oh my, these headaches...

[Nunners]

I'm 16+1 with my first and am suffering really badly from headaches. I had them earlier on in my pregnancy and realised quickly that they were dehydration-related so I now have a good water intake every day.

However, this last week they have reappeared, to a point on Saturday when it actually made my eyes water (which of course then turned into a massive hormonal sobfest as I felt so rotten and sorry for myself). The back of my head feels heavy and the pain is mainly along the front half of my head.

Paracetamol don't seem to touch the sides. I am really careful about what I eat (have issues with insulin so I don't eat sugar or have caffeine), so I'm fairly certain that it's not diet-related.

Anyone suffered with these and found a good remedy, or have any advice as to whether this is something I should be checking out with my midwife as symptomatic of something more serious? My concentration at work is suffering (it was already plummeting!) and I have rather a full-on job so just can't afford to lose the power of thought this early!

all advice REALLY gratefully received!

i know this may sound strange but I got my daughter a saline nasal spray which helped her loads, she was getting really bad headaches around 12 to 16 weeks, touch wood its still working :)

I am a migraine sufferer anyway, but cannot take my prevantitive meds in pg so suffer badly.

Have you tried 4head stick? i find that helps sometimes, but not much else advice to offer. Was presecribed codeine last week but not even that helping

im 15+2 btw with dc4.

I had horrible migraines while I was pg, and the doctor prescribed a drug called Paramax - it is strong paracetamol, with codeine (which helps stop the nausea associated with migraines, or so I understand). They were dissolveable tablets which I put into a glass of squash. They were great.

but I had to take them at the first sign of a migraine coming - if not, it was too late.

thanks all! I'll give it another week and then book in with the doc and see what she advises. V interesting re the saline nasal spray moregranny - good tip, I'll try that.

Sorry no useful advice but im 16+4 and have had these headcahes since 13 weeks.
Went to the doctor but she said there was nothing I could do apart from relax?!
Definately going to try the nasal spray, I find drinking lots of water and eating regulary helps to stave them off.

I think inhaling menthol or using nasal spray is a good call! I have terrible dehydration headaches initially and then they reappeared when I was about 20 weeks!! Midwife thought sinus conjestion might be cause and the inhaling seemed to do the trick.

I'd agree with the nasal spray but check which one you get as I looked at a couple which said not suitable for use in pregnancy. My friend recommended menthol crystals for inhalation (you can get them in Boots) too if you think it might be sinus related.

The big purple NHS book I was given by my mw at my booking appointment says ibuprofen is actually ok occasionally in the 2nd trimester only. I had dreadful headaches for about 2 weeks around 16 weeks too, to the point of taking my first day off work in 2 years with a migraine and wish I'd read this earlier. I took a couple towards the end of the 2 weeks and they were they only thing that remotely touched the pain. I think I found something on the NHW website saying something similar too so might be worth checking it out.

I got the saline spray from Boots as my daughter was prescribed Beconase by her Dr.. I wouldn't let her take the Beconase, also got 4head stick.

4head is the way to go! It has been a lifesaver for me as being sick all the time still at 25wks I'm getting awful pressure headaches!

I've had some rotten headaches in pregnancy, and I took half a co-codamol tablet. It relieved the tension in my head/neck/shoulders and helped me sleep.

I did some research before taking them (and chatted to the pharmacist) and they are okay to take in pregnancy.

They come with warnings but these aren't specific to pregnancy ie. take a small dose, don't take longer than a couple of days etc.