headaches and pregnancy
Will My Headaches Get Worse During Pregnancy?
As many as 15% of all women see an increase in the number of migraines during the first trimester of pregnancy. Why is this? During this time hormone levels in your body, specifically estrogen, will rise rapidly. Many migraine sufferers are sensitive to fluctuations of any kind in hormone levels – this is not a sign of hormonal abnormality. The good news is that for most women, headaches and migraines decrease significantly during the second and third trimesters as hormone levels stabilize.
What Can I Do to Treat My Headaches and Migraines?
If you are planning on getting pregnant and currently take medication of any kind – over-the-counter or prescription, your best course of action is to speak with your doctor. Many medications carry risks for pregnant or breastfeeding women, especially commonly prescribed medicines for migraines such as triptans and pain relievers. Even Aspirin and Advil have been known to cause problems with pregnancies. Only Tylenol is considered safe for periodic use. Just keep in mind that in high doses Tylenol is toxic and kills thousands of unknowing people every year. Be sure to always follow the instructions on the label of any medication.
The best course of prevention, although not always the easiest, is to avoid your personal migraine triggers. This is your best alternative as your options for aborting a migraine once it begins are more limited. If you do not already know your personal migraine triggers, then it is recommended that you start keeping a “migraine diary” so that you can spot important trends in your attacks. Common triggers include (but are not limited to) certain foods and food additives, strong smells, chemical exposure, dehydration, poor sleep, stress, bright lights, and loud repetitive noises.
Make sure that you avoid any “natural treatment” that has not been approved by your doctor. Just because a substance is natural doesn’t make it safe. Even common vitamins such as Vitamin A can be damaging to a developing fetus.
Be sure to avoid the following herbal supplements while trying to conceive, pregnant, or nursing:
- Melatonin (can prevent conception)
- Butterbur root (not safe in many cases as it requires special processing to remove cancer causing agents)
- Feverfew (not safe for pregnant or nursing women, or children under two years of age)
What is Safe for Headaches and Migraines During Pregnancy?
Only your doctor can tell you for sure but many women have luck using magnesium supplements for migraine prevention, as well as biofeedback, and ice massage. Make sure you also stick to a regular sleep schedule, eat plenty of healthy fresh foods, and exercise regularly.
Keep in mind that safety data is being updated all the time. Here are three websites that I rely on for current information:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/pregnancy-medicines.cfm
http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/WomensHealthResearch/ucm134848.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pregnancy.html
Safety data on medication usage during pregnancy is divided into pregnancy risk categories ranging from A, B, C, D, and X by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (here in the United States.) Only drugs in category A have been proven to be safe. Drugs in categories B and C show uncertainty either towards the positive or negative, and categories D an X show positive evidence of fetal risk.
Some abortive medications such as Fioricet and Lortab can still be used on a limited basis during pregnancy.
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