Pregnancy for any woman isquite a difficult period, which brings not only joy, but also many problems. Among such negative situations, it is necessary to note the most severe headaches, which are especially common during the second and third trimesters. It is often quite difficult to get rid of the pain, and medications are contraindicated at this time. Why does headache occur during pregnancy and how to reduce its frequency?

Headache: causes

To effectively combat headaches,it is necessary to understand what exactly causes it. This will allow you to take the right measures, implement a set of preventive measures that will minimize headaches during pregnancy, make attacks less frequent and severe. So, the main reasons why your head can hurt quite badly:

Hormonal changes. During pregnancy, the female body undergoes fairly strong hormonal changes, especially in the first 3 months. He needs to get used to the new conditions, but while this happens, the woman is worried about the painful condition.

Low pressure. Progesterone begins to predominate over other hormones, and it has a general relaxing effect, including on the walls of blood vessels. They greatly expand, pressure begins to fall, the brain experiences oxygen starvation. Because of this, migraine-like seizures are observed.

High blood pressure in the last trimester.The causes of pain are an increase in the volume of blood circulating in the body and an increase in pressure as a result. In this case, mandatory observation by a doctor is required.

Gestosis, that is, generalized vascularspasm, which also causes the appearance of protein in the urine, swelling. Treatment of headache during pregnancy in this case is assigned a comprehensive, which is aimed at eliminating the cause, and not only the pain itself.

Weight gain.

Feeling of hunger, thirst, lack of vitamins.

Exacerbations of chronic diseases.

Stresses, experiences, overstrain, fatigue.

Change in weather conditions (often occurs when the temperature changes in the street, rains, extreme heat). This can occur in anyone, but during pregnancy is much more pronounced.

Treatment of headaches Treatment duringpregnancy should be very careful, since the body's reaction now can be unpredictable, and the pills can only harm the future baby. Therefore, headaches during pregnancy are most safely removed by non-drug methods, which we will talk about below. The intake of various painkillers and other chemicals should be limited, and in many cases completely excluded. But what if treatment with other methods is impossible? There are a number of drugs that are allowed to be used, although it is recommended to consult with the attending physician before taking them. Thus, treatment with regular aspirin, ibuprofen is not allowed, and acetaminophen can be used, but only in accordance with the instructions. All other drugs for the treatment of headaches can be used only as prescribed by your doctor!

Preventive measures

To make headaches bother you as little as possible,it is necessary to carry out a set of simple preventive measures that cannot guarantee complete relief from migraine, but will reduce the likelihood of its occurrence many times over. Among such preventive measures, the following should be noted:

• try to avoid stressful situations.They are not only harmful to you and your future baby, but also often become the cause of severe pain, as they lead to muscle tension. If you continue to work, then try not to stay late in the evenings, overwork. At home, try not to be nervous, it is unlikely to be possible to completely avoid this, since the pregnancy itself and the changes associated with it are already some stress for the body, but these manifestations can be reduced.
• try not to change your daily routine too much, sohow often this is the cause of headaches. Pregnancy is not the reason that makes you sleep all day now. On the contrary, some activity helps you feel much better than immobility;
• some products during pregnancy cancause not only migraines, but also a general poor state of health. Talk with the supervising physician, determine the number of foods that you will be extremely undesirable for some time;
• bright light, loud sounds can causethe strongest pain, so try not to happen in those places where such reasons can catch you. Talk to your loved ones so they will try to protect you from such noise and light effects, they will understand you;
• If you were training before pregnancy, thenstop classes, just reduce the intensity of the load. It is best to consult a trainer, a supervising doctor, who will tell you which exercises will be very useful now and which ones should be avoided.

How to get rid of a headache without medication?

Treatment for headaches during pregnancyIt is best to do this in such a way as not to use medications that can have a negative effect on a woman at this time. We offer several methods that will help alleviate the condition:

• First, it is necessary to correctly identify the sourcemigraines. If you have headaches quite often, it is best to start keeping a diary, with the help of which you can easily understand where the pain came from, how it develops over time. You need to write down in the diary what you ate during the day, since during pregnancy it is food that often becomes the cause of such a painful condition. Among the products that are at risk, it is necessary to note sodium glutamate, sulfites and nitrites, which are often found in many dried fruits, bacon, salami and other products, all artificial sweeteners, beans and nuts, smoked fish, mature cheese, sour cream, chocolate, bananas, citrus fruits, avocado, papaya, pickled products, some types of sauces. In addition to food, sources of pain can be cold, noise, bright light, tobacco smoke. Write down everything that you suspect was the source of the headache, this will help you more easily determine the source, and therefore get rid of it;
• among the methods of treating migraines in first placethere are cool or warm compresses that are applied to the base of the skull to the back of the head. Cold compresses that are applied to the forehead often help. To do this, you can take a clean towel, which is simply soaked in water of the required temperature, then wrung out;
• In some cases, a cold shower or simply rinsing your face can help quickly relieve pain. A warm bath or shower can help with tension pain;
• headaches during pregnancy are commonarise from hunger or thirst, low sugar level. At this time, it is recommended to eat small portions, but not to the point of hunger. You can have small snacks with yoghurts, crackers, eat one apple. But sweet cookies, candies, cakes - it is better to avoid all this, since they raise the sugar level significantly, but do not hold for a long time. Severe headache appears again? Review your menu. It is recommended to drink regularly, we are not talking about liters of liquid, but mineral water or natural juice will not be superfluous. If you have a severe migraine with nausea, then you need to drink in small sips;
• one of the best medicines for headachespain during pregnancy - this is rest, peace, sleep. Try to rest more, do not overexert yourself, because at this time your body works for two, which means it gets tired much more;
• in the third trimester of pregnancy, pain canquickly retreat when performing a special set of exercises that are allowed in such late months. These are exercises that allow you to maintain your posture.

What else should I do?

• If you do not have migraine, try differentmethods of relaxation: self-hypnosis, yoga. Many of these techniques have been specifically designed to alleviate the condition in pregnant women. If you have time, find a coach who will teach you. Such exercises will help not only to get rid of the headache, but also to improve overall well-being, allow full rest;
• Massage. If you are not contraindicated, then you can make an appointment for a massage. Such procedures will help relieve tension from the back, shoulders, neck. You can at home gently rub your shoulders or your back, ask others to do it. But do not push hard;
• But there is one method, the use of which is forpregnant is controversial. It's about acupuncture, which is recognized in this state as safe, but the reaction to it is absolutely individual. Therefore, in this case it is recommended to consult only with the supervising physician, not to solve such questions yourself.

Migraine - a sign of illness?

Headaches during pregnancy are not onlyare unpleasant, but can often become a sign of another problem, so they need to be paid attention to, and not just take a pill and forget about it until the next attack. If during the first trimester you are constantly bothered by migraines, which are quite difficult to relieve with the usual means, then you should immediately contact your attending physician for an appropriate examination. In the second, third trimester, such constant, persistent headaches can be a sign of preeclampsia, that is, a rather serious syndrome, which is characterized by high blood pressure, the appearance of protein in the urine. This syndrome is caused by pregnancy, but you need to see a doctor, especially since you can’t take medications at this time. What to do if you have a severe and constant headache during pregnancy? You should urgently contact your attending physician in the following cases:

• if attacks of severe headaches during the second and third trimester begin to be accompanied by a sharp abdominal pain, visual impairment, nausea, swelling of the face or hands, a sharp set of weight;
• when there are such strong painful sensations that it is not possible to fall asleep. Also if the seizures can not be managed by any available method;
• if the headache begins to be accompanied by an increase in temperature, stiff neck (i.e., torticollis);
• When the headaches appeared after a fall, a bruise in the head;
• if another pain is observed simultaneously with migraine (for example, in the eyes, teeth, in the other part of the face, nasal congestion).

It is important not to get headaches if you experience them.endure them, but try to remove them immediately using available methods, excluding medications. But if such attempts are not successful, you should immediately contact your supervising physician, since migraine during pregnancy can be quite dangerous not only for the health of the expectant mother, but also for the baby. Headache is unpleasant in itself, but during pregnancy this condition is often a consequence of a completely different disease. To get rid of migraine at any stage, you should not immediately grab the pills, there are many other ways to safely eliminate pain. But if none of the methods helps, plus other symptoms appear, then you should not wait until "it goes away on its own", you must immediately contact your supervising physician who will prescribe an examination and appropriate treatment.

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