Constant headaches

[mlgriffo]

Hello, I'm 15 weeks pregnant with 3rd baby and since about week 10 have suffered with headaches on a daily basis. I'm avoiding paracetamol however drinking 2 litres water daily. Just wondered if anyone else had suffered with this? Never had it in earlier pregnancies. They're not too bad just niggling every day!! Thanks in advance

Have you spoken to your midwife?

With DD1, my headaches were due to pre-eclampsia, although I don't think the onset could be as early as 15 weeks.

I had this from about weeks 12-18. I spoke to my midwife and she said it was probably down to exhaustion. By week 18 my sleep did improve and the headaches went away so I guess she was right. I found having carbs as soon as I woke up helped so maybe try that along with a nap in the day if you can.

How's your caffeine intake?

@mlgriffo, I am 11 weeks and started with daily headaches and migraines last week. I am using paracetamol when I really have to and trying to drink a lot. The doctor I saw wasn't concerned but I suffer from migraines anyway so I'm not sure if I'm more susceptible. However, last night I slept well (which I haven't for a while) and I've woken up without a headache! Not sure if coincidence or if I was exhausted like @kensue19 mentioned as I have really suffered from fatigue.

Hi I started getting very migrainey headaches, sometimes accompanied by vomiting (even though I didn't have first trimester vomiting) around week 10, at first every day, then 2 to 3 times a week and fingers crossed they finally seem to have stopped now, I'm 19 weeks.

If it's really bad defo take paracetamol, it's safe while pregnant. On bad days I'd just have a dose in the morning which was enough to make the pain bearable the rest of the day. Try to drink more than 2 litres of water daily and don't oversleep as I found the headaches much worse if I'd had a lie in, not sure why this is! Also fresh air does help so as much as you may not feel like it, force yourself to go out for a walk. Also diet coke really helps.

Apparently these migraine headaches are very common especially if you had a history of migraines when younger, I never knew this, it's definitely not as talked about as first trimester sickness!

Pregancare gave me the most horrific headaches!!!!

@Luckyelephant1, this is really helpful - thanks!

I went to the Dr last week for this same issue! Please go so that they can check your blood pressure and urine just in case there's an underlying cause. Mine was put down to hormones, i was told to continue with paracetamol but i was also given some co-codamol 8/500 which she said i can take 1 of them when they get very bad.

Been living off paracetamol (I suffer migraines before being pregnant) midwife said its fine to take 8 daily but if I can get away with the lowest dose then do that. She also said if it gets bad they can speak to the consultant and I can get put on something stronger but it can affect the baby's growth so would need weekly growth scans, keen to avoid that at the minute if I can just deal with the paracetamol. I feel for you though, headaches are horrendous

Forgot to mention, i found 4head and the migraine cooling strips from boots helpful :)

I found myself with this last time and was also avoiding paracetamol (I'm an ibuprofen girl normally, I don't like paracetamol). I found with these low level but annoying ones if i did bite the bullet and take a couple of paracetamol that did shift them rather than carrying on hoping good food, hydration and sleep would help. So I'd grin a bare for a day or two then if it was still bothering me I'd give in and medicate and that generally hot me a week or so before another one.

I’ve had this, got progressively worse since 10 weeks (now 15) I’m also trying to avoid paracetamol bug if they’re really bad migraine level then I do take, I find them worse if I sleep over 9-10 hours (which I am doing easily due to exhaustion and furlough!) but 4 head and as little caffeine as possible seems to help, also a carby breakfast seems to cure me! Been trying to treat them like hangovers so using all those cures 😂

@mlgriffo with you on this, 14 weeks and have had them for the last few. I have found to be more congested, so I have been using a steamer which has helped clear my head.
Agree the 4head stick is good too!
Hope yours settle x

Increase your water intake. 2ltr is fine normally but you need more when pregnant as your body has more waste to process with the added demands of a growing baby.

I had terrible headaches from 14-17 weeks. They really got me down! Paracetamol didn’t touch them. The head cooling strips helped slightly . Apparently an increase in hormone levels can cause them . I was so relieved when they went x

In my case it was low blood pressure. It was the low end of normal, but too low for me to function properly. You get salt tablets prescribed for it, or just eat more salt - IF that's what it is!

I suffered badly too but didn’t want to take any painkillers while pregnant. Slept as much as I could, drains lots of water snd used those cool strips for head.

Thank you so much for all your comments reassuring that it does seem fairly common! Will definitely increase water intake and have a mw appointment this week to check blood pressure etc. I did think that it was because I'd cut caffeine out as I was a coffee addict!!! Wishing you all well in your pregnancies xx