Pregnancy Information
Headaches

Headaches and pregnancy seem to go hand in hand unfortunately and for many women the headaches can become unbearable.

You may find the frequency and severity of your headaches increase during pregnancy, especially if you were already susceptible to them pre-pregnancy.

No one really knows why headaches start in pregnancy but one of the main culprits are those good old hormones. As your body changes in pregnancy your hormones go on the rampage increasing the blood volume circulating around your body.

Headaches occur for all sorts of reasons during pregnancy but one of the vital signs to look our for is Pre-Eclampsia, this is caused by high blood pressure, protein in the urine and excessive amounts of fluids in the body.

If you develop this condition you may have to stay in hospital for a while so both you and your fetus can be monitored closely.

If you are suffering from headaches make sure you keep yourself well hydrated. Dehydration can trigger headaches so drink plenty of water or whatever you can manage. Just drink plenty.

Headaches - Helpful Remedies

Caffeine

Caffeine can be one of the main culprits to give you a thumping headache, try and avoid it, especially if you know it is a trigger.

Sleep

Lack of sleep can also increase the risk of headaches. Try and sleep or nap throughout the day, I know this can be hard especially if you are suffering from other pregnancy related symptoms as well.

If you are unable to sleep try and get plenty of rest and relaxation, preferably in a quiet room.

Food Triggers

Avoid certain types of food that are well known for headaches such as chocolate and processed food.

Keep a diary of what food you have eaten throughout the day and try to establish a pattern between when your headaches start to what you have eaten.

If a pattern emerges with the same types of food then eliminate them from your daily/weekly food intake.

Stay Cool

Try using a cool compress for tension headaches. Place the compress at the base of the neck and relax for a while.

Have a wash, yes I know this sounds silly but by splashing your face with cold water or taking a cold shower (although you may not fancy it), can actually help for a period of time.

The constricting blood vessels alleviate the headache.

As with all pregnancy symptoms your first point of contact must be with your doctors or midwife. Don’t be scared to ask them questions they are there to HELP.

They will give you qualified pregnancy information and diagnose your pregnancy symptoms.