Migraines During Pregnancy
With all the aches and pains of pregnancy, do we really need to add migraines to the mix? The truth is two thirds of all migraine sufferers will find that their migraines actually improve while they are pregnant. For the rest of you, there is still good news; women who suffer from migraines do not have a higher risk of pregnancy complications than women who don’t.
We don’t really know what causes migraines. What causes a migraine in one person may not cause a migraine in someone else. Some people have found food to be a trigger, while in others it may be environmental like flashing lights or strong smells. The best thing you can do is to keep a journal of every migraine, this will help figure out what causes your migraines and hopefully limit or get rid of them later. In your journal you should include what you ate for 24 hours prior to your migraine, how long it lasted, how bad it was, where it hurt, any change in environment, and finally, any treatment you tried and how successful it was.
There are some foods that are known triggers and while you may not find that they are for you, it is best to be aware of them while you are trying to figure out your specific triggers. The list of foods is quite long but it includes; chocolate, red wine, cheese, soy sauce, MSG and nitrates like those found in processed meats. Chili peppers have capsaicin which is apparently a bad thing. This is where your journal can help you narrow down your list, no one wants you to give up any food you don’t have to.
Stress has a huge effect on migraines and while it may not be possible to get rid of stress entirely, there are a lot of things you can do to minimize stress. Regular exercise can help reduce stress and stimulate blood flow. Walking is great for pregnant women and an added bonus is the swinging of your arms can start to relax the muscles in your neck and shoulders, which is good for tension headaches. Massage is extremely helpful if you can talk someone into it and acupuncture has had success with some people.
When you feel a migraine coming on it is best to lie down in a darkened room. You can put a cold towel on the back of your neck or a warm towel on your forehead and face. Most pregnant women can still take acetaminophen (which is the drug found in Tylenol) but not aspirin or ibuprofen, it is best to ask your doctor what is safe for the fetus. Whatever you take, it is most effective in the first two hours of your migraine.
And finally, if you are still having migraines in your second or third trimester you should have your doctor check for Preeclampsia, a rare but serious disorder that lists severe headaches as one of its symptoms.
