Caffeine and headaches- WWYD?

[ShushBaby]

Am 16 weeks pregnant and I have been having awful headaches every night, morning and most days for a few weeks now. I had a four-day migraine last week which is unprecedented (usually migraines are gone within a day). I had bad headaches during my first pregnancy too. Recently, paracetomol hasn't always been effective.

The thing is, I've discovered that caffeine really improves my headaches. Lucozade, tea, paracetomol+caffeine... I even had a cup of coffee for the first time in four months today.

I don't think the headaches are caffeine withdrawal, as I would only drink 2-3 cups of tea a day pre-pregnancy, then didn't touch caffeine for about 10 weeks when I fell pregnant (felt too sick for tea/coffee, and also wanted to avoid it for sake of pregnancy).

I know that caffeine is not advised in pregnancy, so I feel torn about whether to 'self medicate' with it in this way. I am just finding these constant headaches so tough!

What do you think?

I'm currently back to having maybe three cups of tea a day, and sometimes a glass of lucozade too, if the headaches are really bad.

Hi, sorry you are suffering. Migraines suck! You probably already know this, but the recommended daily limit for caffeine in pregnancy is 200mg (approximately 4 cups of tea). So it doesn't sound like you are exceeding this much at all.

Have you seen your G.P about this? Constant migraines can't be much better for your baby either.

Thanks stumbleine- good to know that I'm not exceeding daily limits at the moment. When I'm not pregnant, caffeine really helps my headaches (coca cola is ace) so I suppose it makes sense it would help now.

I haven't been to see my GP- the advice last time was basically to take paracetomol (hit and miss for me), rest (less easy with a 2yo!), drink water and put up wth it!

It is probably worth a visit this time round though.

I would drink the tea if it's helping! It may well just be a phase and will pass. But like Stumblein said, you're far from overdoing it.

I drink one coffee a day, if the caffeine helps I'd have it hun. Like previous poster have said, you can have 200mg a day

as others have said caffeine is not a total no-no so I'd have some if it helps, headaches can make you really miserable and stressed. Peppermint tea might help though, I've found it clears most of my headaches more effectively than paracetamol and if it doesn't shift it completely it at least helps. Might be worth a go?

Will give peppermint tea a go. I knew it was good for digestion, but hadn't heard of it helping headaches. A magic potion! (Hopefully).