headaches

[MissMartin1992]

oh my goodness ive had a headache since Saturday! sometimes its pounding somtimes its just a dull ache.. i have suffered with headaches for ages but its gotten alot worst since i got pregnant.. Is anyone else in the same boat?

[ovumahead]

I had awful headaches all through the first trimester. Eased up after that. How far along are you?

[sherbertlemon17]

Hey MissMartin, I can completely sympathise! Today is the first day in a week that I've not had a headache. It's so draining isn't it...

I've been using kool n soothe migraine relief strips when I get home in the evenings. They stick to your forehead and are so lovely and cooling. Don't know how they work, but taking a nap at the same time seems to do the trick.

[Purpleball]

I get headaches when I'm dehydrated. I also got a lot of migraines early in pregnancy.
Try drinking a 500ml bottle of water and see if it goes, or eases. You can take paracetamol if you need to.
Forehead strips are good, a facecloth wrung out in cold water and placed on forehead and/or back of neck also helps

[carbolicsoaprocked]

Are you in early pregnancy? I also had bad headaches at that time, the 4Head sticks worked wonders for me. Make sure you're drinking plenty too. If you're further on I'd keep an eye out for other pre-eclampsia symptoms.

[MissMartin1992]

aww good suggestions Thanks ladies.. im only 6w3d.
ive been drinking alot of water recently because alot of people mentioned that i might be dehydrated but nothing seems to work so far. its mainly a tension headache i get the type that aches the top of your neck and makes you feel queasy.. dp massaging my neck kinda helps but only while he's doing it .. im trying to refrain from paracetamol but seems ill have to take a few ive not have one since finding out im pg.. how long did your headaches last, just the first trimester?

[carbolicsoaprocked]

My headaches lasted until about week 14 or something. You are safe to take paracetamol, they are fine in pregnancy, but I found the 4Head stick worked better anyway, I carried it everywhere!

[MissMartin1992]

Righty well I'll get to boots and buy one then, Thanks again x

[MissMartin1992]

good to know it dosent go on for ever aswell

[nellorr]

I had horrendous headaches in the first trimester and found that a cup of tea, short bread, water and sleep were the best remedies.
Caffeine helps with headaches: something about constricting or dilating blood vessels (and a cup of tea is well with the recommended daily intake).
Short bread to boost blood sugar.
Water to rehydrate (obvs!).

[Teeste]

I'm 37+4 but have had headaches for a month or two now due to sleep positioning (long story). So I just bought this Wheatybag and wow! I'd marry it if I could Just the ticket for tension/neck-related headaches. And, if you get it with lavender, delightfully fragrant. Definitely £20ish well spent IMO.

[MissMartin1992]

teeste omg i think i need one! that looks cool .. ill ask dp to treat 'us' hehe thanks hunni

[MissMartin1992]

nellor i maybe should have 1 normal tea then. .all ive been drinking is decaf maybe its because i quit caffine? my friend went really weird when she did and i love short bread ill definately try thankyou

[MummyPiggy87]

I've had a headache for 3 days in a row. It went away and came back today, sleep and paracetamol did nothing for me just have to let it pass!

[MissMartin1992]

its rubbish isn't it mummy

[ImnotawitchImyourwife]

Headache is a common symptom of caffeine withdrawal, so if you had quite a high intake before pregnancy it's very possible it's that. I am a proper tea fiend, went cold turkey and had headaches every day for the whole of the first trimester with my first pregnancy. Started gradually substituting more cups each day for decaf as soon as I started ttc the second time and haven't suffered nearly as many headaches in subsequent pregnancies.

As a pp said, one cup of caffeinated tea a day is well within daily limits so you might find that helps.

[StAlphonsosPancakeBreakfast]

I've had this a lot (72 hour headaches are not fair) but pleased to say I'm 17 weeks now and it seems to have stopped! My tips are:

• The 4Head stick definitely works
  
• If you're trying to keep caffeine down, what I found worked was to have one caffeinated tea in the morning, then switch to decaff
  
• Keeping hydrated does help a lot, as does not letting yourself get too tired
  

It seems to be blood pressure related in some people's case, just as your body starts producing all this extra blood that you need, your body takes a while to get used to it. My mum had this really badly in pregnancy too, so it was nice to get some sympathy from her.

Fingers crossed it eases off for you soon.

[MummyPiggy87]

That's very interesting what you said about caffeine, I used to be a heavy caffeine drinking red bulls/iced coffees and lattes etc etc I wouldn't go a day without. Since finding out I was pregnant at 4 weeks I've had zero! I'm gonna get one of those sticks though I've heard good things about them!x

[Ava50x]

Don't mean to scare or jinx you, but I'm currently 27+4 weeks and still suffering from headaches...

But hopefully you'll get lucky and they'll ease off at the end of your first trimester.

[Purpleball]

I've been going for pregnancy massages. They definitely help. Make sure it's someone who knows how to treat you. You can't lie on your back or front so you should be on your side or on a chair

[MummyPiggy87]

I for a 4head stick today and it really does ease the pain, it did come back an hour later so I used it again combined with paracetamol and its been gone for a couple of hours, give it a try x

[MissMartin1992]

oh good i definitely will! is it wet though? i don't wanna be wiping it across my head while im at work and being left with a big white patch where my make up has gone hehe

[MummyPiggy87]

It's dry a little bit like a Chapstick and it's clear, it didn't take my makeup off, it feels abit like vaporub but on your forehead!x

[MissMartin10]

oh great! that's cool

[Guyropes]

Good luck with the headache all! I've had bad ones through 2nd trimester. Going completely decaf has helped enormously, after the initial 4 days of withdrawal headache.
So I would recommend quitting entirely, and failing that, sticking to a regime where you drink exactly the same amount at exactly the same time every day.