Migraine in Pregnancy - any suggestions?

[BorgLady]

Hello,

My first post here on this legendary site! Hello to everyone, hope to get to know you all better.

I'm 12 weeks pregnant with my first baby, slowly getting over morning sickness, but am suffering terrible migraines.

I've had migraines since I was 19 (I'm now 30), but have always taken Sumatriptan (Imigran or Imitrex). Obviously now I'm pregnant I can't take these any more

I was wondering if anyone had any advice for curing migraines during pregnancy. Massage, sleep and paracetamol don't help at all and I'm having 2-3 a week and it's miserable.

Particularly bad ones mean I'm throwing up every five minutes, something I'm really not keen to keep doing!

Thanks very much to anyone who can help.

Chloe

I had them during pg and b/feeding...and at no other time
I found paracetamol taken 3-hourly plus "4-head" (otc from boots etc) worked on me, plus one of those bracelet thingys that put pressure on your wrist. yes i know they are for seasickness or something but i dont care cos they fixed it for me. and sunglasses. yes even in this weather. just pretend to be 'cool' or 'hip' or whatever

i had them early on with this pregnancy but they started to disapear after about 3 mths. i dont get many when not pg but was having at least one a week. the only thing i found was avoiding my trigger (caffine) and lying in dark rm or bath if one started. hope you find something that works.

Chiropracter may be able to help.

Oh - not sure about safety in PG but lack of magnesium can cause migraines - a supplement may help. Check with doc/midwife first though.

You can take codeine/co-codamol during pregnancy but try not to take them too often as they can start to cause headaches.

Also go to your doc if they last more than a day or two, can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, they'll just want to check out your blood pressure, though it is probably just the hormones. Fortunately, they do normally ease off, mine have (26weeks) and I now have one about once every few weeks rather than every day.

I'd recommend acupuncture. It helped me lots with my migraines and had quite a lasting effect. As long as caffeine isn't a trigger you can try strong coffee as that can help dilate the bloodvessels in the brain.

hi BorgLady. I too have suffered migraine for years and usually rely on 50mg of Sumatriptan. I was in France some years ago suffering from a particularly bad attack and saw my friends cranio sacral therapist, it was a revelation! Early in my pregnancy I was laid up for 5 days with a horrendous migraine. I saw a nutritionist for food intolerance tests which showed up eggs, certain nuts and cocoa so I've cut them out. I've also found a wonderful cranio sacral therapist who has given me techniques to help prevent further attacks. This is the longest I've ever been without an attack having tried EVERY other therapy and tablet!

Thanks very much for all your replies. Never been able to work out my triggers despite numerous theories and food diaries and all the usual migraine malarkey.

I'll try it all, I'm totally desperate! Thanks for being so lovely xx

I had terrible migraines when pregnant and took maxalt (sumatripan) afetr both a neurologist, an obstetrician and the manufacterers said it was safe. My daughter was born severely brain damaged. Any connection? I don't know but I'll never forgive myself.