Migraine & breastfeeding

[Cakeweek]

I have had chronic migraine for a few years now. Pregnancy and breastfeeding make it so much better, but as baby reduces feeds it starts to make a reappearance.

DD is 14 months and over the past 6 weeks my migraines have returned. There's no GP appointments for a fortnight but I've booked one to get a new neurology referral, and to discuss meds.

Until then does anyone have any suggestions to cope. I've been taking paracetamol, occasionally naproxen (Drugs in breastfeeding network confirms odd dose is safe). Am I missing anything obvious? I just feel utterly dreadful. I'm coming out of one this afternoon and just want to sleep, but obviously can't!

Co-codamol for occasional use?

I suffer chronic migraines too and when I was breastfeeding I read many studies that found sumatriptan is safe once the newborn stage is over. I used to go and buy it and not admit to breastfeeding. That's your choice to make though.

I am going to try Botox for the migraines next. I am currently taking beta-blockers but it's just one of a long list of preventative stuff I've tried.

And I always find that soluble tablets work so much better than regular ones. There's paracetamol, aspirin or co-codamol in soluble form.

The best person to ask is a pharmacist.

I used to take ibuprofen with two large glasses of water (drunk without gulping down so as to absorb the water) as close to a feed as possible because it takes around a couple of hours for the meds to make it into breast milk (you'd need to check specifics).

I've read that pinching (and holding) the saggy flap of skin between your thumb and index finger is an acupuncture point and relieves migraine (it seemed to work when I tried and I put a peg there to keep pressure without me holding it).

Sometimes caffeine helps. You can get paracetamol with caffeine.

Codeine is not recommend because it can be toxic in breastmilk, but that's incredibly rare and only happened in very young babies due to the mother hyper-metabolising it (there's no way to know if your in the small percentage who hyper-metabolise it or not). It used to be prescribed to post-natal breastfeeding mothers until fairly recently. With a young toddler I would probably give extra food and water and take co-codomol or ibuprofen with codeine (both available over the counter) and miss one feed or even just feed as normal. Dihydrocodeine is metabolised differently so now the preferred opioid pain relief in breastfeeding mothers, its available over the counter as Paramol in some pharmacies. The dose is lower but it is stronger than codeine, but metabolised differently so safer in breastfeeding.

There are also some levomenthol based products which you use on your head itself. You can get strips and rollons. Doesn't work for everyone though

Urgh I have the same thing. Miserable. Made me want to breastfeed for ever! Second I reduced feeds I had awful migraines. GP told me to take aspirin with a cola at the first sign which did help and I’ve tried sumatriptan (which i think you must be able to have breastfeeding as I was still). Ultimately the mini pill was the best solution. Hope they improve. Awful things migraines.