Migraines in pregnancy

[sammymjm1]

Hi

I'm currently 9 weeks pregnant with my second and struggling with migraines.
I have suffered with migraines for a years now and am prescribed medication for them which always takes the migraine away, however I cannot take this medication during pregnancy and wouldn't ever risk my pregnancy.

I have had several migraines since finding out I was pregnancy and only took paracetamol which does absolutely nothing. Last night I had the worst migraine ever and vomited most of the night. I rang my GP today and he confirmed I cannot take anything other than paracetamol.

My plan is to try and avoid a migraine by eating regularly and drinking plenty of water.

Has anyone had experience of migraines during pregnancy and if so what helped you get through it?

I was prescribed cocodamol and I was naughty and took a couple of ibuprofen. I know you shouldn't but it was only 2 tablets and after a long time of it not budging. I'm now 37 weeks and no issues :) not recommending it but it worked for me. I also used the forehead strips and ice packs to help x

That's sad for you, sammymjm.

I didn't experience migraine whilst pregnant but a colleague with whom I worked throughout her second pregnancy, did and it was bad. She tried to keep as calm as possible, ate and drank well and didn't take anything but once she had her lovely baby she said she would never go through that again. Who could blame her? Anyway she did have two children, it's such a shame migraine spoiled her second pregnancy.

As someone above suggested, I think you could take Co Codamol - Solpadeine Max soluble is best.

Good luck, hope things improve.

Thank you both for your reply.

The GP has called and said I can take ibuprofen too but that doesn't generally do anything for me.

I don't want one like last night ever again it was pure torture. It makes me realise how good my prescribed tablets are!!!

It'll all be worth it when baby arrives.

Weirdly I used to get migraines monthly, they were awful, but when I was probably 3 weeks pregnant I had a really weird migraine, the pain wasn't too bad, but all the other symptoms were ramped up to the max. I found out I was pregnant a few weeks later and then didn't have a migraine until 36 weeks, but that one was bloody HORRIBLE and like you I couldn't take any of my medication and I'm on an absolute ibrupofen ban due to other risk factors and I honestly thought I'd have to call an ambulance, it was awful. Fingers crossed I don't get any more before baby comes and I hope you don't either!

I had migraines in pregnancy as a result of raised blood pressure and they disappeared once I was put on hypertensives so make sure it is just your ‘normal’ migraine rather than related to the pregnancy

@shutupsteph
They are awful, I feel in pregnancy it takes a few days to recover from a migraine too. Probably doesn't help my 3 year old who has always been a great sleeper likes to wake up at 2.30am now!!!

@AndWhat
Ah good point, I'll get my blood pressure checked. Thanks !!!

I was just coming onto MN to start the exact same thread OP!

I'm 10 weeks now and the migraines are getting worse. This current one started yesterday afternoon and has kept me awake all night....it's still there now. I can't even open my right eye!
I've had one or two in my life but that's it, now they're near constant and they're really getting me down. Paracetamol and ibuprofen not touching it.

I'm pleased to hear it's not just me though. I had a small bleed on the brain 5 months ago and was worried it was something more sinister.

Hi OP, I’m also a migraine sufferer. Usually I get them every 8ish weeks and they’re severe. (Very painful, can’t leave bed, vomiting for 12-16 hours)

I’m now 12 weeks pregnant and have had 4 mega migraines - I don’t know if the migraines are causing hyperemesis or the hyperemesis is causing migraines (or if I’m just very bad at being pregnant!), but I now have 5-6 days of severe vomiting (requiring hospital admission for a drip) and 2 solid days of pain. So that’s pretty much been most of my first trimester 🙄

It’s awful and I don’t have an answer for you, but just wanted you to know you’re not alone. You’re protected from repercussions for repeated sick leave from work (thank god). Unfortunately, toddlers aren’t so reasonable! I can’t imagine having to do this with another child to look after - take all the help/support you can get from friends and family and hang in there, it’s not forever

I'm so sorry to read that you're suffering with migraines. I used to get two migraines a month before I was pregnant which were very intese and I took Sumitriptan. When I became pregnant, I felt rotten for the first 20 weeks and got a few migraines but not as intense as before. The doctor said I could take Aspirin which helped, whereas cocodamol or paracetamol didnt do much. So maybe ask your GP about Aspirin.
I hope they ease up, I felt much better after week 20 and didn't get the headaches any longer, fingers crossed for hour migraines to ease off too.

There are some triptans which you can take in pregnancy.

I'm sorry you're suffering. I'm also a severe migraine sufferer - sometimes hemiplegic, sometimes just the aura. I've been suffering since I was 11 years old! So far in pregnancy I've had 3 that were better than normal, less pain than I usually experience and another one was possibly the worst in years - throwing up and so much pain.

I will only take paracetamol, even though it doesn't do much. Doctor said I can take codeine but it's not advised as baby can become addicted. So I'd rather take paracetamol and suffer myself. It's such a hard one. I have instant ice packs so I just break the crystals and it's cold and then place on my head and back of my neck - it helps a little.

I'm 16 weeks now and so far not had one yet in the second trimester. So I'm hoping it might get easier! I have always been drinking plenty of water so unfortunately for me I don't think that makes a difference. I make sure I get plenty of sleep, eat regularly and avoid stressful situations. Good luck!

Wow thank you all for you advice and support!

Sorry to hear you have all suffered, i honestly don't think people realise how bad migraine are until you experience one yourself. You literally can't function.

I usually get 2-3 a week and would say I've had 4 in the 9 weeks of pregnancy so they've definitely decreased in frequency but are worse than ever but I'm putting that down to do not being able to take sumatriptan.

My little boy is good but like I say since I've become pregnant he's waking through the night and only wanting me and typically work is as stressful as ever haha!!!

When are you all due?

I was just coming to make a post about this OP! So sorry you’re suffering .
I’m just under 8 weeks (had a scan today to confirm my dates). And started getting headaches. The dr did my BP and weighed me when I went with severe sickness the other day, prescribed me cyclizine for sickness and just said it was a normal migraine and that I had low BP. Been taking paracetamol and it’s not touching it and I have such bad sickness it’s absolute hell!!
😟 sorry I haven’t got any advise other than a hand hold XX

Forgot to add , i can actually feel my head pulsating from the outside if you put your hand on my head , and it is throbbing so so much I can’t bare it !

@itsemily

So sorry you're suffering too. My GP said I can take ibuprofen up until the beginning of third trimester. That may help you? It's doesn't really for me.

I totally sympathise and can't give much advice other than eat, drink and rest. Hopefully it will pass soon. I haven't got one today but find myself anxious all day that ones going to appear.

@sammymjm1 I was taken off sumatriptan last February as my migraine was so bad they thought I had a stroke so I had to have a brain scan... thankfully not but apparently my type of migraines I should never have been given sumatriptan 🙈

I'm really scared about having a migraine during or after the labour and how I'll cope. Also don't want to leave my husband to cope with the baby if I do! I know I shouldn't worry as it might not happen but I still do!

I'm due 2nd July and find I have less migraines in the summer months so hoping that helps 🤞

I had migraines more or less consistently for the first 20 odd weeks of my pregnancy. The doctors and midwives said paracetamol only. Then when I saw a pain management specialist at the hospital she said that over the counter strength cocodamol wasn't as issue, just to try to avoid taking it in the last few weeks so it isnt the baby's system when it's born.

@redrobin

That sounds really scary. Have you told your GP about your anxiety after labour and migraines? If it's causing you stress during pregnancy maybe a
plan can be in place.

@sammymjm1 I hadn't thought of that - I guess I just thought they'd say it's common blah blah blah. I'll mention it and see what they say. Thank you x