Migraine help

[Jellybaby13]

Hello! I'm currently 10 + 4 weeks pregnant and am known to suffer with migraines! Usually I take a strong ibuprofen and it'll be gone in a few hours but since being pregnant I can't take that and I've decided to not take any medicines (so no paracetamol which is what doctor would tell me to use)!

I'm suffering really badly with a migraine today and it hasn't eased all day. It's causing pain down my neck and shoulder and it's making my right eye leak.

Does anyone have any natural remedies/tips for getting rid of migraines??

I suffer from migraines too - go to your doctor to see what you can take safely.

Other than that - dark room, cold flannel on the back of your neck, sleep if you can.

Try to avoid triggers - mine are getting overly tired and hormonal cycle!

I don’t suffer classic migraine but tension headache and like you am reluctant to take painkillers. 4head and white tiger balm have worked wonders for me!

Fellow pregnant migraine sufferer.

Thus far then Only thing I've been able to do is go to bed. Drs will be reluctant to prescribe anything especially so early on in your pregnancy.

I feel your pain. I get migraine with aura. Touch wood I’m 38 weeks and haven’t had one this pregnancy.

Just look after yourself, they won’t like to give you anything. Dark room, paracetamol, sip water when you can. I try forehead and the gel strips but find while they help the pain they make me feel funny combined with the numbness. Just give yourself plenty time to recover, sorry you’re suffering x

I posted similar to you when pregnant so I feel for you they are so terrible and me so sick when pregnant. The tips I had were:

• eat a banana at the onset of a migraine, the potassium helps with the pounding sensation apparently (I found this works quite well actually)
• 4head rub is really great, it doesn’t take the pain away but does mask it a bit
• small amounts of caffeine can help so a cup of tea if you can manage one
• put feet in hot water and keep head cool with a cold flannel, supposedly this draws blood away from the head to help stop the pounding

Also try keeping a diary of when you get them and what foods you have eaten that day to see if you can work put a pattern, I still don’t really have mine in any kind of pattern so need to stick to this better!

Hope it goes soon and you feel well again

Thank you for the advice everyone! I'm now on my third migraine this week so I'll have to try some of your remedies. Cold flannel is all I've been doing so far xx

You have my sympathy, I had two months of almost daily migraine in pregnancy. Paracetamol never helped so I didn't bother taking it.

Like others I used 4head, went to bed where possible, and found a can of coke helped a bit - I think it's the sugar and caffeine combination.

I also found my migracap helpful.
www.migracap.com

I sometimes used to lie in a warm bath with the migracap on.

You could also try magnesium - it's safe in pregnancy and I think there's some evidence that it can help reduce frequency and severity of migraines.

It was recommended to me by a neurology nurse, along with co enzyme Q10 and high dose vitamin B2, but I don't know if those two are also safe in pregnancy.

Coldness on the back of the neck I have heard of tho never tried.
Freezer pack on the forehead (in a clean tea towel!)
Eating chocolate also helps mine!
A red apple can see results also!

Hi! Fellow pregnant migraneur here.

I've had to stop taking my preventative medication and have had daily headaches since. Paracetamol doesn't touch them. GP says I can have co-codamol if I'm desperate but only before 30 weeks.

I've actually been signed off work because of the awful migraines I've been having. I really empathise with you as they're horrible.

Only thing I can suggest is ensure you are drinking plenty of fluids. I can only stomach water at the moment, but if I don't drink enough, the headaches are much worse. Dark room, ice pack, the usual remedies.

Ditto for coenzyme Q10 as mentioned by a previous poster, and a water and fat-soluble form absorbs better. For magnesium, many choose a glycinate or citrate for better absorption as well.

Go and see a chiropractor, they can treat safely in pregnancy.

I see one every 10wks or so and they have managed to stop 90% of my migraines. An awful lot of them are caused by issues with posture, neck and shoulder issues.

I have really struggled today with one but am due chiro tomorrow so I know I will feel better then.

I do take paracetamol (I am 12+5) and I use cold gel compresses out of the freezer (these ones from Boots are good www.boots.com/boots-hot-cold-compress-10117904 and liberal applications of 4Head.

I second tiger balm. I rub it on my temples, in between my eyes etc - it really distracts and helps. Also cold flannels/gel packs on top

Tiger balm not recommended in pregnancy as contains Camphor. 4head is ok though

Thank you everyone!