked by your doctor for nasal congestion, which is completely safe during pregnancy. 

• Get a massage

Getting a good massage on the shoulders, back and neck also helps relieve migraines. But get the massage done only by a professional masseur who has experience in massaging pregnant women. Apart from this, you can massage your scalp using medicated oils that relieve pain. This type of massage also helps in reducing tension headaches to a certain extent. A study found that six weeks of massage improved migraines.

• Take a bath

Taking a cold bath can also provide temporary and severe headache relief. Even applying a few drops of cold water on the face can relieve tension headaches. Apart from this, adding rock salt to warm water and taking a 15-minute bath can also reduce headaches.

• Choose the right bra

During pregnancy, the breast ligaments stretch to support your growing breasts, which puts a lot of pressure on your back and neck, which also causes headaches. 

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Herbal remedies
You can also try some herbal remedies at home which are as follows:

• Make herbal tea using one teaspoon each of lemon balm, lavender and chamomile tea. Add half a teaspoon of fennel and honey to it and drink it. It works well for anxiety and sinus headaches.
• Mix three teaspoons of cinnamon powder in a cup of milk and boil it. After the milk cools down, add honey to it for taste and drink it. If you are having a severe headache, drink this twice a day.
• In a glass of water, add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and two teaspoons of honey and drink it.
• The antioxidants present in ginger also help in reducing headaches. Make a cup of ginger tea and drink it whenever you feel pain.
• Lavender oil helps in relieving headaches and also helps in getting better sleep during pregnancy.

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If your headache is not getting relieved by any of the above mentioned natural remedies, then you can use medicines but keep in mind that do not take any medicine in pregnancy without asking the doctor.

Headaches during the first trimester are mostly caused by hormonal changes and there is not much you can do to prevent them. However, having a disciplined lifestyle can reduce the chances of headaches:

• Headaches during pregnancy can be caused due to low blood sugar levels. This is a result of skipping meals. So eat healthy foods like whole grains or nutritious granola etc. 
• Get enough rest. Sleep reduces headaches and migraines. Go to bed early at night to get a good night's sleep. This helps in keeping away eye strain, fatigue and mental stress.
• Keep a food diary. Certain foods like processed meat, chocolate, ice cream and cheese can also cause headaches. Pay attention to what you eat because if what you eat is causing you headaches, then eliminating those foods can help you get rid of headaches.
• Do not consume caffeine. If you are addicted to coffee, gradually reduce your intake during pregnancy. For example, if you usually drink three or four cups of coffee a day, reduce it from four to two and then one cup later but after a short period of time.
• Start taking short walks in the open air. Avoid hot places and stay away from strong smells. Breathe in fresh air and keep the windows of the room open. Do not wear tight clothes. Wear loose-fitting and breathable clothes.
• Avoid bright and noisy environments. Avoid fluorescent lights and noisy places as they can trigger headaches.
• Sit in the right posture. Do not bend for long while doing any work.
• Join some activities to avoid stress, like prenatal yoga classes, meditation or do some breathing exercises. Going for a walk during pregnancy also helps prevent headaches.

(Read more - Pregnancy Nutrition: What to Eat)

You should contact the doctor in the following circumstances:

• Sudden and severe headache as soon as you wake up from sleep.
• If you have never experienced such a headache before.
• If the pain has started with stiffness in the neck and fever. 
• If you have other problems like blurred vision, drowsiness, stiffness, slurred speech etc. 
• If along with blocked nose, you are experiencing pain and pressure anywhere in the face or under the eyes.
• If the headache has started with pain in the teeth, then it indicates infection in your sinuses.
• If you have suffered a head injury due to falling somewhere.
• If you get a headache due to working for long on the computer screen.
• If you experience any changes in vision, sharp pain in your upper abdomen, sudden weight gain, nausea or swelling in your face and hands. 

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Headaches are a common problem in pregnancy, especially in the first and third trimesters. Hormonal changes, increased blood flow, stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, and caffeine consumption may be the reasons behind it. Sometimes migraines can also occur in pregnant women. Drinking enough water, eating regularly, resting, and using cold or hot compresses can be helpful to relieve headaches. Light yoga or stretching can also help. However, it is important to consult your doctor before taking any kind of medication, as not all medicines are safe in pregnancy.