Pregnancy Headaches

Wow, 64 responses, that's the most I've ever seen! I had terrible headaches, ends up they were sinus headaches caused by the increase in mucus you get when you're pregnant. The doctor prescribed Fiorecet along with Sudefed. The Fiorecet is safe for the baby and the only thing that would take away the pain. Good luck!

I developed bad headaches that lasted from about 14-18 weeks. This is my first pregnancy and this has fortunately been the only symptom so far. My doctor also told me not to be afraid to take tylenol and he suggested coffee/caffeine too. I didn't find much helped either, but I was thankful that they only lasted a few weeks. I hope the same for you. Good luck!

Hi - it's possibly the hormones causing it and also less rest/sleep since you already have a baby (I experienced it too for the same reasons). If the doctor can't give you more than Tylenol, try doing yoga or stretching to relieve stress and take the knots out, hot showers, aromatherapy, whatever you can do that is homeopathic...and also there is this AMAZING massager that I bought out of desperation from Sharper Image called the Thumper. It was like $75 but worth every penney, and still does amazing things for taking away headaches, etc. a year later. Good luck. Pregnancy is not for the faint of heart (or head).

Hi,
I am so sorry you are dealing with headaches. They are terrible, I know. I have 3 children and had migraines with the 2nd and 3rd. How is your blood pressure? If it high(like mine was)that is probably a huge factor. Hormones don't help either. My midwife suggested that I try and lay off all caffeine and lower my sodium intake to see if that helped and it did a little. When you do get a headache though, try putting an ice pack on your head and laying down. Put a movie on or something so that your son will relax and you two can cuddle together. Perfect excuse to cuddle and get some rest :) Good luck and I hope they get better real soon.

K.

I have cronic headaches and had a few while pregnant. You can try putting an ice pack on your head where it hurts and try to lay down and get some rest when they are really bad. Tylenol taken with some hot coffee or tea can be helpful. That little bit of caffine will deliver the tylenol into your system faster. Its probably just hormone related so all you can do is treat the symptoms.

Good Luck and feel better.

L. K.

A.,
I had a baby boy when I was pregnant with my daughter and I had awful headaches for about a month. Unfortunately the only thing you can do is lie down with a lavender eye mask and take it easy for about 15 to 20 minutes. Perhaps your son can watch Baby Einstein or something. Since you can't take anything but Tylenol (which does nothing), the only thing you can do is try to have a little bit of relaxation time. Stress only makes it worse.
Hopefully, they will go away soon, just as they did for me.

Regards,
N. S.

Hi A.,
I experienced awful headaches as well. They were by far the worst experience during the entire pregnancy and labor! The only thing that helped me was sleep which would be more difficult for you since you already have a toddler to care for. Tylenol never helped me either. I put ice packs on the back of my neck as well. Sometimes it would help, sometimes it didn't. They did end though, and not too much further after where you are. Definitely try the ice packs on your neck. Good luck!

I had those headaches for both of my pregnancies. My doctor gave me a prescription for something that had both acetomitophine (tylenol) and a little caffeine. They definitely helped. Tylenol does nothing for me either. Ask your doctor again...tell him/her how debilitating they are and that it is difficult to take care of your other one. Mine were much worse and much more frequent the second pregnancy too! Good luck...you'll make it through!

I experienced the same thing and my doctor recommended lots of water. The headaches can be a sign of dehydration. I consumed a ton of water each day and the headaches disappeared!

I'm all excited. This is my first time responding to someone, but I've been reading for a few weeks.

I don't know what kind of headaches you're having, but mine have been really bad sinus ones. (I'm at 15 weeks with 1st baby.)

Finally found relief with a combo of cold air humidifier (make sure you keep the filter clean) and neti pot (saline solution in one nostril and out the other). If it's bad in the morning, I toss an ice pack on my face for 5 minutes before my shower and I can function.

Hope you feel better.

You may be dehydrated. I found that with my long history of migranes and headaches (pregnant or not), that it came down to me not drinking enough water. It really does ward them off!

I had terrible headaches too. I was told sometimes during pregnancy, your sinuses can cause you problems, which results in headaches. You can try cold compresses on your forehead, or an aromatherapy pillow that you can either freeze or put in the microwave. Foot massages also relieve headaches. Certain pressure points in the foot relieve headaches. I tried all these remedies and they helped.
Good Luck!

Congrats on #2, I received some pretty good headaches with my first and it was because I was anemic. I would ask your doctor if you are anemic and if you are you need to increase your Iron intake and take it with Vit-C (OJ) and no Calcium aroung that time. Vit-c will help the Iron absorb better and Calcium will prevent it, so no Milk or calcium fortified beverage when taking vitamins/Iron; however, CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

Dear A.,
I can totally empathise with you, because I had the same experience. Also, although tylenol is "safe", it is a drug, and if taken often and regularly may cause problems (affects the liver.) Besides, you say it doesn't help; (it never helped me either.) Pain killer medications typically aim to control the symptoms and not the cause. Here's the skinny.... try to find the cause of your headaches.

Now, I appologize in advance for the "lecture", but I'd like to share my knowledge, and I hope it helps you. Chiropractic may be the answer for you. It is the largest, drugless, alternative health care method in the world. And it's highly effective, safe and often can get to the root of the problem. Like any profession; medical, dental, legal or other, find a practitioner with a good reputation. Chiropractors use a variety of methods to correct misalignments to the vertebrae in the spine. Many are knowledgeable in diet, nutrition and exercise as well. Misalignments to the vertebrae may cause nerve pressure, muscle tightness or tension, headaches, back pain and many other problems. There are different causes of headaches and you may need help identifying the cause of yours.Your headaches may be caused by the hormonal changes going on in your body which alters the tone of blood vessels (and consequently blood flow) so you may be experiencing migraines. Changes in muscle tone can lead to neck and shoulder pain and tightness which trigers headaches. When muscles tighten, they pull the vertebrae (bones in your spine) out of alignment and put pressure on nerves, and related soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments and blood vessels (again, may cause migraine, or even a tension, stress headache.)Once your body gets in that cycle of headache and neck tension, it is hard to get out of it. (A chiropractic adjustment can stop that cycle, and it's so wonderful to be pain free.)Also, be sure your blood pressure is under control,(another cause of headache). (Yes, there is medication for that too, but if your curious ... Google online ..."University of Chicago study of Chiropractic and Hypertension"....suprising results!) Pregnancy also alters the tone of ligaments, causing many women to experience sacro-iliac pain, groin pain, back pain (but those changes are usually seen later in the pregnancy, and also respond very well to chiropractic care.)In biology class we've learned "structure determines function". Chiropractic adheres to this belief. If the structure is altered, so too will be the function, (and symptoms, usually pain eventually appear.) Sorry to be so long winded, but it seems like a possible solution that most people know so little about. For more information, you might want to contact the American Chiropractic Association at: www.amerchiro.org/

I hope you give it a try. Good luck.
A. F

I had really bad headaches when I was pregnant with my son in the winter. My Dr. said to try tylenol...which I did, of course it didn't even touch it. It got so bad, I called again. She said to try Sudafed (the real stuff you have to get from behind the counter, not the PE). Because of the pregnancy, everything swells, including your nasal passages, the pseudoephadrine helps. I took one (30mg) along with my usual dose of tylenol and my headache was gone within 30 min! I tried not to use it all the time, but when it was really bad, it worked! My son has no problems or after effects from the medicine either! Check with your Dr. first though!

A.,

You are at the classic week for headaches to begin. I had them earlier than that with my third who is 6 months old now but the doctors kept telling me the same thing until I got to where you are. Tylenol does nothing. I am with you! There is a prescription they can call in for you that is perfectly safe. It is kind of like aspirin free Excedrin. I only took them when I really needed to but they were a Godsend when I did. Ask your doctor and tell them you want the prescription! I had to ask 2 doctors before I finally got it and then I ended up switching practices. I ended up with a WONDERFUL doctor instead who always took very good care of me.

I am surprised at the responses that say there is nothing you can do! There is absolutely something you can do and too much caffeine and ANY aspirin are not good for the baby. Ask your doctor about the prescription and if they claim not to know of one, message me and I will get the name for you. It is widely prescribed as I found 4 other offices who all prescribe it and they are in two different states.

Hugs and hope you feel better,
L.

You can try iron. I always got iron headaches when I was pregnant and nursing and they would go away very quickly when I would take extra iron. Good luck.

My first instinct is that you need to drink more water. It doesn't take much to be dehydrated. And with your body working so hard to grow that beautiful baby, you need even more than you used to. I would recommend that you have a minimum of 10 glasses per day and see how that works. Also, be sure you are getting proper nutrition. I know how hard it it when you are tired and in pain and have another little one to take care of. Sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. Make sure you are taking a good multivitamin and getting a high protein breakfast. Keep eating small meals throughout the day. Try to make sure they are low on the glycemic index and that you are having a bit of protein at every meal. Get your fresh fruits and veggies. Pregancy is a lot of work on your body. With your new nutrition and staying hydrated, you are sure to feel better. Try to avoid medication if at all possible. it probably won't help anyway and you never know what small amount may pass to the baby. Not to mention that your organs are working hard now and you don't want to put more work on them than you have to (by making them try to filter the drugs).
Believe me, I know it is easier to pop a few tylenol. But for the long term health of your baby and of yourself, try the natural methods.

I had the same problem, and it was that I wasn't drinking enough water. I had to increase my intake to at least 80 ounces a day. It worked! My headaches went away. I hope it works for you too.

Also, in the beginning, I had bad headaches after giving up caffeine! Once it was out of my system, I was fine, unless I didn't drink enough water.

I had REALLY bad headaches as well. I was told my an acupressures specialist that there is a point on your thumb that you can massage that will take away the headaches... It is hard to describe in writing but look at your hand palm down. The outside part of your thumb, just below the nail is a bump that feels like a bone, this is where you will find the pressure point. Take the eraser on a pencil and rub along this spot until you feel the point of pain, and it will be pain. Apparently, with a headache comes pain in this pressure point. Massage this point with the eraser until the pain in your thumb is gone, with this pain gone usually is your headache. But with all Homeopathic medicine, you have to believe that it will be effective in order for you to really feel the effects. A lot of things are in your mental, and, relaxing and breathing you can make these things vanish.

I had horrible headaches during my second pregnancy - I'm not a person who ever got migraines, and I've never gotten one since - but I'm pretty sure they were migraines: accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light - sometimes they were so bad I couldn't do anything but lie down in a miserable heap, and like you I had another child to take care of, so it was scary. For me, it was mostly an early pregnancy thing, so thankfully I didn't have to dealwith them throughout the whole 9 (10) months, but the only thing I ever found to help was the Tylenol, and taking it at the very first sign of the headache. My only real tip is to get someone - babysitter, friend, parent - to come over to help on those days when your headaches are really debilitating... pretty obvious advice, I guess! If you do find the miracle cure - please post it!

I had them too. Usually from something smelly.
Have you tried a massage? I am a massage therapist trained & certified in pre/post natal massage and it can do a world of good. The tension from the added weight on your traps (from your breasts)can pull the muscles in the head and neck and cause excrutiating headaches that won't quit. I am in Newburgh, NY and would be happy to see you, but If that's too far you can go to AMTAmassage.org to find a therapist in your area who is trained. To be part of the organization they must have a license and continuing education credits. Good luck, I hope you feel better soon.
A. C

My Sister has had terrible Headaches during preganancy. There was no solution except to take tylenol. Headache did not stop untill 3rd trimester. Also we found the Headache got triggered by some foods which caused allergy and headaches. She got allergic to Garlic during the preganancy. Many a times staying on the computer or watching TV or Noise also started the Headache and at the first sign of headache, made sure that she took rest.
To ease the headache, keep the house very quiet, try to have a helping hand so your son can be watched when you get the Headaches and monitor every food that you eat so you can identify what is causing the headaches.

Hope this helps.

You are probably dehydrated. Try drinking an 8 oz. glass of water ever hour. This really helped me with the headaches and morning sickness. Good Luck!

So sorry to hear about the headaches, they really suck! I suffered those in my second trimester with my daughter. Yeah, I was only allowed Extra Strength Tylenol which didin't really help. Well, besides staying REALLY hydrated (I'm sure your dr has said that enough)you can try some caffeinated beverages like a coke or cup of coffee. The caffeine dilates the vessels in your head causing the headaches and reieves the pain. Small doses like that are within safe levels for the baby so don't be scared. Good luck!

Headaches are not uncommon in pregnancy as your homone levels increase and your blood supply doubles. Make sure you let you OB/GYN know about headaches as they can be a sign of blood pressure issues, gestation diabetis, irregular thyroid, anemia and more uncommon, stroke. Some woman who suffer from migraines find they are relieved during pregnancy and some experience them increased or for the first time. Keep a log of the frequency and duratin and keep the Dr. advised. If you think you are not getting adequate answers, make an appointment with a neurologist. Its always better to get it throughly checked out and at least give yourself peace of mind. Check your stress level too. Good Luck!

I have a history of migraines. They get so bad that I can't even move at all or I'm in serious pain. There are times they get so bad I'll throw up. Anyway, if it's migraines your having. Migraines are typically a headache in the same location (mine are behind my right eye) and it's a throbbing pain. Sometimes light or sound can make them worse. And sometimes your sense of smell increases making them worse (though for a pregnant woman you already have that problem). Movement will make them worse too. I know from experience that you can take Fericet (pronounced Fer, like pure, i, like it short i sound, cet, like set). It's a migraine med that is safe to take during pregnancy and nursing afterwards if you plan to do that. It is prescription only so you'd have to ask your doc for one.

Hi A.,

I am a genetic counselor and used to counsel patients about medications and safety in pregnancy. There are some medications in pregnancy that are safe to take, especially since you are past your first trimester. You can talk to your doctor about these medications, such as fioricet. If she realizes how this is truly making you not be able to function, I'm sure she'll prescribe you some. My sister had the same problem in her pregnancy and had a history of migraines, and fioricet helped her. Good luck.

I had terrible headaches around the same time with my last headache and they seemed to diminish greatly at @ 20 weeks - they are hormonal. Just try to drink a lot and l;ay down when your baby is napping even if it is only for 15 minutes. Good luck,
R.

Hi when I was pregnant with my son I use to get severe headaches I use to live on tylenol but it didnt work either. Try putting an ice patch on your forehead or see if your doctor will allow you to take exedrin. That is what I find works the best.

L.

hi..i have a 16 month old, and i am also 16 weeks along w/ my 2nd!! i've been getting the headaches too...what i find kinda helps is eating frequently, drinking a lot of water and trying as hard as i can to chill. i think they come from being so busy and tired! hang in there..good luck!

I had a few doozies myself while pregnant. The tylenol didn't do much but dull the pain. So I also rubbed peppermint oil onto my temples or anywhere on my head that the pain was piercing. It might sound a little hippy-dippy, but there is plenty of research to back up the claim (google it and you'll be happy to read for yourself). And you can find peppermint oil at Whole Foods!

I don't know if this would help you,but it did me. My doctor and make sure you ask your doctor first,told me to take a teaspoon of Milk of Magnesia (Phillips) and long beholed that did it for me. I only had the one pregnancy. Hopefully it will work for you!!

I used water, water, water, a little walking and stretching.

HI! I so sympathize with what you saying. I am at 14 wks with my second and had (another) horrible headache last night. I think the trick is catching them early. When I feel them coming on I take Tylenol, eat something substantive (for me that's some kind of starch), drink water and have about a little coffee (I usually have about 1/2 a cup). I also cut out things that strain my eyes like tv, computer, etc. This really helps curb it but you have to catch it early. Otherwise, I'm in bed and miserable until is goes away! Good luck -I know, it's horrible!

I had frequent headaches also and was popping tylenol (only thing we can take when expecting!) like crazy. The one thing helped me get through them was candy! I carried little pieces of candy with me everywhere....skittles, sour patch kids, m&m's, things like that. A little sugar always seemed to help. And drinking tons of water- couldn't get enough. Hope that helps! Congrats and good luck!

I had the same headaches and the same advice, "Tylenol and deal with the pain." I tried a lot of things like changing my diet and massage. The most effective remedies included: exercise (yoga and walking sped up the progress of the headache), more water and warm lemon water (just seemed to relax me, and reflexology and pressure points.

The last, reflexology and pressure points was something I got to when all else failed. I would use the pressure point between my thumb and index finger to do self pain alleviation. Finally I made an appointment with a reflexologist to work on my feet and teach me about how to get rid of the headaches early in the progress of the pain.

I can't promise that this will work for you, but I think it worked for me because I wanted the pain to stop and I kept looking for solutions. Best of luck to you and your pregnancy.

i had horrible headaches/migraines. it was all due to the hormones. i didn't want to take meds so i opted for alternative care. acupuncture, a friend recommended. wow what a difference. it took a few weeks and i got these little micro beads that have adhesive on them that i could massage in my ear should i get a headache. it is worth checking out!
good luck!
T.

Hi there
Boy do I know what you are going through. I thought that I was actually going to go insane. My family decided to do a 1 to 10, so that everyone was on board with how bad my head was. I woke up and went to bed with headaches for about 2 months. Finally I got a massage and went to the Chiropractor a couple of times. I had a ton of tension in my neck. It is hard to do all that we do while growing a little life in our bodies. My headaches just went away, but this week they came back to I went straight for a massage and tomorrow a chiro appointment. Meds didn't work for me either. I would go more holistic and tap into your body and where you might be holding energy. Good luck! S.

I had terrible headaches as well, and Tylenol did not help either, though that was what the doctor suggested. I tried to nap a lot when I had the headaches, and ultimately, they did go away sometime during the second trimester. Sorry I don't have any specific advice—just letting you know I experienced the same....

Do you have HIGH blood pressure?

this is what caused mine,

try some sugar, and vingar on a rag can help releive it aswell

M

Dear A.,

Ouch, I'm so sorry! Chances are it's just hormones and/or normal swelling, but just in case, *get your blood pressure checked.* Headaches can be an early warning system for elevated blood pressure, and it's great if you can catch it early enough to manage through safe, natural means.

Take care,

Mira

Hello,
I am pregnant with my fourth and this is the second pregnancy I have had debilitating headaches for. With my last pregnancy, the headaches were in the third trimester and ended up being preeclampsia, so when my current pregnancy began with a bang (major headaches - I missed many days of work - I couldn't even get out of bed - not easy with 3 under 4 years old) I was terrified it was high blood pressure again. So I went to the doctor and after all the tests to check for preeclampsia and many, many doses of Tylenol, tons of water, some caffeine, my doctor eventually said Excedrin Migraine was OK. (it has tylenol, caffeine and aspirin in it) I was very leery of taking aspirin in pregnancy, but the doctor assured me it was OK at this point. I was taking it almost daily for about a month. The headaches finally lessened until over the holidays (probably stress there), but I did have one doctor tell me the Excedrin was OK once in a while then too(I suffered it out as I was beginning my last trimester and I had already taken so much), but I do know that small doses of aspirin are sometimes prescribed for women later in pregnancy with different conditions and their babies are fine. Discuss your options with your doctor. Having another child at home makes coping with a headache that much harder. I'm sure there are options that you and your doctor can come to agreement on. Good luck!

This might help and it might not, I also have a two year old at home and am 5 months prego, are you drinking enough water??? I'm bad about this, and with a two year old (and a eleven year old) it's easy to be distracted and busy not realizing you've only had one glass of water all day.... and being dehydrated will give you a wicked headache, the baby will draw all the hydration it needs reguardless of how much you've taken in. Food for thought. Congrats and
best wishes for a better pregnancy and great delivery.

Hello, It's nice to hear I'm not alone. I am 18 weeks and this is my third pregnancy and I did not go through this with the first two. What I have done that seems to help is try to avoid fryed or salty foods and drink a lot of water. I also make sure that I eat all day. I was getting them everyday around 2 in the afternoon and they would last until I went to bed and nothing seemed to work once they came. Now I just pay attention to my body a little bit more. (I know it's hard with another child and I work full time!) I will eat a lot of fruit, yogurt and peanuts for snacks all day and not big meals. I drink a lot of water. I also notice that they are better if I turn the heat down. I think they are because of hormones so I'm not expecting them to go away, I just try to get them to be managable. Good Luck with the rest of your pregnancy, do you know what your having yet?

I'm so sorry to hear of your headaches. I had headaches with my second as well (now 3 months old) and they really are debilitating. My final assessment of my headaches were 1) I'm exhausted! You're body is working over time and, unlike last time, you cannot rest when you want. 2) I miss my coffee! I do think some of my headaches were a result of caffeine withdrawal. 3) Hormones wrecking havoc! There are elements of our pregnancies beyond our control. Thankfully pregnancy is not permanent!
In short, my headaches usually subsided when I allowed myself to rest. I did whatever I needed to just to nap when I needed. The DVD player became my best friend. I would lay on the couch while my daughter watched her favorite movie (she was then 22 months) or called a friend to take her for a play date while I rested. I also forced myself to nap when she napped. Usually that was my "time to do my stuff" time; but, my body really needed the rest. I usually woke up with no headache. I would also allow myself to drink a small cup of coffee or diet coke at the onset of a headache. Sometimes this helped curb the headache. I wish you all the best and hope headaches are the worst memory of this pregnancy.

i too had horrible headaches (migraines and tension headaches) during my pregnancy. also tylonol NEVER did anything for me, other then taking care of fevers. the dr. had said to limit my caffeine intake, and i completely stopped (other then chocolate lol) so i had to assume (and i think the dr. too) that the headaches were mostly, not completely, caused by the lack of caffeine being that i used to drink tons of soda, and eat a bunch of chocolate. the dr. told me that if i had the headaches really bad, to try drinking a cup of soda WITH caffeine in it...but to try to not drink too much because it was still not that great for the baby, BUT that caffeine does wonders for headaches. she also told me that with most meds for migraines the active ingredient that actually helps get rid of (or sooth) the pains from the headaches is CAFFEINE. i would call up your dr. and ask if that could be a possibility of helping you. just mention that the tylonol doesn't work for you, and you don't want to take any meds that may hurt the baby. also, remember that each child is different, as well as each pregnancy. my friend is having her 3rd child, 2 boys, this one's a girl and she said that this pregnancy is HORRIBLE! cramping, spotting, pains EVERYWHERE yet the other 2 pregnancies (boys) were 'cake'. congrats, and good luck...hopefully a little bit of caffeine (or some of the other suggestions) will help!

I'm pregnant too & have some non-medicinal suggestions: Are you suffering from caffine withdrawl? I sometimes get a bad headache if I have no caffine at all. I know they say "no caffine once you're pregnant" - but a little bit won't hurt you or the baby. A little bit of chocolate or coffee will go a long way! Or drink some extra milk or take an extra calcium suppliment - calcium is recommended for muscle cramps. Or it maybe a cluster headache, commonly referred to as a migrane. I get them on occasion & they are horrible! I was getting them more often early on in my pregnancy too - probably the surge of hormones. What works for me is a heating pad. I put it on a med to low setting & wrap it over my head, like a weird bonnet. The warmth causes the muscles in my head to relax & the tension subsides & so does the pain. My friend who also suffers from cluster headaches says it is cold that works for her - she curls up with ice packs. So figure out which works for you & put a movie in for your son, dim the lights & curl up on the couch with him and relax for a bit! And remember to nap when he does!! Drink plenty of water! It will get better! Good luck!

I had migraines with all 3 of mine.I ended up seeing a neurologist and the only thing he could offer was caffeine. Which for me was a small can of coke and my own little remedy that helped oddly was "Munchos" potato crisps (they really were about all I could keep down any way.I just remember I also too Claritin (the one with pseudophed in it). Back then it was prescription , you can probably get it without one now, but it's probably behind the counter now with all these kids turning pseudophed into street drugs). Good luck.

Hi A.,

Like Dianna, I suffer from migraines, and I've had a few during my pregnancy. My OB gave me a prescription for Tylenol with codeine which is apparently safe to take during pregnancy, and it's helped some. Generally I just need to crawl into bed and sleep it off, which I know won't be easy for you with a 20-month old.

Good luck! Hope you find relief!

A.-
I too suffered from really awful headaches during both of my pregnancies (I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old). I was able to take Tylenol and that did help me a bit, but not much. A friend of mine suffers from migranes that seemed to only get worse when she was pregnant and she tried a holistic chiropractor that seemed to help her a bit. Have you looked into any holistic medicines/treatments? I know that I have seen special teas in the health food store. I wish that I could offer you more specific advice, because when you aleady have one and are execting a second there is no opportunity to "just put your head down for a little while". Hope the headaches dissipate and you can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. Congrats.
Risa

Stay hydrated and get your blood pressure checked. If BP is fine, then tell the OB/GYN that you have taken their advice but received no relief from the terrible headaches with tylenol.

They may be able to give you a small dose of vicodin. I couldn't take the tylenol 3 medication. It is codeine and tylenol and it seemed to contribute to the headaches. Vicodin at a low dose - like one 5 mg. pill or two at the most maybe per day should be safe to use during pregnancy at 16 weeks along but I am not a doctor, this is just info. that has been told to me. So check with your own doctor about this matter and good luck.

I had a similar experience. I used Cranial sacral Massage therapy.I went every 2 weeks! It worked amazing and it was all natural!
Good luck!

I also had terrible terrible headaches (almost daily) until about 22 weeks (I was due in July too and they stopped almost right around the middle to late February) and they completely went away in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. I was worried they would come back but they never did! My doctor recommended a little caffeine and that helped a bit until they subsided for good. Hang in there!!!

try tylenol with a can of coke and a LOT of water. ice packs to the head help sometimes too

A., if you have no allergies to Magnesium Oxide (a natural minieral we all have), try taking two tablets a day in the morning (of course check with your Dr). I suffer from chronic pain which produces migrains as well and this is what my Dr. put me on. She said that the body if it does not have enough of the MO it can produce migrains. Be blessed.

Hi, I am so sorry that you are experiencing these headaches. Have you tried yoga? There are several poses that help with headaches and can be modified for pregnant women if need be. The poses I know that help headaches are seated forward bend, wide leg standing forward bend, downward dog, and right angle pose. Give them a try. Also deep breathing can help. Take 5 minutes while your son is sleeping and concentrate on your breath with your eyes closed. Good luck.

I had wretched headaches during my entire first trimester. Boy does that suck! The only thing that helped me was going to the chiropractor, getting massages and getting acupuncture. Sometimes just one of those things would work. Other times, I needed the full compliment of services. I hope your headaches go away soon.

I had terrible headaches with my first. My doctor recommended Execedrin Tension - it is the aspirin free version. The combination of the caffeine and the acetometaphon really worked for me. I wouldn't take it in the first trimester, but after that it should be OK as long as you don't take it every day. You could also just try a cup of coffee but I can't stand coffee.

Hi A.!

Girl I know what you are going through. I sufferered with headaches also with my first pregnancy. Unfortunately your MD is right about taking Tylenlol....that really doesnt help...but its safe. You can try an ice pack on your head plus relax with the lights out with a little peace and quiet in bed. Also try rubbing the sides of your temples gently in a circular movement see if that helps. If you are eating foods high in sodium try to cut back. Good Luck!!
R. B

Dear A.,

Just generally speaking, I wonder if you drink sufficient water daily. Dehydration is the #1 cause of headaches in the U.S. - your body requires at minimum those recommended 8 glasses of 8 oz. daily. In pregnancy, your blood volume increases up to 40% by the full nine month period. One must intake sufficient water to assist with this process. In addition, a woman's body works much harder and more efficiently to remove metabolic wastes - both those her body generates, and those generated by her baby. Water is the most important flushing agent for your kidneys in removing these wastes.

Please note, if you are considering juice, coffee, tea, or any other liquid as sufficient, that the kidneys react to all non-water liquids as food substances. It takes 2 cups of water to clear 1 cup of another fluid through your kidneys completely. You can corroborate this info online or with your medical professional. It's worth your time to explore it.

Though being a SAHM is a workout in itself, it is important also that you MOVE your body. Walking is the best overall exercise you can do to keep yourself together. Mall walking, pushing your 20 month old in a stroller, is a good alternative in cold weather. You will move blood and lymph, release trapped energy (a big cause of headaches), get a new landscape in your day, strengthen your muscles, improve your breathing patterns - and help your baby's oxygen intake - and assist your body in releasing metabolic wastes more efficiently - all by walking!

There are also Pregnancy Yoga cards available, which you can purchase and work on at home, at your leisure. Many of the positions strengthen your pelvic platform (handy at birthing time), release tightened muscles in your neck and back, and relieve that nagging lower back pain, too. Pregnancy yoga classes can be found online, also, if you wish to work in a
group.

As a massage therapist, I also recommend receiving a calming, peaceful pregnancy massage. It works wonders!

One more thing to consider is herbal teas and combinations to support you hormonally and physically. Susun Weed's book, named something like "Herbs for the Childbirthing Year" (Maybe not quite the title,but you can find it) is a goldmine of rememdies for the pregnant woman, the new baby and the nursing mom.

Good luck to you, and I hope this proves helpful to you.

F. B
NYS L.M.T. and Reiki Master

Hi,
My best friend went through the exact same thing. Her headaches would be so bad that she would have to pull over her car on the side of the road. She too had a little one at the time. Unfortunately aspirin doesn't do much for this. She really wasn't able to find much of a rememdy except to try and quiet her mind and meditate. Hers started around her 4th months or so as well. I sympathize with you. I was sick 7 of the 9 months I was pregnant. Just know that you will get through this. I wish I could have been of more assistance.

K

One of my girlfriends has suffered from migranes for years - when she was pg, her doctor had no problem with her (occasionnally) taking Excedrin for Migranes. Check with your OB/midwife to see what she thinks.

A.,
I suffered with headaches with ll three of my pregnancies. With my first I just dealt with it and pushed on. With my second I was actually good friends with my OB so she gave me an off the record suggestion. She told me to take 2 Tylenol and a can of coke. She tol me that the caffeine in a can of coke every now and then is really not a problem. I am not sure how you feel about this, but I trie it and it worked. I did it with my second and third pregnancies, th headaches went away and the babies were fine!!! my sister-in-law on the other hand was on prescription headache meds and I personally would rather expose the baby to a little caffeine than prescription pain meds!!! - Good Luck!!!
C.

I am a chiropractor in New York City and I see this ALL the time!! I have great results with these type of symptoms and don't have reservations about getting adjustments while you are pregnant. It is GREAT for the mom and GREAT for the unborn child!! I don't know where you live but I would def suggest hunting down a good chiropractor and relief will be right around the corner!!
Dr S.
PS I am listed in the businesses on this website.

Really try and stay hydrated. Drink as much as you can almost until you are sick of drinking (water and if need be something with a little caffeine) Just some advice that seemed to help me. Hope that helps.

I had terrible headaches my first trimester. My doctor prescribed Fiorocet (sp?) which is safe to take during pregnancy. However, I also rubbed Tiger Balm (also safe during pregnancy) into my temples and it took the edge off.

Yoga! I teach prenatal yoga and I cured one of my student's migraine headaches. If you have a good teacher who knows which poses are good for particular anatomy or ailments in the body, you will feel a lot better. And if you're in Brooklyn, email me offline and maybe you can come to my class.

M.

I had really bad headaches during my pregnancy and it was a symptom of high blood pressure which eventually led to preeclampsia. Has your doctor been checking your pressure?

I nearly die each time I am pregnant with horrible headaches. Thankfully, it usually only lasts the first trimester. Get off the caffeine, use heat packs on your head. I like the ones with herbs in them, that you can stick in the freezer or microwave. Try going to a chiropractor, and STRETCH! Yoga, stretching after hot baths, all that stuff really helps because some of it may be sinus/ tension that really is alleviated by stretching and deep breathing. Try facial massages around the eye sockets and cheeks. Unfortunately, most of it is caused by hormones due to your pregnancy. There is a condition called "Rhinitis of Pregnancy", which basically means "chronic stuffed up head". Hope some of this helps!

Hi - my daughter gets bad headaches when her blood pressure
is up. Have you had a problem with blood pressure?? My
daughter is 8 months pregnant and this started about 6 weeks
ago.

Hi, I'm 5months going to school and the truth is I guess you have to ride it out that's the best advice I got Sorry if that dose'nt help but I also get those very bad headachs and somtimes right in the middle of class.

When I was pregnant with my triplets, I suffered from severe headaches. They found that I was very anemic. They gave me iron pills,vey high dose, and that did the trick. Good Luck.

I had neuralgia during my prgnancy.That is where the whole side of your face,head and down your neck are in pain.I put a warm compress on it.Now that I'm older I know that some foods can trigger the headaches.Are your headaches migraine in nature or sinus,which can hurt just as much?

The only thing I found that helped me was saline spray. I'm really not good with nasal sprays, but my Dr. told me to try it and it really worked. It's just plain old saline, so it's not bad.

A. - Call the doctor. Let her know it is not working <taking tylenol> call her today. Call her daily if necessary. If she doesn't change or give you a reason for the headaches GET A NEW DOCTOR.

Please ~ Dont' wait.

<hope you feel better soon>

Hello A.,
Not to alarm you if your doctor says everything is fine, it most likely is. However, my questions to you are, How long have you been having these headaches for? and have you had an ultrasound since they started? If you've had an ultrasound since they began and the baby is thriving than there is no need to worry (there are other much less serious reasons for headaches). If you have not had an ultrasound since the headaches began I would schedule one today. In rare cases the headaches are a side effect of the baby not thriving in the utero (a problem with the placenta)...but they would be able to tell right away if that was the case with an ultrasound. I am not a doctor but my friend experienced these severe headaches and that was the reason. If you have that concern (and you havenot had an ultrasound since they began) just call your doctor and say you have this fear and need to see the baby. Ask them to check the growth of the baby to make sure it is thriving. Sorry to tell you this as a small possiblity but it is better to be safe than sorry. Hope this was helpful.

Hi A.,

If you have a chiropractor near you, then I highly recommend that you visit one. They have special tables for pregnant women. My D.C.D. helped me a lot and now I rarely get headaches. If you're not comfortable with this, you could try seeing an acupuncturist. That works great on headaches and they can show you trigger points to touch to relieve the pain.

Did your doctor check your blood pressure? Maybe you could get a second opinion.

Last, I sell natural products from the Shaklee Corporation that can give you relief from your headaches. They are safe to take during pregnancy. I don't recommend Tylenol even though it's approved during pregnancy.

Meanwhile, try puttin icepacks on your head where the pain is and behind your neck. That used to help me a lot.

I wish you a safe and pleasurable pregnancy.

Hi!
You might want to try a chiropractor. I didn't suffer too badly with headachs, but have had friends that did. Many got relief from an adjustment.