Migraine and pregnant

[Motherof1and2dogs]

Day 2 of a bad migraine. Paracetamol isn't touching the sides at all. Can you take ibuprofen during pregnancy?? I don't like to take these usually but I am suffering and will do anything at the moment to try and get rid of this migraine.
It is so severe that it's disrupting my sleep.

My midwife has explicitly told me not to take ibuprofen as it can damage organ functions in the baby. Have you tried aspirin? I'm taking it as standard - apparently it helps encourage effective blood flow to the placenta. But it also has pain relieving qualities, and is clearly safe to take in pregnancy if it's being recommended (my colleague also took it in pregnancy and has a healthy one year old now). Maybe also tried a cool flannel on your face and a dark room?

Can you try a cup of coffee or a full fat coke when you take your paracetamol? I know they apparently tell pregnant women not to drink coffee nowadays but it's always my first line. Sure one won't be a problem.

I also suffer from awful headaches in pregnancy.
Not much you can do unfortunately and please don't take ibuprofen.

I had awful headaches during pregnancy. Acupuncture helped. I know headaches are not the same as migraines but it might be worth a try.

I had 3 migraines in 48 hours during pregnancy (luckily only the once!). I was seen by a doctor and they could only prescribe me anti-sickness tablets and then recommend paracetamol. There isn’t any pregnancy safe migraine tablets and you definitely can’t have ibruprofen.

@CharlieAndMoose not tried aspirin as I thought paracetamol was the stronger option out of the two but will give it a go! Thank you.
I did speak to a midwife and they also told me to not take ibuprofen. Already tried an ice pack on my head which doesn't make a difference :(

@Dolamroth I have read this somewhere else as well that the caffeine can help with sickness as well as headaches! Crazy that it can work as caffeine can also cause headaches! I will definitely be up for having a can of coke! Thank you.

No ibuprofen or aspirin in pregnancy unless under specific medical advice.

Speak to a GP, there may be options. My GP gave me a fairly low dose of codeine for migraines in pregnancy, but was very clear about how much/often I was allowed to use it, and very clear that it could not be taken in the first trimester or second half of third trimester, for example.

And I know it's kind of obvious, and also kind of impossible, but prioritise rest and sleep wherever possible. Sometimes you just can't push through and you need to stop x

I find 2x paracetamol and cold full fat coke helps.

I was also allowed tor take cocodamol in my last pregnancy, drs words were if mums not happy, baby’s not happy. But I only took them when I couldn’t manage without.

I went to the doctors and they gave me something stronger (sorry I can't remember what)

I also found the headache stick helped somewhat and cold compress

No to ibuprofen! I had migraines solidly for about a month (I have always got them, but they were worse in pregnancy). Went to the doctor and they signed me off work, and then basically said that nothing had been tested on pregnant women to treat it (you can read the BUMPS website), so everything has an element of risk to take it. She did say I could have very low dose codeine but again there’s a risk, I declined because it has never worked on me and I didn’t want the risk either. What did find that helped was buying an ice eye mask from Amazon, it took the edge off with paracetamol.

I am currently 5 months and have had weekly migraines since the start so you have my sympathy, they're rough. Things that have helped me when used in tandem: lots of water, isotonic drinks, paracetamol, ice pack on your head and feet in a washing up bowl of hot water, complete darkness/quiet, try to relax your muscles as much as possible/do a meditation, bath with a drop of lavender in it, caffeinated tea with a sugar, high carbohydrate meal. In slower time acupuncture has been very helpful. It will pass OP 💐

Hope it helps, migraines are miserable. Fingers crossed for you 🤞

Low dose aspirin is safe in pregnancy, it doesn't need to be prescribed. Just don't exceed 150mg.

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/aspirin-for-pain-relief/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-aspirin-for-pain-relief/

Low dose aspirin probably isn't going to touch it, the dosage isn't really high enough to achieve an analgesic effect. I'd stick with paracetamol and contact your GP if it's really unmanageable. I had a lot of them in my first trimester then they eased off.

My migraines started when I was first pregnant, were primarily hormonal. Now that I am post/menopausal I rarely get them. Triptans helped me but assuming not an option.

I’d go with fast acting paracetamol with a can of full fat coke, and a rest/short nap. Caffeine and sugar always helped me, as did not missing meals even if I was feeling sick.

Migraine sufferer here who was told to take a high dose of aspirin with a full fat coke as a cure in pregnancy as a cure. Not as good as my normal migraine drugs but worked about 80% of the time.