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Tips for headaches in first trimester

11 replies

inmybelly · 02/03/2014 08:20

I have a history of headaches and migraine.

Last night I woke up with a headache, at about 3am. I've tried more sleep and that stick thingy 'forehead' but to no avail.

The headache is still mild (paracetamol may well work at this stage) but I'm worried that the ones which start like this often gradually turn into migraines. In which case only something stronger would work.

The NHS website advises against paracetamol in the first trimester. This surprised me a bit, I assumed it would be okay!

So how do you all cope with pain in the first trimester?

OP posts:

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notadoctor · 02/03/2014 08:24

I went to the GP when they got really bad and they gave me a prescription for stronger, pregnancy safe painkillers.

Hope you feel better soon!

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Lagoonablue · 02/03/2014 08:25

Took paracetamol! Not sure why you can't take tbh. Must be new advice.

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Kels13 · 02/03/2014 08:27

I get bad heads also and have taken paracetamol. The midwife said that's fine. The leaflet in the pack also says it's fine. I'm 8 weeks. X

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FrankelInFoal · 02/03/2014 08:44

Nothing wrong with paracetamol, I had really bad headaches in my first trimester, I'm currently 39+5 so not that long ago, and the midwife said paracetamol and lots of water. First trimester headaches are usually hormonal or dehydration linked.

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nc060 · 02/03/2014 08:48

I had the same issue at about 10 weeks, told midwife I had spent last 6 weeks suffering and trying to avoid paracetamol. she chuckled and said there's nothing wrong with taking it and best not to be in pain

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pickletalk14 · 02/03/2014 09:07

I was getting crippling headaches. Was also conscious of not taking too much paracetamol (would normally gostraight for it).

Basically, I would drink a lot of water and may be eat something first. If I wasn't at work then try to sleep. If headache was still around I'd take the paracetamol. Honestly I took it once or twice in the first 12 weeks with headaches about 50% of the time.

I think it was probably dehydration most of the time.

The paracetamol advice does seem to be very new so if you need to use it don't feel guilty.

I'm now 28 weeks and the headaches have definitely eased off so fingers crossed for you too!

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inmybelly · 02/03/2014 09:36

Well the advice is a bit vague and non-committal. It doesn't say outright you shouldn't ever take it, it just says ideally you would avoid it in the first 3 months.

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2397.aspx?CategoryID=54&

Cheers for your reassurance. At the moment it's only a mild headache, so going to drink plenty of water and see what happens.

Also, the strange thing is that my head actually feels better if I'm upright rather than lying down, so I suppose I may as well do some housework! :(

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bebopanddoowop · 02/03/2014 09:45

I used those cooling gel strips you put on your forehead I felt they really helped soothe it

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Bails2014 · 02/03/2014 13:02

I had one last week, tried drinking water, hot water bottle on the forehead, forehead stick and sleep, nothing worked and it culminated in my ransacking the house for paracetamol at 3am, finding none and my darling OH driving to the shop to buy me some... which of course I then promptly threw up!

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Twoprincessesistwiceasnice · 02/03/2014 13:23

Yes those cooling strips really helped. Or placing a cold flannel on ur forehead, or getting dh to give u a headrub all really helped. Im 20 weeks and still getting quite bad headaches :(

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inmybelly · 02/03/2014 13:49

I'm pleased to report that by following the above advice, my headache had completely gone! So relieved!! Ended up sleeping for an hour. And NO paracetamol :)

(I really need to increase my pain tolerance though)