Migraines during pregnancy

[Highlandttc]

Has anyone else experienced migraines since getting pregnant? I’m currently 15 weeks and get one pretty much once a week! They’re horrendous and I’m reluctant to take medication too often! They started around 11 weeks so I’ve had 4 in total now (once a week). I don’t know if it’s to do with water intake but do feel I drink enough!
I’ve got my 16wk appointment next week with the midwife so will ask her too.

Have you had migraines before? My neurologist said that 1/3 of migraine sufferers improve during pregnancy, 1/3 get worse and 1/3 dont notice a difference.

when I was pregnant with my son, I didnt have a migraine from the second trimester until I stopped breastfeeding.

this pregnancy, im having severe, 3 day migraines every 2 weeks and I cant take any of my usual medications 😖 Its pretty awful, so you have my every sympathy. No solution im afraid so will be watching the thread for ideas!

Slightly different scenario but I suffer with chronic headaches often leading into migraine. I had them under control with propranolol pre pregnancy. Weaned off it just before becoming pregnant but unfortunately I was in the group where they got worse and at around 9 weeks or so my headaches came back and I was having a migraine at least once a week lasting 2-4 days. Ended up signed off work and under guidance of gp, midwife and hospital am back on my propranolol. Lower dose than pre pregnancy but it seems to be working, I'm now 33 weeks. I have tried a few times to wean it down again but with no luck. Though it is a totally personal choice and I definitely wouldn't have restarted if I found any other way to avoid it, but my migraines also come with nausea and vomiting which I've suffered with throughout pregnancy and still now, so it was a case of being able to function. Hope you manage to find some respite from it!

I've had constant thumping headaches. Not had any aura though so not sure if they're headaches or migraines. I was the same you and didn't want to take painkillers but quickly gave up with that. Pretty much have paracetamol every other day. I think the hormone changes can trigger of migraines.

I had them with both pregnancies and was prescribed Dihydrocodeine for the headache and cyclizine for the nausea. They helped so much - it was worth taking them. Both DC are fine, the Dihydrocodeine will be prescribed if you have a c-section.

I am a migraine sufferer and was in the group that improved during pregnancy.
My migraines are hormonally driven, so cyclical every month. It may be that if yours are happening as a result of the hormonal changes in your body that these may stabilize soon as the hormones settle, particularly as the placenta takes over more of the progesterone production.

I’ve suffered with migraines since I was about 4 but in latter years they seem to be more hormonally driven (period, when ovulating etc). When pregnant with my son they completely disappeared and it was actually heaven for the 9 months. Came back really badly after pregnancy and was breastfeeding and told paracetamol. Am 19 weeks pregnant with a little girl and they are hell. An almost disabling migraine at least once a week and an awful headache every single day (like someone has hit me in the back of the head) . Again told paracetamol ☹️ It’s so hard xx

Thank you everyone - at least I know I’m not alone! Will speak to my midwife at my appointment next week and see what she advises.

I have had migraines in every pregnancy. They cleared at about 16 weeks.

@Highlandttc yea during early 2nd trimester they were awful but seem to have got better in the last month or so... so hopefully won't last too long for you 🤞 midwife said during 2nd trimester it was quite common

I was in the went worse group :(
Acupuncture and reflexology worked for me

I've only ever had migraines durning puberty, pregnancy and perimenopause... clearly driven by hormones. Any other time I've been fine. Hope your midwife can advise on best treatment for you.

I get dreadful headaches, not sure if they are migraines. My issue is that during pregnancy I can’t take ibuprofen which I find v helpful. I am having to take paracetamol all the time which mostly doesn’t work. Ask your midwife about taking codeine, they don’t advertise it but it is ok to take in pregnancy (esp early on and infrequently as the big risk is the baby being born dependent on it). I am not suggesting you do this without discussing with midwife though!