Headaches can affect a woman at different times in her life, but the options for relief are limited during a pregnancy.  A pregnant woman can benefit from learning what causes headaches and what she can safely do to prevent or deal with them.

Personal Story

I am thankful that I have not experienced many headaches in my life. As a young child, I watched my father suffer from headaches after he was in a serious accident involving a semi, so I have empathy for people who are suffering from head pain of any type.

Possible Causes for Pregnancy Headaches

Headaches are most common during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. If a woman normally has migraines, they sometimes improve during pregnancy, but they might get worse.

• In first trimester, there is an increase in the amount of blood in circulation and a surge of hormones which can result in more recurrent headaches.
• In the third trimester, poor posture, stress from carrying extra weight, or high blood pressure (which could be a condition called preeclampsia).

A variety of things other things can cause headaches.

• Caffeine withdrawal
• Dehydration
• Hunger/low blood sugar
• Food triggers
• Poor Posture
• Sleep deprivation
• Stress

Safety Considerations

If you are pregnant, talk with your health care professional before taking any medications or if symptoms get worse. The safety of any medication is not guaranteed. Try to use natural means for getting headaches under control and consult a doctor for suggestions.

Dealing with Headaches

• Caffeine withdrawal headaches might be reduced by weaning off caffeine and drinking plenty of water to flush out the system.
• Adequate water intake may help reduce dehydration. Try to drink more than half of your body weight in ounces of purified water each day.
• Balance blood sugar by regularly eating well-balanced meals. You might choose lower glycemic foods to even out your blood sugar and lower the number of headaches. For example, you could eat a meal or a snack about every two to four hours throughout the day.
• Keeping a food diary may find food triggers which cause headaches. Some foods triggers are: peanuts, chocolate, yogurt, sour cream, aged cheese, alcohol, and breads made with fresh yeast. It is best to avoid foods with nitrates because they trigger headaches. They also have the risk of campylobacter or listeria bacteria.
• Practice good posture, especially during the third trimester.
• Sleep deprivation decreases by setting a sleep goal to regularly get 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
• Reduce stress and make it a point to relax. Try to delegate some items on your to-do list.
• Rest in a dark room and breathe deeply.
• Exercise daily to reduce stress. Getting a massage can relax tense muscles.
• Warm compresses to your nose and eyes may help a sinus headache.
• Cold compresses to the base of your neck may help a tension headache.
• Take a warm bath or shower.

Action Step

Prevention is the best way to dealing with pregnancy headaches, but if you have a headache, try natural methods and contact your health care provider for guidance.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. Please encourage others by writing in the comment section.

Resources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/headaches-during-pregnancy/faq-20058265

http://www.headaches.org/2007/10/25/pregnancy-and-migraine/

http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/headaches-and-pregnancy/