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What causes headaches in pregnancy?Headaches may be triggered by the changes that are happening in your body when you’re pregnant, such as shifting hormone levels and the increase in the volume of blood flowing around your body. They're very common, especially in the first trimester. Almost a fifth of expectant mums are thought to suffer from headaches or migraines (Peng et al 2018). Blood pressure changes may also trigger tension-type headaches. If you often had headaches or migraines before you were pregnant, you may have them more often in early pregnancy. But some women find that once they are pregnant, their migraine headaches are less severe and less frequent (Airola et al 2010). Tiredness, hunger, dehydration, stress, lack of fresh air and not having enough exercise may all affect how often and how badly you get headaches. If you’re trying to reduce your caffeine intake, your headaches may be a normal, but unpleasant, withdrawal symptom (Chawla 2018). Sinus congestion, which can cause a build up of pressure around the eyes, may also cause you to have a headache (NICE 2018). The good news is that most headaches improve or disappear after the first trimester (NHS 2018a). However, headaches in later pregnancy may indicate a more serious problem, such as high blood pressure. Tell your midwife or doctor if you have headaches in your third trimester, especially if they are at the front of your head or accompanied by flashing lights, sickness, sudden swelling in your fingers and ankles or pain in your right side. These could be symptoms of pre-eclampsia (NHS 2018a). How can I prevent headaches without medication?Rest and relaxation Get plenty of rest and try to take some time off work, if you can. Get an early night every now and then (NHS 2018a). Find time for relaxation, exercise, fresh air, and a change from your usual routine (NHS 2018a). Try gentle walking, swimming or pregnancy exercise classes. If you enjoy swimming, stick to strokes that don't flex your neck too much, as this could add to your headaches (Sampson 2017). Eating well Try to eat a healthy diet. Have a wide variety of unprocessed foods of all types and colours, to make sure you're getting a good balance of nutrients. If you’re suffering from morning sickness this may be difficult, so nibble on what you can. The aim is to not to let your tummy be empty for too long. Eat regularly to maintain your blood sugar levels, which may help to prevent headaches (Negro et al 2017). Have small meals more often if you can't manage a larger one. Keep some snacks in your bag, such as dried apricots or almonds, handy for when you're at work or on the move. Low levels of magnesium may cause or worsen headaches, so try eating foods that are rich in magnesium (Weatherspoon 2017). These include green, leafy, vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, asparagus or Brussels sprouts. Avocados, bananas, raspberrries, chickpeas, kidney beans and fish such as salmon, tuna or mackerel are also rich in magnesium (Weatherspoon 2017). Staying hydrated Try to cut down on caffeine. At first, this may make your headaches worse, but the symptoms should pass within a week. Fruit teas or naturally caffeine-free teas, such as rooibos (South African red bush), may be a good alternative to normal black tea. Green tea also contains caffeine, so avoid it if you’re suffering with headaches. Checking your posture Make sure the position of your chair, computer screen and car seat encourage good posture and don’t cause you to strain your neck, which can cause headaches (Sampson 2017). Check that your bed pillows aren't too high, as this may also cause neck pain (Sampson 2017). For driving, you may need to adjust the position of your rear-view mirror each time you get in the car. That's because your posture naturally changes during the day. How can I ease headache pain without medication?Once a headache develops, accept it and try to rest. A gentle walk in the fresh air or a nap may help. Alternating with coolness or warmth may also help to ease the symptoms. Place one of these over the area of your pain:
The same principle of using ice or heat applies to showers. Though not the nicest of prospects, a cold shower can stimulate your blood vessels and make them constrict, which may reduce the pain. A warm shower may also help. You could also try massaging your head, using a hair-washing motion, to work directly on the blood vessels in your head. If your headache is focused in one spot, try pressing very firmly on that area. Which complementary therapies can help with headaches?There's mixed evidence about how effective complementary therapies are for treating headaches. But you may want to try them, especially if you're reluctant to take painkillers while you're pregnant. Always talk to your midwife or GP first, and see a registered therapist who's experienced in treating pregnant women. Acupuncture and acupressure These therapies work on the principle that points in your body can be stimulated, with needles or through touch, to improve your symptoms. Acupuncture or acupressure may ease your headaches (Linde et al 2016). Acupuncture is a recommended treatment for both tension-type headaches and migraines (NHS 2016, Linde 2016). Aromatherapy Aromatherapy oils may help to relax you, which may ease your headache. Put two drops of peppermint or lavender oil on a tissue and breathe it in as often as you find it helpful. Or rub one drop of each into your temples on either side of your forehead. Be careful which oil you choose though, as some aromatherapy oils can cause headaches, especially if you use them in a room diffuser (vaporiser) or for too long a period of time. If you use a diffuser at home, use only one or two drops of the oil and only leave the diffuser on for a maximum of 15 minutes. If you find your headaches becoming worse, or more frequent, stop using any oils. Biofeedback This technique helps you to understand the functions in your body that you can't control, such as your digestion, or your blood pressure. Once you have information about those functions, you may be able to learn how to change the way they affect you (Andrasik 2010). During biofeedback, precise instruments measure physiological activity such as brainwaves, and feed the information back to you. Matching this information to how you were thinking, feeling and behaving at the time, may allow you to address your pain. The idea is that you will eventually learn to understand and deal with the pain without needing instruments to tell what's going on in your body. It's hard to say how effective biofeedback is, because there's been limited research into the treatment. During a biofeedback session, your therapist will guide you into deep relaxation, and help you to focus on your body. This technique in itself may help you to feel less stressed, which may improve your headaches (Marc et al 2011). Herbal remedies Most herbal remedies
traditionally taken for headaches, such as tiger balm and feverfew, are not safe in pregnancy (Pareek et al 2011). Don't take evening primrose oil in pregnancy, as it may trigger contractions and even cause premature labour (Wilson 2016). Homeopathy There's no evidence that homeopathic treatments work, but if you want to try them, consult a qualified, registered homeopath before taking any homeopathic remedies. Osteopathy and chiropractic Osteopathy and chiropractic aim to realign your muscles, bones and joints. They are particularly helpful for back, shoulder and neck pain, which may in turn help to ease headaches (NHS 2018b, Skarica 2018). Reflexology Reflexology is a complementary therapy in which the feet are thought to represent a map of the body. It uses specific techniques in massaging the feet to treat particular conditions. If your headache is caused by stress or tiredness, reflexology may help to make you feel less stressed and improve your sleep, which may ease your headaches (Imani et al 2018; McCullough et al 2018). If you have a minor headache, you could try this simple reflexology technique yourself. Use the big toe on the same side as the pain in your head:
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Don't forget to download our free app for a day-by-day guide to your pregnancy. My Pregnancy & Baby Today gives you all the expert advice you need, right at your fingertips. ReferencesAirola G, Allais G, Castagnoli Gabellari I, et al. 2010. Non-pharmacological management of migraine during pregnancy. Neurol Sci. 31(Suppl 1): S63-5 Andrasik F. 2010. Biofeedback in headache: an overview of approaches and evidence. Cleve Clin J Med. 77(Suppl 3): S72-6 Bumps. 2019. Use of wintergreen oil in pregnancy. Best use of medicines in pregnancy. www.medicinesinpregnancy.org Imani N, Shams SA, Radfar M et al 2018. Effect of applying reflexology massage on nitroglycerin-induced migraine-type headache: A placebo-controlled clinical trial. Agri. 30(3):116-122. Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B et al. 2016.Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016(6): CD001218. Marc I, Toureche N, Ernst E, et al. 2011. Mind-body interventions during pregnancy for preventing or treating women's anxiety. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (7): CD007559 www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com [Accessed November 2015] McCullough JEM, Liddle SD, Close C at al. 2018. Reflexology: A randomised controlled trial investigating the effects on beta-endorphin, cortisol and pregnancy related stress. Complement Ther Clin Pract. ;31:76-84 NHS. 2016. Acupuncture – evidence, clinical trials. NHS, Health A-Z NHS. 2018a. Headaches in pregnancy. NHS, Health A-Z, Your pregnancy and baby guide. www.nhs.uk NHS. 2018b. Osteopathy – evidence, clinical trials. NHS, Health A-Z NICE 2018. Sinusitis. Last updated June 2018. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. www.nice.org.uk [Accessed February 2020] Negro A, Delaruelle Z, Ivanova T, et al. 2017. Headache and pregnancy: a systematic review. J Headache Pain 2017 Oct 19;18(1):106 Pareek A, Suthar M, Rathore GS and Bansal V. 2011. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.): a systematic review. Pharmacogn Rev. 5(9): 103-110. Peng W, Lauche R, Frawley J, Sibbritt D et al. 2018. Utilization of complementary and alternative medicine and conventional medicine for headache or migraine during pregnancy: A cross-sectional survey of 1,835 pregnant women. Complement Ther Med. 41:192-195 Sampson S. 2017. Cervicogenic Headache. Healthline. www.healthline.com [Accessed February 2020] Skarica B.2018. Effectiveness of Manual Treatment on Pregnancy Symptoms: Usefulness of Manual Treatment in Treating Pregnancy Symptoms. Med Arch. 72(2):131-135 Weatherspoon D. 2017. Magnesium for Migraines. Healthline. www.healthline.com [Accessed February 2020] Wilson DR. 2016. Does Evening Primrose Oil Safely Induce Labor?. Healthline. www.healthline.com [Accessed February 2020] How do I get rid of a headache in my second trimester?To prevent or relieve mild headaches during pregnancy without taking medication, try the following:. Avoid headache triggers. ... . Include physical activity in your daily routine. ... . Manage stress. ... . Practice relaxation techniques. ... . Eat regularly. ... . Follow a regular sleep schedule. ... . Consider biofeedback.. What foods help pregnancy headaches?To keep your blood sugar at an even keel, take in plenty of complex carbs (such as whole-wheat bread) and protein (such as almond butter). Consistently consuming this combination of nutrients keeps blood sugar stable and prevents related headaches from hitting you.
What makes a pregnancy headache go away?Try to eat well and drink plenty of fluids, especially if you are prone to morning sickness. Reduce your stress level. Try a massage or cold pack to help with tension headaches. If your headache is a migraine, rest in a cool, dark room with no noise, and try using warm or cold compresses or an ice pack.
What causes headaches in pregnancy 2nd trimester?The body experiences a large influx of hormones, along with an increase in the amount of blood. Rapid weight gain may also occur. Together, these changes may make certain types of headache, such as tension headaches, more likely. Some other pregnancy symptoms may also influence these headaches or make them worse.
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Headaches during pregnancy second trimester home remedies
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