Anyone else had or experiencing killer headaches or migraines while pregnant?

[MammaK]

After weeks of progressively worsening headaches my head exploded into migraine central this week! I am finding it so draining and the guilt at being 'poorly-head-mummy' to my beautiful 2 year old DD.
GP was really lovely today and has prescribed small amounts of co-codamol to help ease them a little. Am 16.5 weeks pregnant - headaches started at just over 12 weeks and have sent blood pressure crazy too (preeclampsia ruled out for now by GP and hosp). Have tried paracetamol, 'forhead' menthols, massage and baths! Haven't had caffeine in over 6 years apart from in chocolate, haven't drank since pregnant and keeping a food diary (gest. diabetes) so there are no recognisable triggers.
Anyone else having same issue or experienced similar - any suggestions would be so helpful xxx

yes and my dr told me to drink more water, i told them i was drinking 3 litres a day and they said "drink more" and they really did go away i hope your do too.

I usually get migraines about once a fortnight (when not pregnant), then I always get a big run of them from around 5-12 weeks, and then none the rest of the pg, and then after the birth I get a few again.

Obviously (for me) hormones are doing their thing - so maybe yours will ease back off again too?

I take codeine/paracetamol as needed (but avoid ibuprofen). Caffine with the paracetamol makes it work better (i believe).

I hope you get some relief soon.

Second the caffeine advice. Works for me too.
Also, is there a food trigger? Cheese and peanuts both can trigger them for me - even though they are hormonal.
Hope you get some relief -codeine/paracetamol do nothing for mine but the neurologist I saw recently recommended I take nurofen (think that's ibuprofen). I'm bf not pregnant though so not sure about the limits on that?
Hope you feel better soon.

I had some terrible migraines during pregnancy that started while I was using a computer at work. If you use a computer a lot try taking more rest breaks away from it and drink as much water as you can possibly bear.

Hope you feel a better soon.

I had migraines too, my problem was blood pressure related as well and they drove me crazy - I'd never had them prior to pg and contined getting the afterwards.
I find Dyrolite (sp) salts - the ones for salt and sugar replacement really help and also staying well hydrated.
Hope you fell better soon

shrimp - I agree, neurofen Plus is THE BOMB for migrains, and my drug of choice when not Pg :o I think it says on the box not to take in 1st (or is it 3rd?) trimseter...so I steered clear altogether.

Mersyndol is also great if they get really bad - knocks me right out though, and I don't think you can take it whilst pg.

I had them for the first time when pregnant too. I remember driving to work and seeing flashing lights, I panicked having never had anything like it before! Mine were definitely hormone related as I'm now 44 and going through early menopause and have them at least monthly, fortnightly more often than not.

The good news if yours are hormonal are they do stop straight away after the birth, or htey did for me.

The NHS website confirms that you can take ibuprofen occasionally in the 2nd trimester. I get migraines when not pg and if any strike before I get to 28 weeks, I will absolutely be taking it. Otherwise, as much sleep as you can possibly get and cold packs over your eyes.

Hi MamaK, I got shocking headaches and a couple of migraines with DS2. I stupidly took Anadin Extra as a last resort one night. Then blamed myself constantly when DS2 had cancer at 18 months and 3 years. However, I have been assured that one Anadin Ex did not cause it (mothers guilt!). Had bad headaches again this time round but upped my water to 3 lts a day and it worked! Have continued to drink lots of water - am now 34 weeks and have about 2 lts a day. The headaches in pregnancy are a real bummer, but my MW said paracetomal was ok which i took. I agree with Madascheese about the Dyoralite they really help to kick start your hydration and can honestly help. Good luck and hope you start feeling better soon.

Try Gatorade not plain water for hydration - if you get a bit dehydrated plain water can flush straight through you.

Also caffeine is a pretty good headache med itself. The less you have it usually the better one coffee or paracetamol plus dose works for a headache!

Have you been checked for a UTI?

I had killer headaches for about a week before I went to the doctor, I was about the same stage as you. I felt like my head was about to explode. GP diagnosed a UTI - within a few days of antibiotics I was so much better.

Felt a bit stupid actually because one of my friends suggested UTI when I first got the severe headache - but I didn't listen to her because I didn't have any of the normal symptoms of a UTI - the headache was the only problem I was having.

Hope you find out what's causing them and get them sorted

C.

Can totally empathise - for about 2 months starting around the 12 week point I woke up with hideous headaches that would last most of the day, some days better than others. I think it may have been a hormonal thang as it has now cleared up (24 weeks now). you are not alone!

I suffer with migraines usually and suffered really awful headaches in the first trimester - so bad that I went to see an acupuncturist - I saw him once a week til I was 20 weeks and headaches are sooooo much better
When I get one now I have a can of coke with 2 paracetamol and with a twenty minute eyes closed break - has worked every time
Weird cause paracetamol doesn't even touch the sides usually !
If you can spare some money - try acupuncture - I have been amazed by it's effectiveness ..

I had migranes for about 3 weeks between 19-22 weeks. Got prescribed the co-codamol and just muddled through. Took them as often as I could, although they did make me really drowsy. Lots of water, even when you're not thirsty drink!
Sorry for you, it's horrible.

Yeah, should have said - another vote for water .. I buy little bottles and have them everywhere - in the car, by the bed and in my bag ...
It cant hurt !

Thank you all very much xxxx
I am drinking so much water already... but I guess it just feels that way as prior to pregnancy I don't really think I drank enough! So will definitely take your advice and increase the fluids. Thank you for all suggestions - I will try a little caffeine and some rehydration solutions too... acupuncture ... anything!

Best of all it is good to hear that I'm not alone... sounds corny but I am having to test bloods 4 times a day, monitor BP and just got over nausea and then headaches began! Has seemed a long hard slog and so grateful that I am not at work for the summer holidays as really don't know how I'd manage.

Thanks again all xxxx