Pregnancy Headaches- The Basics
Headaches tend to be a common problem during pregnancy.It is important to understand that pregnancy headaches come in a variety of forms. There are tension headaches, cluster headaches, migraines and sinus headaches.
Although all forms of pregnancy headaches are unpleasant, they typically have no impact
on the developing fetus and are not usually indications of any other serious complications.
The most common form of pregnancy headache is the tension headache.
Tension headaches are especially prevalent in women that have a predisposition and history of tension headaches. While the exact cause is unknown, many medical researchers seem to believe that a tension headache in the first trimester of pregnancy is largely due to the influx and change in the woman’s hormonal balance.
During the first trimester of pregnancy the mother goes through the most dramatic increase of estrogen and hCG hormones. Until the body is able to adapt and regulate this new/increased production of hormones, a pregnancy headache may result.
Tension headaches during pregnancy can also be attributed to sudden lifestyle changes. These changes include the immediate withdrawal of caffeine or sugar from a woman’s diet.
Just as any non-pregnant individual would experience withdrawal symptoms when weaning themselves off of a drug (caffeine), pregnant women, tend to drastically reduce their overall intake of these substances. This may result in immediate, occasionally daylong pregnancy headaches.
What is the second most common pregnancy headache?
The second most common type of pregnancy headache is the migraine.
In general, migraines tend to affect women more then men. Some medical professionals attribute that to the monthly hormonal changes a woman experiences during her menstrual cycle.
Even if a woman suffered horrendous migraines during her menstrual cycle before pregnancy, she is likely to not have the headaches during pregnancy while her menstrual cycle temporarily halts.
However, the opposite has proven true, in that a woman that has never experienced a migraine in her life may experience pregnancy headaches of the migraine tie. Also, a woman that experiences migraines throughout the month, regardless of her menstrual cycle pre pregnancy, is likely to experience more intense migraines and with greater frequency during her pregnancy.
This could be caused by certain food cravings she is experiencing during her pregnancy that her body is not used to processing, or due to a lack of rest. Migraines typically occur during the first trimester only and this may be due to the increase of stress and anxiety a woman feels when first learning of her pregnancy.
While most over the counter drugs and prescriptions are off limits during pregnancy, medical professionals have approved the use of acetaminophen to treat pregnancy headaches. There are also wide ranges of natural alternatives to consider.