Headaches at 14 weeks

[Doodlepoll]

I'm 14 weeks pregnant and for the last few days have had horrendous headaches that last on and off all day. I'm worried about the possibility it might be pre eclampsia but then I checked on the NHS website and it said that doesn't develop before 20 weeks, so...... Have any of you experienced anything like this? Is it just hormonal? Should I calm my pregnant self down? :-)

Can I ask if you are showing yet? Bump or bloating? And what have your breasts done?
I was sent to hospital with this exact thing at 11 weeks.

Ugh yes, I had awful headaches around this time. I figured it was hormonal.

ilikebaking I've got a very small bump (I think I might be the only person who can see it!) and am a little bloated. My breasts haven't really grown at all. What did the hospital say it was for you?

squalor it's good to hear that someone else has experienced this!

I got told it was due to muscle tightness in my neck due to posture changing, because I was huge for 11 weeks, boobs and bump, it was making me slouch, causing these headaches. I saw a physio 3 times, did some stretching, and heat treated my neck whemever the pain came on, and they went away. My bp went to 200/100 though, with worry, because I was convinced it was pre eclampsia or something, the GP freaked out x

Wow, I'm not surprised your GP freaked out! Glad to hear it was just posture though.

Think I might see how it is over the weekend and if it's still as bad contact the doctor.

It won't be pre-eclampsia, that's a definate, and it is most likely the turbulence of hormones surging round, it's very common to get headaches pregnancy.
It is worth getting your bp checked though for pregnancy hypertension which is different to pre-eclampsia, but still it's more likely to be hormonal rather than bp related.
I hope they settle.

I had hideous headaches for 10 days while in Ireland for my sister's wedding at 15 weeks. They were almost migraines and I was even sick once or twice. I kept a very close eye on myself and was fine otherwise, and they passed after two weeks or so. It was awful though!

Doodlepoll, I really would go get checked out on Monday, just for peace of mind andmto rule out anything sinister.
Hope your head feels better today xx

I also had headaches early on and went to my optician thinking my prescription needed changing. He said my prescription was fine and it was hormonal. He also said that skin and eyes are more sensitive in pregnancy and that glare from the sun or computers at work may be affecting them (this was in winter too!), and to go around wearing sunglasses wherever I could!

He said migraines in earlyish pregnancy are really common, his wife who had just had a baby had also had them. I remember my sister at fourteen weeks sat with sunglasses on and a headache, come to think of it.

Obviously get it checked out though (and always good to check BP - has your surgery a machine in the waiting room? I sometimes just pop by mine to do a check. Otherwise you can buy them from Boots). Wearing sunglasses did help - they also stopped a while after, I've not had them in later pregnancy.

I am 15 weeks tomorrow and have had an excruciating headache since yesterday. Only just taken 2 paracetamol on the advice of a pharmacist friend as I was worried about taking anything. She said she can take my blood pressure too although its unlikely to be caused by that. If its stil here on Monday should I see the GP? Is there anything they can do or am I overreacting? It just means I can't do anything and really need to work next week.

I think the headaches were the worst part of the first trimester- especially when working full time. Paracetamol ,lots of water, cold compresses, lying in dark rooms- nothing helped. I figured it was just hormonal. I'm 27 weeks and actually can't remember the last headache, its been at least 10 weeks. Sorry, not much help, but they did fade with time, hope yours do too.

yes I had this and was off work for about a month. 12-17 weeks I had it and I couldn't find anyone else saying they had it too.

I didn't get it with dc2 which I was delighted by!

I had this too, went to the doctors who did loads of checks and put it down to hormones. I also decided to stop trying to carry on as normal work wise (I'm a teacher) so did no work past 6pm and sat down as much as possible in lessons (so hard) and they got much better.

My MW said this is common, especially with the weather being so hot.

She suggested paracetamol (which doesn't always even take the edge off), that 4Head stuff and some cooling gel patches for migraines. You can put them on your forehead or on the back of your neck.

Thanks everyone for all your tips. I actually stopped getting the headaches the day after I posted - must be the magic of Mumsnet! - but at least I'll know what to do if they come back.

I've found I get particularly bad headaches when I'm tired. Generally resting makes them go away, so far at least