AIBU?
AIBU to take ibuprofen at 3months pregnant?
Dumptyhumpty101 · 25/11/2019 07:07
I always suffer with tension in my shoulder which if not resolved promptly, will lead to a migraine.
Usually taking ibuprofen, a shoulder rub, heat patches will sort it or make it manageable. On this occasion as I haven’t been able to take ibuprofen means I’m now on day 3 of a migraine.
I’ve tried paracetamol, heat patches, cold patches, soaking my feet in heat with a cold patch on my neck, hot bath, cold shower and nothing has touched it.
I’ve googled taking ibuprofen and it says don’t take before 30 weeks unless the benefits outweigh the consequences.
Now I don’t want to cause any unnecessary risk to the baby but I don’t know what else to do to resolve it.
JPharm · 25/11/2019 07:43
The pharmacist will only advise you to go to your GP, they're not allowed to advise pregnant ladies unfortunately.
Not true.We can advise all people but I would not sell ibuprofen to a pregnant woman as it is not recommended unless the benefit strongly outweighs the risk. The doctor can prescribe it off licence if they so wish, it is more harmful during the third trimester (after 24 weeks) than the first and second so they may do this for you if you ask.
There are also preventive treatments that the doctor can prescribe too so I would make an appointment.
JPharm · 25/11/2019 07:50
As pp pharmacist will likely tell you to ask gp or flat out say no.
See my explanation above. It’s a product licensing issue, it cannot legally be sold for pregnant women nor is suitable without a doctor analysing the risk (a lot of GPs will refuse too). We are not being deliberately unhelpful or obstructive there just needs to be intervention from a prescriber.
yellowmelon · 25/11/2019 14:59
Sorry for not replying sooner, op. I'm managing with regular paracetamol, minimal activity, hot water bottles, and using a donut cushion when sitting on hard surfaces. Not ideal, but it is what it is. Packing ibuprofen in my hospital bag so I can get straight back on it!
Beansareevil · 25/11/2019 15:15
Just found this
NUROFEN PLUS should not be taken during pregnancy except during the first 6 months of pregnancy. All NSAIDS should not be taken during the last three months of pregnancy. you have peptic ulcer (i.e. stomach or duodenal ulcer),
Here's the link so you can see where I got this info from www.nps.org.au/medicine-finder/nurofen-plus-tablets
geekone · 25/11/2019 16:39
Nope we can’t allow women to work with ibuprofen when pregnant. It’s not a good idea. I have migraines and when 14 weeks pregnant I got one. I was told to lie in a dark room for days until it was gone 
. Once gone I went for acupuncture and I didn’t have another migraine for 3 years.
Dumptyhumpty101 · 25/11/2019 19:23
Thanks for the advice everyone, I finally managed to crack my neck which eased the tension and migraine a bit.
I’ll just continue with paracetamol and heat/cold packs until it properly clears.
I haven’t mentioned to midwife but blood pressure was taken last week so I think it should be ok.
Can you have acupuncture whilst pregnant? Does it work for knots caused by tension?
MitziK · 25/11/2019 19:54
Don't take Ibuprofen.
(I was prescribed it in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Result - one beautiful baby with a heart murmur - hence the rules now).
Physical treatment - such as shiatsu/osteopathy with somebody well versed in pregnancy contraindications, or, preferably/if you can't afford that, physio - combined with
attention to whether your head is supported properly and not flopping over or being pushed up at an angle whilst you're in bed, even trying a foam shaped pillow,
work on your posture (your centre of gravity might be out from the extra weight/poor core muscle tone and it's possible that you're pushing your head/chin out instead of tucking it in and lengthening your spine)
and gentle mobilisation stretches will be much safer. A physio would be able to help plan safe exercise to do in pregnancy, but might not do any hands on work, whereas a shiatsu practitioner or Osteopath if they're happy to work on you,
Cold packs are brilliant, if somewhat uncomfortable. Paracetamol is, as far as I know (check with your GP) safe in pregnancy - have two with a coffee or cocoa-cola at the first hint of heaviness. Tiger Balm smells horrid, but if your skin (or stomach) can tolerate it, it's very effective.
If you can still lie on your front, try laying flat with your forehead down and your arms by your sides. Can you lift your head at all without having to use your arms? If not, you've got very weak neck muscles, so they're going to struggle to keep your head up, especially as pregnancy will loosen everything. Those gentle exercises as advised by a physio will help increase your strength safely.
You could also look at pregnancy yoga. Even if it doesn't sort out your neck/shoulder completely, it'll be beneficial for you in terms of your entire body and mind.
I continued Osteopathy sessions throughout my first pregnancy. That woman had the ability to stop a migraine in its tracks and my yoga sessions left me feeling slightly high, I was so peaceful after them.
I still use my neck pillow now, about a million years later. It was horrible the first night, not much better the second - but on the morning of the 3rd day after the 2nd night, I woke up, moved ever so slightly, my neck cracked louder than I had ever heard it do before or since and I've been pretty much fine ever since. I won't change it just in case the pain comes back - it's just the cheap IKEA one that has a low edge and a higher edge and the only way I'm being separated from it is if it's torn from my cold, dead hands.
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