Such a headache at 38 weeks

[Sadie789]

Having hardly had a headache and not one migraine throughout my pregnancy, I’ve now had a proper headache for the last 2 days. This morning it’s worse again and I honestly don’t think I can function like this (already struggling to walk and have a toddler to look after too).

It’s not pre eclampsia because I was at midwife yesterday and everything normal. All she said was to take the plain paracetamol as per the advice for the rest of pregnancy.

But normal paracetamol isn’t strong enough. Would I be crazy to take co codamol at this late stage? It’s so sore it’s moving into migraine territory (for which I have special medication which I’m not allowed to take either!!)

Also does anyone think it could be iron tablets giving me the headache?

Help!!!

The only advice I can give is that mine was pre eclampsia at this stage.

I would call your midwife again if the pain is so bad.

I would be going back to midwife. If its worse this morning it could be developing.

But urine was normal, blood pressure normal and no swelling? How quickly does PE develop?

PE can develop quickly. Mine came on during labour - was picked up at 10pm having apparently been fine at 2pm. Not to worry you, but I think it's always worth checking (not least because you must be miserable being in that kind of pain). Best of luck.

Ok will phone midwife this morning and see what they say! Thank you

I second pps, pre eclampsia can develop quickly and the headache often comes before the blood pressure goes up. In my case, the only symptoms I had were a constant headache, and bold pressure that was sometimes normal and then would shoot up randomly during the day. This went on for a week before it eventually went up and wouldn't come back down and I ended up being induced.

Good luck op!

Do make bloody sure they see you in person (don't be fobbed off with a phone call). PE can come in bloody quickly, so not having symptoms before doesn't mean you don't have it now. And pack a bag just in case. I had a trace of protein one day, was taken in "for monitoring" that afternoon and only went home once my DD had been born. Good luck!