Migraines While Pregnant: Causes, Symptoms, and Relief

Introduction

A pregnant woman’s body goes through all sorts of changes. Sometimes, it can mess up her head, too! Yes, we are talking about headaches, and not just simple ones, but the painful ones called migraines. The statistics say that women get migraines way more than men do. And guess what? Some moms-to-be actually feel better when they are pregnant. But not everyone is lucky! About 15 to 20 out of every 100 moms still get those annoying headaches. But why do these headaches occur? And what can a mom-to-be do when it comes? Let’s find out together.

Understanding Migraines During Pregnancy

Many pregnant women have migraine headaches, and over half of women find that their migraines happen less often in the last few months (second and third trimesters) of pregnancy. Some may not see any change, and some may even have severe headaches. But, mostly, migraines might get worse after birth, during the postpartum period. Although there can be severe, unusual pain with migraine headaches, which require urgent care, they do not harm the developing baby. All these changes in pain patterns occur due to fluctuations in the hormones, particularly estrogen.

What Causes Migraines During Pregnancy?

Being pregnant is like being a superwoman! There are a lot of changes happening! Let's find out why headaches or migraines occur during pregnancy.

• Hormonal Changes: Pregnancy involves hormonal changes! Especially estrogen and progesterone. During the first few months, estrogen levels go up and down, triggering headaches. During the second and third trimesters, the headache may come down in most of them, mostly due to the stabilization of these hormone levels.

• Blood Volume and Vascular Changes: Did you know that moms-to-be have a lot of blood? It helps the baby grow. Because there is a lot of blood, the blood vessels in the brain get bigger to handle it. This stretching out of blood vessels can squeeze the nerves, causing headaches.

• Other Triggers: Sometimes, it's not just blood changes or hormones that cause migraines. Other things can cause them, too, like not getting sufficient sleep, being stressed, not staying hydrated, eating certain foods like aged cheese and chocolate, exposure to bright, intense light, exposure to strong smells, and crazy weather changes.

What Are the Migraine Symptoms During Pregnancy?

So, how would you tell me the difference between a regular headache and migraine? Here is how you can figure it out. Regular headaches happen on both sides, are not too painful, go away quickly, and there is no nausea and vomiting. Whereas migraine symptoms during pregnancy are:

• Head pain is throbbing in nature, usually one-sided behind one eye.

• Vomiting.

• Nausea.

• Sensitivity to light, smells, and sounds.

• Fatigue.

• Dizziness.

• Some may experience an aura. So, what is an aura? It's like a warning sign that comes before the attack. Like seeing flashing lights, patterns, or blind spots.

Are Migraines an Early Sign of Pregnancy?

Yes, migraines can be one of the first signs that a mom-to-be can experience. It is all because of these crazy changes in the body, like blood and hormone changes. Migraines are so common among pregnant women that about 15 to 20 out of every 100 pregnant moms get them! Migraines usually show up more during the first trimester. They might get better during the second and third trimesters (but it is not the same for all). After the baby is born, the migraine may get worse again.

Safe Migraine Treatments During Pregnancy

Here are some safe ways to make those headaches go away.

• Placing a cold pack or damp towel on the head while lying down will alleviate the pain, as the cold pack constricts the blood vessels in the head.

• Dark rooms will help reduce migraines as they are sensitive to bright lights.

• Short naps by lying down can help alleviate migraines, and many people report that a half-hour nap stops the pain.

• Staying hydrated.

• Having good food.

• Relaxing the muscles around the back, neck, and head can release the pressure causing pain, and these relaxing exercises should be practiced after consulting the doctor.

• A special massage called prenatal massage can relieve muscle tension.

• Try acupuncture, which uses needles to release pain.

• Biofeedback (a type of mind-body technique) and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of psychotherapy) can also help manage migraines.

• Medicines should be carefully chosen that will help to treat pain, vomiting, and nausea.

• For mild to moderate pain in pregnancy, Paracetamol is the first choice treatment and has an excellent overall safety profile.

• If Paracetamol does not control migraine pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs might be recommended by a doctor in the first and second trimesters. It is very important not to use this drug after thirty weeks of pregnancy as it may affect the baby.

• Most medicines should be avoided in the first trimester, as they can pass through the placenta to the developing baby.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as Ibuprofen should be avoided.

• Medications such as Sumatriptan and opioid pain medicines such as Morphine to treat migraine headaches should be used only as directed by the healthcare provider. Pain relievers containing opioids are prone to have addictive side effects on pregnant mothers and babies.

Migraine Prevention During Pregnancy

Here are some cool ways that moms-to-be can follow to prevent migraine.

• Spot the triggers and avoid them. Keeping a migraine journal can help to note down the triggers.

• Consider taking supplements like Riboflavin and Magnesium. Consult your doctor before taking it.

• Eat well and exercise regularly.

• Get proper sleep like a baby.

• Try deep breathing, meditation, or some cool yoga moves.

• A massage may also help.

Risks Associated With Pregnancy Migraines

Though there is good news that migraines will not hurt the baby, they can cause problems during pregnancy.

• Preeclampsia: This occurs when the blood pressure gets super high and causes organ damage. It’s more so if the mom-to-be has migraines with aura.

• Eclampsia: It is a serious problem! Here, along with preeclampsia, there can be seizures or even a coma. Again, it’s more common with migraine with aura.

• Low Birth Weight: Some studies say that migraine can cause low birth weight in babies, but some are not conclusive.

• Preterm Labor: Migraines might make moms have their babies too early.

• Stroke: It is super rare, but it can occur.

When to See a Doctor for Migraines During Pregnancy?

Moms-to-be should see a doctor if they have:

• A bad headache that just won’t go away even with treatment.

• When a headache comes with vision changes, dizziness, fever, swelling, or pain in the abdomen.

• If it’s the very first time getting a headache.

• If blood pressure gets too high.

Conclusion

Migraine during pregnancy is pretty common! They usually happen because of changes in hormones and blood vessels. Migraine prevention is more difficult when the patient is pregnant. There is the possibility of complications during pregnancy with preventive agents. That’s why it is super important to talk to the doctor to discuss which is safe for moms and babies.

Key Takeaway From iCliniq

Pregnancy can be such an amazing journey. But, when one has migraines during pregnancy, it can cause a tough time. If you are facing many problems, do not worry; at iCliniq, the doctors can help you deal with them.