Women tend to get migraines more often than men (probably from all the stress of our daily lives ;)).
*What is a Migraine:
A migraine headache usually starts out dull and then eventually becomes a throbbing constant pulsating pain in the temples, front of the head or base of the head. Migraines are sometimes but not always accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Some people may experience an aura. An aura is wavy or jagged lines, or dots of flashing lights. You may also experience tunnel vision or blind spots.
Migraines themselves are not harmful to a pregnant woman or her baby, however you should ALWAYS let your doctor know when you are having them and any details surrounding them (environment, time of day, diet, etc). You should also look for signs that it could be another issue other than a migraine, such as:
1. Your headache is accompanied by a fever.
2. Your headache persists for more than a few hours or returns frequently.
3. You are experiencing blurred vision.
I also want to add to this that if you experience a tightening feeling in your chest or shortness of breath, it could be indicative of blood pressure issues and should be reported to your doctor immediately.
*What can cause a Migraine:
There are many things that can cause a migraine. This is just a few of the common causes for migraines.
1. Stress
2. Chocolate
3. Cheese
4. Coffee
5. Weather
6. Hormones
If your body is use to taking in large amounts of caffeine and you suddenly stop that caffeine intake, that can also cause a migraine.
*Treatments for Migraines while pregnant:
1. Keep a headache diary:
Your headache diary should include the date of the headache, the time, and how long it lasted. You can also include what you were doing, what you had ate, and what you drank at the time of the migraine. This may help to determine what triggers them and help you avoid those triggers. (This is also helpful if you have to go to the doctor for them because that is always the first thing they want me to do.)
2.Home Remedies:
I always suggest trying safe home remedies over medication. If you can get rid of it in a natural way, it saves you from having to pollute your body with unnecessary medication. So here are some safe things to try:
Apply a cold towel to your head.
Take a cold shower.
Sit with your hands and feet in warm water and something cold on the back of your neck.
Take a nap. (Most people become sound and light sensitive during migraines. A quiet, dark room helps.)
Exercise
Relaxation Techniques such as yoga or meditation
Biofeedback (ask your physician for advice on this)
I have never heard of Biofeedback, so I looked it up. It is a mind-body technique that helps patients learn to influence their autonomic nervous systems (blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, brainwave frequencies).
3. Medications for Migraines:
ALWAYS ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TAKING ANY MEDICATION!!!!!!
Tylenol
Benadryl
I personally take (even during my pregnancy) one Benadryl and one Dramamine. It acts the same as a medication called Compazine and is safe to use during pregnancy (per my physician, please ask yours first).
You should NEVER take any pain killer that is NOT prescribed specifically for you by your physician during your pregnancy. If you are in that much pain, call your physician and ask them if they can prescribe something SAFE for you during your pregnancy. I went strictly through my OBGYN during my pregnancy for absolutely everything.
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