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Safe Tips to Treat Headaches During Pregnancy
If you're like most people, you tackle a headache with an over-the-counter pain reliever. Then you charge on with your busy life. If you're pregnant, though, the type of medication you can take is seriously restricted. It's a cruel irony, since some of the common hallmarks of pregnancy -- such as fatigue, low blood sugar, and hormonal mood swings -- can also trigger headaches.
In general, most headaches are considered tension headaches, and they're usually described as a tight band of pain around the head and sometimes at the back of the neck. Emotional factors (like stress) often cause them, but there's a wide range of physical causes too. Eyestrain (from poor lighting or sitting too long at a computer), for example, can bring on a headache. Sinus headaches (pain behind the forehead, cheeks, or the bridge of your nose) are less common, but they happen if an infection or allergy causes an inflammation that blocks mucus from draining into the nose.
Finally, there are migraine headaches. If you've endured them, you know that the word "headache" doesn't quite describe the debilitating pain, which is often associated with nausea or sensitivity to light or noise. A wide range of things can trigger migraines, including weather changes, menstrual cycles, and certain foods.
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Demerol is safe to take during pregnancy as a last resort. I have severe migraines so that is what he will give me during my pregnany. Dilaudid as another one but not as safe if you get them as bad as I do and nothing else works. Go to the ER and find a neurologist or go to a pain management clinic (not all are bad) and they can also help manage you pain during pregnancy.
5/23/2011 10:02:05 PM Report AbuseI am in my first trimester and have been suffering a lot of headaches. I found your article both informative and helpful. Thank You
4/5/2011 06:00:15 AM Report AbuseI think that REST is the key! Take care of yourself first. Ask your husband to watch the kids while you rest in quiet, dark room with a cold rag for your forehead. Also, make sure you eat regularly. Not eating CAN trigger a migraine attack. Avoid greasy,fried foods. Drink some orange juice. I don't know why it helps, but it does. ALSO, take some Tylenol. This is condsidered safe, but I consider it a last resort.
8/3/2010 05:42:15 PM Report AbuseI've been having severe migraines and have tried everything within pregnancy guidelines and still no relief and my dr seems to never be in whenever a migraine strikes what shuld I do?????
7/13/2010 03:23:32 PM Report AbuseThey just prescribed me Darvocet... said I could take 1-2 every 6 hours. I took one... passed out and woke up pain free! ...Well except for the kink in my neck... LOL Which was nothing compared to the headache... it was absolutely unbearable!
4/26/2010 11:07:49 AM Report AbuseSure, rest, go in a darkened room, apply ice packs as soon as you clean the house, make dinner, go to work and take care of the other kids?!???!!
4/6/2010 05:47:18 PM Report AbuseHead paining or headache during pregnancy stages it is known as migraine headache. Following are the factor: skipping meals weather changes, stress, hormonal factor etc. Most headache medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, doctor do not recommend for pregnant women. There are other factors to control headache such as relaxation and stress reduction, regular exercise, bed rest in a darkened room, apply an ice pack or cool cloth etc. For more information visit: http://www.allmothers.net
1/22/2010 06:39:57 AM Report Abuse