Migraine During Pregnancy: Causes, Treatments & When to Worry

Pregnancy can cause a lot of hormonal changes in a woman's body. It truly messes with one's brain. In addition to mood alteration and brain fog, it is also common to experience migraine during pregnancy. In a migraine, there is a throbbing pain on one side of the head. It feels like a pounding drum beating on the back of the eye. This makes it impossible to continue with the daily routines. It is known that about 20% of women experience migraines during pregnancy.

Any form of headache during pregnancy is not a risk. However, it can lead to discomfort. In the long run, it may affect both the child and the mother. Here is everything that you should know about migraine during pregnancy and ways to tackle them.

Causes of migraine during pregnancy

Migraine headache during pregnancy is seen to run in families. Usually, some form of trigger factor causes it. These trigger factors vary among people. It is seen more during the first trimester due to unstable hormones.

These are some of the factors that cause migraines during pregnancy:

• Unstable hormones

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• Increase in blood volume during the first trimester.

• Not getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep

• Stress

• Not drinking enough water

• Certain foods, like chocolate, cheese, wine, and processed foods containing flavour powders.

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• Exposure to sunlight and fluorescent lighting

• Strong smells can be any kind of smell

• Sudden weather change

Symptoms of migraine during pregnancy

For a lot of women, migraine is the most difficult part of pregnancy to diagnose. Estrogen level fluctuation is known to be one of the causes.

• Severe throbbing, one-sided headache. behind one eye. But the pain can migrate to other regions.

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• Vomiting sensation

• Sensitivity to sound and light

• Vomiting

Treatments for migraines that are safe during pregnancy

Finding a safe treatment for migraine during pregnancy can be challenging because pregnant women are not supposed to take any form of medication without a prescription from their doctors. However, when the pain sets in, finding a source of relief is of the utmost importance. For that purpose, the remedies for migraine during pregnancy are divided into home remedies and OTC medications.

Home remedies for migraine during pregnancy

These methods can be tried out first before depending on medications.

• Identify the trigger.

• Drink adequate water. Sleep well.

• Reduce stress by meditating.

• Stay away from foods and smells that trigger

• Hot/cold compress help. The use of either of these methods depends on the individual.

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• Stay in a dark, quiet room as and when the attacks set in.

Medications for migraine during pregnancy

If the home remedy is not fruitful, This is how to get rid of migraines during pregnancy.

These medications are safe to be taken during pregnancy. But they have to be taken under the guidance of a physician.

• Acetamnimophen

• metoclopramide

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• NSAIDS like advil and paracetamol during the 2nd trimester

You should avoid taking the following medications for migraine during pregnancy:

• Full-dose aspirin is not recommended for pregnant women. This is because it can cause miscarriage and bleeding.

• Opioids can lead to stillbirth, preterm babies, and birth defects

Does having a migraine affect the pregnancy's outcome?

Migraine and pregnancy, although related, do not cause any harm to each other or the child. In very rare instances, birth complications such as the following can be seen.

• C-section delivery

• Baby with low birth weight

• Due to high blood pressure, preeclampsia

• These complications also could be due to various other factors. These unveil throughout the pregnancy.

• The medications consumed to control migraines, if inappropriate, can cause harm to the baby.

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How is an acute migraine attack handled during pregnancy?

An acute attack of migraine during pregnancy can be treated using the home remedies mentioned above. A healthcare provider should be contacted if the pain is severe and disrupting everyday tasks. Effective therapies will be provided based on the pregnancy's stage.

In the postpartum phase, how are migraines treated?

Here, the question is whether taking migraine medicine may affect breastfeeding. The use of drugs like paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc., is advised. These are safe to take. They are not prohibited during breastfeeding.

How to get rid of migraine during pregnancy?

First, find out what causes migraines. Once the trigger has been identified, if it is possible to avoid it, it must be. When there is no clear cause, it is best to visit a doctor and obtain the necessary medications. If a woman is always stressed out, a good place to start is with some pregnancy exercise and yoga.

Migraine during pregnancy is not something often spoken about. But a lot of women who go through this do not recognise the cause. It is important to notice the signs and symptoms early on and get the required help. No one has to go through this alone, as it can always be treated without any harm to the mother or the baby.