Headache - how bad does it have to be to take a paracetamol?

[LaMadrilena]

Morning all. I'm 6w today, and since yesterday I've had a blinding headache. I suspect it's nothing to do with the pregnancy, it's an ongoing cervical spine problem. I'd normally take a naproxen and a muscle relaxant, but obviously can't. I've read that you should even avoid paracetamol if you can. So how bad does it have to be before popping a pill? I feel like I'm getting smacked with a baseball bat every time I bend down.

Take the paracetamol, please take it. Guidance I've read is that paracetamol is fine, my midwife has advised me to take it when necessary and in my last pregnancy I was prescribed paracetamol and codeine for a fibroid which is much stronger. Pregnancy is not a time to suffer. Take the paracetamol, rest, drink lots of fluids and feel better soon.

I had a migraine the other night and I took paracetamol. My mother and mother in law said just to take it. I’ll listen to their old school advice before anything else.

If I have a headache I try to avoid screens and drink some water. If that doesn't work I take a couple of paracetamol. I'm in my first trimester. I took paracetamol during my last pregnancy too. I won't suffer needlessly as paracetamol is widely used and there is no evidence that it does harm in pregnancy.

Thanks everyone. I've read that it can cause asthma and other issues. I know I'm overthinking and googling too much - I think it's just because at this stage of the pregnancy there's not much else to do! Can't stand the waiting and lack of action, hahaha! I'll go ahead and drug myself up then 😉

My sister is a nurse. She recommended me to take paracetamol. She said its completely fine.

Try not to read too much. I find pregnancy and parenthood is much easier if you stay off google.

Paracetamol is fine. Step away from Google.

I had a panic once because a pharmacist told me not to take it.

Dr concluded that it was safe.

I went to EPU because I was having awful stomach pain. Baby was measuring perfectly for 6+3 and had a heartbeat.

The doctor suggested I take paracetamol every 4 hours to keep it under control (& up my fibre incase it’s just awful constipation pain)

It's absolutely fine, don't worry :).
Google is not the way forward x

I had bruised (possibly broken) ribs and sternum from a a car accident and had to take the full recommended dose of paracetamol for 6 weeks and no one suggested that there would be any problems with that.

I try to take pain relief not long after a headache starts as I have learnt that it clears quite quickly that way. When I don't I end up in bed for the rest of the day and needing extra pain relief (after the appropriate time gap). I would rather be able to catch early and only need one dose

I avoided paracetamol like the plague until I spoke to my midwife at 17 weeks.

She was adamant that it's safe and actually useful for differentiating between normal headaches and signs of preeclampsia (though I'm sure you're too early to worry about that ).

Anyway, please don't suffer unnecessary, early pregnancy is tough enough without adding headaches to the mix!

From my perspective it's important to look after yourself, that includes addressing issues like pain. Ultimately unmanaged pain can lead to stress/low mood and raised cortisol levels which is definitely not good for a growing fetus whatever trimester you're in. Unfortunately I've been in the position of having to take three psychiatric medications during both my pregnancies due to an underlying illness. Trust me, they carried MUCH higher risks than paracetamol but my babies were unaffected and I've been able to mother them well enough. Happy mum = happy baby. So please don't put obscure risks you've read about on Google ahead of your own welfare.

I'm 31 weeks and understand you not wanting to take anything unnecessary. Throughout my pregnancy I've had headaches and my partner says just take a paracetamol but I don't like to until its last resort. I find using forehead cooling strips help and also a caffeinated drink, especially if you have tried cutting out caffeine it could be the reason as I suffered really bad in the first trimester as I cut out coffee completely, I now find that if I go 2/3 days without a coffee I get a headache!