When Your Head Aches

If 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.

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.

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.

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