Sometimes it happens that the head hurts very badly during pregnancy. A particularly similar condition is typical for 12-18 weeks. The big problem is that many drugs are prohibited during pregnancy.
If a headache often appears, then you must definitely consult a doctor to determine the cause of this problem and prescribe the appropriate treatment, which will not harm the future mother and baby.
Migraine
If your head hurts very much during pregnancy, then this can be a sign of migraine. Experts say that every fifth woman at least once suffers from this disease. Most migraines occur in the first trimester of pregnancy.
In this case, a moderate or very strong throbbing pain appears, mainly on only one side of the head. It can bother a woman for 4-72 hours and is enhanced with increased physical activity. Often, migraine is accompanied by other symptoms, namely, nausea, hypersensitivity to noise and light, and vomiting.
Some women have such a headache during pregnancy that they cause visual disturbances, increased sensitivity or numbness, speech impairment, and weakness. Such symptoms may appear an hour before a migraine. This disease is very dangerous in that various complications can also occur.
Causes of discomfort
Many women are interested in why a headache during pregnancy is very painful and for what specific reasons there is such a violation. These can be diseases, physiological changes and external provoking factors. Some diseases are the root cause of the ailment. These include such as:
- migraine;
- cervical osteochondrosis;
- anemia;
- brain tumors.
The answer to the question of why the headache hurts during pregnancy is possible only after the diagnosis and examination by a doctor. This disease is inherited and develops due to a violation of vascular tone. It can be recognized by such signs as:
- the appearance of blurred vision and photophobia;
- one-sided pain;
- the appearance of an aura in the form of flashes of light;
- nausea and vomiting;
- feeling of throbbing inside the head.
This disease can manifest itself in completely different ways. An attack of pain can be for a short period of time or for several days. A pregnant woman must understand exactly that seizures can be repeated regularly. Provoke an attack can stress, excessive fatigue, music, loud sounds.
Headache during pregnancy in case of cervical osteochondrosis is very painful. This is a fairly common disease associated with prolonged being in an uncomfortable position. Usually in the early stages, the head hurts precisely because of this disease. During the period of carrying a baby in women, the redistribution of body weight changes, which causes a serious load on the spine. As a result of the muscles being in constant tension, pregnant women with osteochondrosis experience headaches.
The appearance of neoplasms is often associated with hormonal changes in the body, which provoke their growth. These include pituitary adenoma, choriocarcinoma, melanoma and breast cancer.
Answering the question of why the headache is very severe during pregnancy, we can say that this happens often due to physiological changes. In most cases, due to hormonal changes, which affects the state of the walls of blood vessels. In this regard, the malaise begins. If in the first trimester a headache is inconsistent, then this is considered the norm and no medical intervention is required.
External factors that lead to the occurrence of a headache are eye strain, physical activity, long trips, stay in a stuffy room.
Main symptoms
With tension, a monotonous dull pain occurs. It seems that the head is pulled tight tape. Often women say that pain spreads from the neck to the back of the head, the eye area. On palpation, pain points can be detected. Nausea is possible, but vomiting is absent. The duration of such pain is from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Migraines can last up to several days. In this case, severe pulsating pains are observed in one half of the head, extending to the eyes. Soreness is accompanied by nausea, sometimes there may be vomiting. Before an attack, there may be blurred vision, visual and auditory hallucinations, a change in taste.
With problems with the vessels, the head hurts and is quite sick. Pregnancy can trigger an increase in negative symptoms. In the case of a hypertensive crisis, a feeling of heaviness appears in the frontal lobe, weakness, and the skin becomes cyanotic.
Treatment
If my head hurts badly during pregnancy, what should I do? Only the attending doctor can accurately answer this question. However, unpleasant symptoms can be alleviated without resorting to medication. Initially, you need to try to accurately determine the source of pain, this makes it possible to say what triggered the onset of the disease. Most often, certain foods cause it. In addition, a strong smell, noise, bright light can be a provoking factor. It is important to try to eliminate the cause.
In the case of a tensile headache, you can apply a warm or cold compress to the back of the head at the base of the skull. Sometimes a cold shower helps to cope with migraines. If this is not possible, then you can simply rinse your face with cold water.
Quite often, a headache during pregnancy is very painful due to low blood sugar. Therefore, to maintain it, you need to eat in small portions, and also to avoid hunger and thirst. You need to drink in small sips, especially with migraines and nausea.
It is important to try to do everything to get tired as little as possible. It is important to rest more often, sleep more. Regular exercise reduces the incidence and intensity of headaches. With migraines, you need to do them slowly and little by little, since a sharp increase in activity can only increase discomfort. Especially useful will be exercises aimed at maintaining posture in the third trimester.
When your head hurts very much during pregnancy, you can try to use relaxation techniques, in particular, yoga, meditation, and self-hypnosis. Such techniques are quite effective and are very popular among women while carrying a baby.
In the absence of contraindications, you can sign up for a full body massage. This will help relieve muscle tension. If this is not possible, then you can rub your shoulders and back on your own.
What drugs can I take?
When my head hurts during pregnancy, what should I do? Many women are interested in this issue, since such a state causes considerable discomfort. Medicines must be picked up by the doctor after the diagnosis. This is very important, since many drugs can harm a child, disrupting its development and provoking the appearance of many defects. If you have a headache during pregnancy, you can use drugs such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.
"Paracetamol" is considered the safest tool during gestation and is not addictive. If you have a headache during pregnancy, then a single dosage should be no more than 0.5 g. However, the daily dose must be discussed with your doctor.
The drug "Ibuprofen" is allowed to take in the first and second trimester. In the third, it is strictly prohibited, as it affects the amniotic fluid. These medications must be taken after eating food so as not to irritate the gastric mucosa.
“Glycine” will help reduce psycho-emotional stress and the manifestation of vegetative-vascular dystonia. It normalizes sleep, improves mood, improves mental performance. It’s good to take “Glycine” for prophylaxis with frequent headaches, which are the result of instability of the nervous system, constant stress, irritability, hard mental work.
In case of overexcitation of the nervous system and sleep disorders, the administration of Valerian tablets is prescribed. For one application, it is shown to drink up to 4 pieces. If the tension headache cannot be eliminated by alternative methods, then you need to take 1-2 No-Shpy tablets.
Alternative methods of treatment
Many are interested in how to eliminate a headache without resorting to medications. For this, you can use alternative medicine techniques. Such methods help to get rid of malaise, but at the same time they are completely harmless to the body.
For a quick normalization of well-being, you can just wash yourself with cool water. It is also recommended to make a compress with ice or apply a damp towel to the temples and forehead.
A herbal decoction made from chamomile and mint is well suited. To eliminate a headache on the forehead, cabbage leaves can be applied. Before use, they need to be slightly mashed until juice begins to stand out. Then prepare a compress and hold until you feel better.
Aromatherapy has a good result. To do this, you can take the oil of ylang-ylang, juniper, lavender and put it in an aroma lamp, and can also be used for inhalation. In the absence of contraindications, baths with aromatic oils help well.
First trimester headache
This is a very important and crucial period, since there is a hormonal restructuring of the body and the laying of fetal organs. Headache in early pregnancy hurts, mainly due to low blood pressure. To verify this, you just need to measure it. If the pressure is really low, then you need to drink a cup of sweet tea, preferably weak black tea, and lie down to rest.
If the headache is severely pained at 10 weeks of pregnancy and the soreness is often observed or even intensifies, then a neurologist consultation is required. This can be a sign of dangerous diseases and requires specialized treatment.
Headache in the second trimester
The likelihood of severe attacks during this period is much less likely. If you still have a headache at the 12th week of pregnancy, then you need to measure the pressure. During this period, discomfort occurs not only against the background of its decline, but also due to an increase. If the expectant mother is meteosensitive, then she may appear sore when the weather changes.
If the headache is severely painful at the 14th week of pregnancy, then you can help in the same ways as in the first trimester. Namely, drink sweet tea and lie down to rest.
Headache in the third trimester
This can be a very dangerous symptom. In the third trimester, a headache indicates an increase in pressure. In addition, this is one of the signs of gestosis - a dangerous condition for a woman's life.
That is why, when a headache occurs, you need to immediately measure the pressure. If it is above 130/90 mm RT. Art., then you need to immediately contact a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
What drugs are prohibited?
During pregnancy, it is undesirable to take such drugs as:
- "Analgin";
- "Nimesulide";
- "Aspirin";
- Diclofenac
- Ketorolac.
These drugs in early pregnancy can lead to heart defects in the baby. If they are taken at a later date, then they affect the indicators of blood coagulation, which is very dangerous for a woman who is preparing for childbirth.
When do I need to see a doctor urgently?
Headaches are a symptom that often indicates a course of a disorder in the body. If a woman feels unwell, then in the first days you just need to relax more and watch your well-being. If the pain is present for a long time, then you need to contact a neurologist.
When discomfort is constantly present, it is very bad for the health of the fetus. That is why, the doctor should diagnose as soon as possible and determine the cause of this condition. Expectant mother must be alert for such signs as:
- blurred vision, hearing loss;
- a feeling of nausea, the formation of edema, increased pressure;
- feeling numb in the limbs;
- the appearance of a headache from a runny nose.
All these symptoms can indicate sinusitis, preeclampsia, increased pressure, vein thrombosis, and the formation of a tumor in the brain. If they are found, the expectant mother should immediately seek qualified help. Emergency delivery may be required to save a woman's life. The sooner a pregnant woman consult a specialist, the greater the likelihood of a favorable outcome.
Prophylaxis
To prevent the frequent occurrence of headaches, a pregnant woman needs to seriously approach the issue of prevention. Expectant mother is recommended to keep a diary in which to note all cases of headache, as well as the circumstances that preceded their occurrence. Using the available data, a specialist will be able to identify the irritant and exclude it.
In addition, you will have to follow the recommendations that prevent the occurrence of seizures. They include:
- regular walk in the fresh air, as well as airing the room;
- normalization of the daily routine in such a way that waking up and going to bed are approximately at the same time;
- avoid overstrain, take a break for a time when fatigue is felt;
- perform simple exercises every 30 minutes while working at the computer;
- eat properly and regularly;
- eat small portions;
- food should consist of natural products;
- avoid stuffy or smoky rooms;
- observe drinking regimen;
- avoid stress and not be nervous.
Often, a headache during pregnancy is not a manifestation of a serious illness. If the expectant mother strictly follows the rules of prevention, then the discomfort ceases to bother her. However, with a frequently occurring headache, you should immediately consult a specialist. He will determine why this is happening, and help protect a pregnant woman and a child from any adverse effects.