Headaches in early pregnancy - any tips?

[mummy2benji]

Hi guys :) I am nearly 7wks preg with no 2 and am suffering constant headaches which I never had with no 1. My blood pressure is fine and they are basically just related to the early hormone surge in the first trimester, which is reassuring but not alleviating the pain! Paracetamol doesn't touch it. I am struggling to look after ds right now and dread work, just wondered if anyone else who has suffered them found any particularly good remedies? Thank you!

[PrincessWatermelon]

Congratulations, but poor thing on the headaches.

I didn't suffer too badly, but found that a cup of tea usually helped. I didn't fancy hot drinks when pregnant, but the lack of caffeine was normally the cause of my headaches. Bit of a shock to the system to withdraw it entirely!

[sleeplessinsuburbia]

I have the same problem. Drinking heaps of water and taking panadol. Headache is still here.

[Jcee]

I had this and someone recommended a small glass of full fat coke. I don't know if it's the sugar or caffeine but it always seemed to work for me.

[weebleswillwobble]

I suffered horrendous headaches with my first. Ditto with paracetamol not even making a dent in the headaches! Things I found helped:

• Getting up EXACTLY the same time every day. For some reason, if I slept for longer than usual (even half and hour) I'd get a stonking headache.
  
• Long showers, blasting alternating hot and cold water on your head. Something to do with 'loosening' the constricted blood vessels in the head? (not v. scientific sorry!)
  
• Rubbing the 'V' between thumb and first finger on your hands. Not sure if this really helped but at least made me feel as if I was doing something to cure myself!
  
• As Princess suggested, the odd cup of coffee actually helped. Have a coffee after taking paracetamol.
  
• Alternating hot and cold wet washcloths placed over face / back of neck.
  
• If the headaches are making you nauseous, I found a spoonful of lemon juice really helped for some reason.
  
• Travel sickness bands.
  
• Didn't try it, but apparently reflexology can work wonders.
  

Lastly! - One of those natural forehead sticks, I think lavender, that you rub on your forehead and temples.

As you can probably tell, I had a rough time, but the headaches did subside after about 10 weeks, so hopefully you won't have to endure them for much longer.

Congratulations!

[Hootie]

Paracetamol and codeine is ok if you're really bad. I had to take it for a bit in early preg and obstetrician said it was fine, just watch out for constipation. Those cool pack things on your head in the evening seemed to help me to sleep too. Hope it doesn't last too long.

[SootySweepandSue]

Have you tried the mint forehead stick. I can not remember what's it's called. I'm suffering a bit too think it's caffeine withdrawal...I would try drinking lots too and fresh air, but to be honest I'm not sure what you can do if it's hormonal, maybe ask the GP.

[SootySweepandSue]

Wobble - I've tried the fingers thing too! I do use it often works in a weird way but I think it does something..

[festiemum]

sooty - was just coming on to suggest that! It's called 4Head - and I found it invaluable in past pregnancies! Off to get myself one (11wks and suffering too) Cold eye masks worked for me too...... xx

[mummy2benji]

That's great, thank you everyone! Actually I have just tried a cup of tea and although the headache hasn't gone, it is better than it's been for days :) I'll try your other tips too. x

[Zoonose]

I had this in both my pregnancies for about 10 weeks each time. I found caffeine absolutely was the key. A strong coffee with sugar and Paracetamol or paracetamol plus if I didn't have coffee. I did this as soon as I got the headache - often 5am! - and it killed the headache within half an hour. Made sure to have no other caffeine. Have 2 healthy dc.

[Flickstar]

Another fan of the magical powers of 4head here. I am so obsessed with the stuff I have evn packed some in my hospital bag for labour !

[Lovemarmite]

I've found that water, water, water is the answer. My gp warned that headaches are often due to dehydration.
Tea / cola dehydrates and so although the caffeine might get brain blood moving faster, it will dehydrate too and so may help in the short run but will add to dehydration if that's whats causing them.
I must admit that it does take a few days of lots of water to cure the headache but keeping it up, and my headaches are gone.

I had to resort to panadol on one occasion at 4am when I had a real pounder and then with about 8-10 glasses of water the next day it went.

Hope they go soon!

[PoppyS34wantsgoatscheese]

I sympathise, I've been suffering from terrible headaches - two or three days sometimes. The only thing that helps is lying completely still with a cold flannel over my eyes - not very practical as you can imagine!

My MW also said it was down to dehydration, so I've been making an effort to drink a lot more than I usually would (not just water though, I've been drinking tea, juice, squash anything really). I also try and make sure I've eaten enough of a selection of foods, too.

I still get them, though

[nearlymumofone]

I'm 16 weeks and still getting 1-3 migranes a week. Sick of it. At the weekend it was accompanied by blurred vision and I couldn't see for nearly an hour! GP said it may last for the whole pregnancy (not what i wanted to hear!!). I've upped my intake of water and will let you know if there's any improvement!

Does anyone know waht causes it? My GP said it was hormones, though I never got this with my first pregnancy.

[mummy2benji]

nearlymumofone sorry about your migraines, they don't sound fun. Yes headaches tend to be due to the hormone surge that we get early in pregnancy, which is why they are most common early on. Migraines are a little dfferent, as if you get migraines usually, they can be either worse or better in pregnancy. I hope they settle for you!

My headaches were terrible for about a week but have improved now thankfully (at 8 weeks) and now I just have the constant nausea to contend with! Oh what fun early pregnancy can be....!

[PoppyS34wantsgoatscheese]

nearlymumofone that's awful... :( I've had a constant headache for almost a week now (with one day headache free!) - different degrees of pain and intensity and nothing I am doing is shifting it completely - bah

My MW also said hormones...