There’s no doubt that your pregnancy has given you new aches and pains. We’re going, to tell you the truth. It can be hard on your mind to be pregnant. And we’re not just talking about being forgetful and having trouble focusing. We’re also going to talk about migraine pregnancy episodes, which are headaches.
Migraines are a type of headache that makes one side of the brain beat very hard. Imagine that 4-year-old life behind your eye and is constantly beating on a drum. Ouch! Each rhythm makes waves of pain go through your head. Due to the pain, giving birth naturally can seem like a walk in the desert.
That is, almost. Maybe we shouldn’t go that far, but migraines can be extremely unpleasant. You can have a complete blood count CBC test to evaluate your headache.
If you’re one of the millions of pregnant women who get headaches, you’ll be glad to hear that for many women, pregnancy relieves migraine symptoms. Even if it doesn’t help you, the advice in this article will help you deal with it. Let’s begin with its symptoms.
Table of Contents
How Effectively Manage Migraine in Pregnancy
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Migraine Pregnancy Attacks?
When you are pregnant, a migraine will feel the same as when you are not pregnant. You might come across:
- Beating headaches usually only happen on one side, like behind one eye, but they can happen anywhere.
- Sensitivity to light, smells, sounds, and motion
- Vomiting
These are some of the signs of migraine during pregnancy. Now let’s talk about what causes them.
What Are The Causes Of Migraine Pregnancy Attack?
No one knows for sure what causes migraine headaches. Changes in the brain’s circuits, chemicals, and blood flow all play a part in the bitter pain of migraine.
When brain cells get too excited, they release chemicals. Blood vessels on the surface of the brain get irritated because of these chemicals. Because of this, blood vessels swell, which makes the pain unbearable. One study reveals the influence of estrogen on migraine.
Because of this, pregnancy, periods, and menopause can all change the way a woman’s migraines hurt. Serotonin is a chemical that is involved in migraines in a big way.
Using a Migraine Diary to Identify Causes
Hormonal changes aren’t the only thing that can cause migraine headaches during pregnancy. The majority of women have many causes such as stress, skipping meals, and a lack of sleep. These are the common reasons that can all cause a migraine. Something that causes a migraine one day may not always affect you the next day.
According to the top reviewed General Physician in Lahore, Dr. Rabia Sohail “Some migraines are only temporary. Others may only last a few days if not managed. Migraines can occur at any time.” So, if pregnancy may worsen them for one woman, it may fully stop them for another.
A headache journal can help you keep track of your causes. This will help your doctor in finding the best treatment for your internal problems. It may also help you in identifying a pattern that indicates which triggers you should avoid while pregnant.
Write down the following every time you get a headache:
- Your detailed symptoms: where you are in pain, how it feels, and any other symptoms you are feeling, such as nausea or sensitivity to noise, smells, or strong light.
- When did your headache begin and end?
- Snacks consumed in the 24 hours leading up to the migraine
- Any change in your environment, such as visiting a new location, experiencing different weather, or tasting new foods
- Any treatments you attempted, or if they improved or worsened your headache
The following are common headache triggers chocolate, caffeine, foods including MSG (monosodium glutamate) and nitrates as well as aspartame (the sweetener in NutraSweet and Equal).
Migraine Treatment In Pregnancy
Treatment choices that are safe during pregnancy are important for doctors who treat women during their reproductive years. Many migraine patients who are pregnant or want to become pregnant quit taking their medications. They believe that they don’t have any safe options for treatment. This is simply not the case.
Migraine attacks normally start in adolescence, at the same time as menstruation. Migraine is most common between the ages of 18 and 44, which is also when many women become pregnant.
Women have migraine three times more than men have migraine. These findings proved that it’s t that estrogen levels change during migraine development.
Non-Medical Options
Migraine treatment in pregnancy involves non-medical options such as drinking a lot of water is vital for all pregnant women, but especially for those who suffer from migraines. Sometimes when patients feel migraine they are actually dehydrated but they didn’t realize it at that moment. Then we have seen that caffeine plays a vital role. Many pregnant women choose to completely avoid caffeine, however, a small amount of caffeine is considered safe and can help reduce migraines. A study shows that a cup to a cup and a half of coffee per day, with a daily caffeine limit of 200 mg is enough for pregnant women.
There are many supplements that are widely used such as magnesium prevents migraine. It is safe to use during pregnancy because of the low risk of negative effects.
Medical Options
Acetaminophen and other over-the-counter drugs are safe to take during pregnancy. It can help to prevent and manage migraine symptoms when used in combination with non-medication methods.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are another migraine treatment option. These include medicines like naproxen, Toradol, and ibuprofen, which we don’t recommend using in the first trimester or the third trimester. But when you are in your mid-second trimester it is considered safer to take a limited amount.
Things To Consider
If you have severe and recurrent attacks preventive treatment may stop or decrease the severity of future attacks. Some medications help you to deal with your migraine that is originally developed to treat other illnesses like high blood pressure.
Consult a neurologist who has some good experience to treat pregnant women. They will prescribe you medication at the lowest amount that is necessary to support you. You can also consult with your clinical psychologist to discuss your triggers and their pain management.
