Why have I got a constant headache?

[BiggleBoggle]

Hello everybody. Does anybody know why I might have a constant headache at 23 weeks pregnant? Paracetomol doesn't seem to touch it, it's so constant that I even have it in my sleep if you know what I mean. I saw the midwife two days ago, and blood pressure was fine, no other problems. The only thing is my iron - I looked in my file and when I had the booking in bloods it was 11.9, so near the bottom of the 'acceptable' range. Could that be it? If so, how long does spatone take to work? I feel a bit sick too and VERY tired by about 4pm every day, could happily go to bed then, but think it's the headache causing that perhaps. Thanks!

Hi Biggle.

Your iron levels don't sound particularly low to me- mine was lower and my midwife was not concerned as the other blood stats were fine. What does your midwife say?

Have you been drinking enough water? Are you prone to headaches generally?

As for being tired by 4pm, well you're lasting longer than I did! I was tired by 3pm and could sleep for hours.

I would mention it to the midwife again and get plenty of rest, make sure you're eating properly (provided you're not sick!) and drink loads too.

I had the same problem a few years ago - I went to the doctors a few times who told me they couldn't find anything wrong and just to keep taking the paracetamol (though my iron levels are quite low too btw - I don't know if that can affect it). Then my mum heard an item on the radio about "rebound headaches", i.e. if you keep on taking paracetamol etc for headaches, the painkillers can actually start causing the headaches. So I stopped taking the paracetamol, had really bad headaches for about three days - and that was it, after weeks on end of a more or less constant headache, it finally went. Are you taking paracetamol or something similar for your headache? (I was constantly taking paracetamol but it had very little effect.) If so, maybe it's worth trying to go without it for a few days.