Migraine treatment whilst breastfeeding? Desperate!

[Fagin99]

I had my little girl one week ago (first time mum) and have since had three visual migraines. At first I didn't get any pain with them, but today the pain is unbearable. It's 3am and I'm literally counting down the hours until I can call my doctor, but I'm worried they won't know what to advise.

Does anyone take any migraine treatment whilst breastfeeding that is safe? I'm allergic to NSAIDS (Ibuprofen, aspirin etc) so I've so far only taken paracetamol which isn't even touching the sides.

I hear that sumatriptan might be ok with breastfeeding, but other sources say not to? I obviously don't want to take anything that could harm my little girl, but I'm absolutely desperate. I had a difficult labour that I'm still recovering from and really need to sleep. I'm in tears with the pain.

Thank you for listening x

I took sumatriptan while breastfeeding as it's safe. Hope you get some relief soon--migraines are horrible!

Thank you for your reply, that's really reassuring. Did you have to pump and dump whilst taking sumatriptan or could you feed through it? I've never even used a pump before! Thank you x

sumatriptan Is safe and you don’t need to pump and dump. You can contact the breast feeding network drugs team to ask about certain medication abs BF. They are run by pharmacist etc. I’d also recommend the National migraine centre. They’re a charity run by doctors who can recommend and prescribe drugs. In my experience GP’s don’t know much about migraines at all. [email protected]

Yeah it's the raised oxytocin from breast feeding that triggers them. ☹️
I had multiple visual migraines in the first couple of weeks but then it calmed down - hope it will for you too. Hang on in there Xxx

The Breastfeeding Network is a great resource for queries like this as manufacturers/GPs/pharmacists often err on the side of caution in breastfeeding women:

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/migraines/

As an aside, have you had a recent postnatal BP check?

Thank you so much for your replies and links to the resources. They sound invaluable and will contact them once open.

Yes thankfully BP is normal.

I really appreciate your responses, thank you xx

Acupuncture, it takes a few sessions but got rid of my migraines. Chinese acupuncture, not western.

I've exactly the same problem! Propananol has been prescribed as preventative measure and working a dream

My husband is a Neurologist and a headache/migraine specialist. He also says sumatriptan is safe.

He also said you can take it as soon as you start to get the "aura" or signs that a migraine is developing.

P.S. its 9:40pm here in the USA so thats how I could ask him for his advice!

You are going through an enormous transition as your body comes down from a very high levels of hormones during your pregnancy, so hopefully your migraines could improve in the next 10-14 days.

Cephaly is drug free and works for me

I got terrible migraines after both of my births, and they went away by the time the baby hit the 3 month mark.

Absolutely go to the doctor to get some meds if you need them to get you through.

I took the preventive med laroxyl whilst BF DS1 and also during pregnancy and BF of DS2. Not sure how much it works but certainly took the edge of the migraines to make them bearable

That's great to hear that you all found relief eventually. I'm just waiting now for the doctor to call me back and I'll ask for sumatriptan I think.

@GoodnessTruthBeauty thank you very much to your husband, and for asking him.

Thank you again for your replies. They got me through a very difficult night xx

Cocodamol. Doesn’t work for everyone but it works for some.