Pregnancy headaches: What is the best treatment?

The article was consulted professionally by Specialist I Pham Thi Yen – Obstetrician and Gynecologist – Share99 Hai Phong International Health Hub.

One study found that up to 39% of pregnant women suffer from headaches during pregnancy and after childbirth. Although during pregnancy it is possible that pregnant women appear a different type of headache than normal, most cases of headache during pregnancy are not harmful.

Most pregnancy headaches are headaches (i.e., headaches that are not signs or symptoms of another pathology or disorder), or the following:

• Stress headache.
• Migraine attack.
• Cluster headache.

About 26% of cases of headache during pregnancy are stress headaches. Consult your doctor if you have a prolonged headache or migraine headache during pregnancy (or have a history of migraine). Some women with a history of migraine are less likely to appear than migraine during pregnancy. Migraine is also associated with complications that occur at the end of pregnancy or after childbirth.

A second headache during pregnancy is caused by another pathology, such as hypertension.

The manifestations of headache during pregnancy are very different, depending on each person, which can be:

• Vague pain.
• Pain at the beat.
• Severe pain in the first half or both sides.
• Pain in one or two eyes.

Migraine headaches may also have:

• Nausea.
• vomit.
• See the rays of light or flashes.
• Blind spots appear.

Consult your doctor about your headache case to get appropriate medication instructions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that pregnant women do not take aspirin and ibuprofen medications, as these painkillers can harm fetal development, especially when the drug is used during the first tri month of pregnancy. Usually acetaminophen is relatively safe when used to relieve pain in pregnant women, although some recent studies suggest acetaminophen may also have certain effects.

In addition, to relieve headaches without medication, pregnant women can try the following methods:

• Drink plenty of water every day.
• Increased rest.
• Apply with a cold ice bag.
• Use thermal patches.
• Relaxing massage.
• Practice physical exercise, stretching.
• Use natural essential oils, such as mint essential oil, rosemary essential oil or chamomile essential oil.

Headache during pregnancy is caused by many causes, and if the right cause is treated, it will solve the headache (instead of using common painkillers).

In the first 3 months of pregnancy

Stress headache is the most common cause of headache in the first 3 months of pregnancy, because at this stage the woman's body undergoes many changes. The following changes can be the cause of headaches:

• Changes in hormones.
• Increase the volume of the re cruiser.
• Weight changes.

Other common causes in the first 3 months of pregnancy include:

• Lack of water.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Stress.
• Lack of sleep.
• Discontinue the use of caffeine (e.g., people before pregnancy regularly drink a lot of coffee).
• Undernourishment.
• Lower blood glucose levels.
• Too physically seded.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Changes in vision.

Certain foods can also cause headaches in some people, and if it is determined which feed is the edicty, avoid using it. Foods that can cause headaches during pregnancy include:

• milk.
• Chocolate.
• cheese.
• Yeast blooms.
• tomato.

In the middle and last 3 months of pregnancy

Headaches in the last 3 months and 3 months of pregnancy can be caused by a variety of causes, including:

• Gain too much weight.
• Headaches caused by the position.
• Sleep too little.
• fast.
• Muscle tension and spasms.
• Hypertension.
• Diabetes mellitus.

When suffering from headaches in the middle and last 3 months of pregnancy, the woman should be aware because this may be a sign of hypertension. It is estimated that between 6% and 8% of pregnant women between the ages of 20 and 44 have hypertension in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that hypertension be controlled, if ignored, which can lead to serious complications for both the pregnant woman and the fetus, most commonly after the 20th week of pregnancy. Hypertension during pregnancy increases the risk of appearing:

• stroke.
• Pre-production.
• I don't like it.
• Lack of oxygen for the fetus.
• Premature birth.
• The placenta peels young.
• The child is born underweight.

Other causes of headaches in pregnancy

Other causes include bacterial infections and serious medical conditions:

• Sinus infections.
• Hypotension.
• Thrombosis.
• stroke.
• Cardiovascular diseases.
• Encephalitis, brain – meninges.

In general, pregnant women should see a doctor when there are any abnormal signs, not just headaches, to make sure everything is okay. Go to the doctor immediately if:

• fever.
• Nausea and vomiting a lot.
• Blurred vision.
• Prolonged headache; frequent pain.
• Severe pain.
• Fainting.
• Convulsions.

To prevent or relieve headaches during pregnancy without using the drug, pregnant women should:

• Avoid known causes of headaches.
• Proper daily physical activity.
• Balance life, manage stress well.
• Practice relaxation methods.
• Eat adequate nutrition, balance, drink enough water.
• Maintain sleep on time, enough sleep.
• Listen to the body and go to the doctor in a timely manner when there are abnormal signs.

At Share99 International Health Hub, there is a full maternity service as a solution to help pregnant mothers feel secure because there is a team of doctors throughout the pregnancy. When choosing a full-service maternity, a pregnant woman can:

• The process of pregnancy is monitored by a team of specialists
• Regular examination, early detection of abnormalities
• Package maternity for the convenience of childbirth
• Infants receive comprehensive care

Source reference article: mayoclinic.org and healthline.com