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Complications & Cesareans

Migraine Headaches and Pregnancy

Tips on Managing Headache Pain While Expecting

When Your Head Aches-Managing Migraines While ExpectingIf you have a prior history of migraine headaches, you're more likely to have migraines during pregnancy. It would be unusual, though – but not unheard of – to have a migraine for the first time during pregnancy.

Of course, if the headaches start during pregnancy, they'll likely continue after, according to Dr. Howard Derman, the director of the Headache Clinic at Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston, Texas.

Headaches early in pregnancy are common, caused by hormonal changes, sleep interruption and sometimes caffeine withdrawal.

Indeed, it is estimated that a quarter of reproductive-age women have migraines, according to Dr. Meghan Hayes, with Obstetric and Consultative Medicine at Women and Infants' Hospital in Providence, R.I. Over 80 percent of women in this demographic have headaches – with tension-type headaches being most common, followed by migraine. "Thus, we see migraines often in pregnant women," Dr. Hayes says.

What Causes Headaches?
Headaches early in pregnancy are common, caused by hormonal changes, sleep interruption and sometimes caffeine withdrawal, Dr. Hayes says. These, however, are most commonly tension-type headaches that will improve with rest, drinking more fluids, relaxation/stress reduction measures and acetaminophen if needed.

Caffeine withdrawal headaches tend to be migraines, with blood vessel spasm the culprit. But this pain can be avoided. Dr. Hayes says that consuming up to two cups of coffee or an equivalent caffeine source per day is acceptable during pregnancy.


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Migraine Headaches and Pregnancy

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Anonymous says
August 2, 2009

I thought I had a migraine when I was 9 weeks pregnant. I went 5 days unable to eat or drink anything, and going to the doctor. The doctor finally did a cat scan and found that I had a blood clot on my brain and immediately flew me to Swedish Medical Center where they did a procedure to remove 90% of the horendous clot and I was able to go home after 11 days in the hospital. I am now 24 weeks preg w/a healthy baby boy due in Nov. When I get a headache now, I worry that it is the blood clot reforming but I am on blood thinners now. If your headaches don't go away don't be afraid to keep bugging your doctor. It is your life and your babies at stake. The docs at the hosp did tell me that I could risk losing the baby at anytime because of the clot so my md has me in every two weeks (high risk) but that is fine by me.

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