What Causes Headaches in Pregnancy

1. Are headaches common in pregnancy?

Up to 30 percent of pregnant women are affected by headaches.

2. Should I be worried if I have a headache when I’m pregnant?

In general, headaches which precede pregnancy are a nuisance but generally not harmful. Nearly all pregnant women have occasional headaches during their pregnancy. Most headaches happen without a clear cause.

3. What are the common kinds of headaches?

Tension Headaches. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. This pain in this type of headache is mild to moderate. It is often described as feeling like someone is squeezing you around the head. This kind of headache can be a response to stress or muscle contractions.

Migraines. Migraines are a type of headache that only occur on one side of the head. This type of headache can feel like severe pulsing  and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Cluster Headaches. Cluster headaches are rare in pregnancies, but they still do occur. These are severe attacks of pain on one side of your head, often felt around your eye area. They usually don’t last long but they can come back regularly.

4. What are the common causes of headaches during pregnancy?

During your first trimester, headaches may often develop because your body is going through many changes to prepare you for the birth of your child. Hormonal changes, higher blood volume, and weight changes can trigger headaches.

5. Can a headache be dangerous in pregnancy?

The most common kind of dangerous headache in pregnancy is associated with increases in blood pressure. These elevations of blood pressure can precede strokes, but there is much opportunity to treat the blood pressure and prevent problems in your pregnancy. Know your normal blood pressure and call your doctor immediately if it starts spiking or creeping up and staying up.

6. How do you treat headaches in pregnancy?

Current research indicates acetaminophen (Tylenol) has been considered safe for use during pregnancy, but recent warnings have been voiced over possible effects on fetal development which need further investigation. My experience with my patients and Tylenol is that it really is not effective for pain relief.

Ibuprofen, another popular pain relief medication, is not to be used during the third trimester of pregnancy but is considered to be safe during the first and second trimester. However, ibuprofen closes the ductus arteriosus, which is a temporary fetal blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the aorta. This allows oxygen-rich blood to bypass  the non-functional, fluid-filled lungs, circumventing the blood flow to the baby’s lungs. Remember, the baby’s lungs are not working until after birth. If the ductus arteriosus closes, the baby will try to breathe air through its lungs while still in utero even though lungs will not work before birth. My recommendation is to avoid ibuprofen throughout your pregnancy.

7. Should I try to relax to help relieve my headache pain?

Always try to relax and relieve your headache by letting go of tension. If you find relaxing, releasing tension and anxiety doesn’t seem to help your headache and you feel you must have pain relief, call your doctor.

Most pregnancy headaches are benign and can be treated best by decreasing tension. If you experience sudden onset, severe headaches, especially when pregnant, seek emergency medical care immediately.