Managing Migraine Headache During Pregnancy

Some women may describe pregnancy as a pleasure, but for a major part it is a really trying period of time. Early months of pregnancy traditionally bring along a number of problems, including morning sickness, headaches, and lack of appetite to name a few.

Good News for Pregnant Women Suffering from Headaches

Pregnancy brings a lot of changes: women who would suffer from horrible attacks of migraines start feeling relieved after the onset of the pregnancy; at the same time, there are women who experience horrible headaches during pregnancy – mostly during the first and the last trimesters.

There is still no clear explanation why pregnant women who suffer from migraines before pregnancy will not suffer headaches during pregnancy, and vice versa. Some medical research studies suggest that the reason could be attributed to the increased levels of hormones in the blood, especially estrogen and progesterone.

Serotonin, a substance found in the blood, that is known as a ‘brain-chemical’ (which is responsible for regulation of pain), is greatly influenced by the existence of the above-mentioned hormones in the blood of pregnant women. It seems that when the levels of estrogen falls, the levels of Serotonin will increase and vice-versa.

Basically, causes for headache during pregnancy remain general, i.e. stress, bad posture, hormonal changes in the blood, blood pressure, muscle tension, and so on. Relief can be achieved by simply identifying the cause and eliminating it; however, identifying the cause can be quite difficult and confusing.

Taking medications against headache during pregnancy without consulting with doctor is not a wise idea. Only the doctor can prescribe medication, which is safe for the would-be-mother and the baby, and can reduce the intensity and frequency of headaches during pregnancy. But in most cases, the doctor will advise a change in diet to include zinc and multivitamins as a cure for your headaches during pregnancy rather than prescribe hard-core medication.

Some doctors have achieved excellent results in treating pregnancy headaches by regulating estrogen levels. Obviously, estrogen does influence the levels of Serotonin, and careful regulation might provide the much-awaited relief from headaches during pregnancy.

Meanwhile, women who suffer from headaches during pregnancy have very few alternatives like putting up with the terrible headache, getting plenty of sleep to rest both body and mind, and eating a balanced and preferably vegetarian diet. Avoiding coffee and tea during pregnancy may also benefit in coping with headaches.