Pregnancy is a period when a woman’s body goes through many transformations. And this is often reflected in some not-so-common symptoms, such as headaches during pregnancy. Many women wonder if pregnancy causes headaches or if having frequent headaches during pregnancy is normal. While on one hand, these headaches are a source of great concern, on the other, they can be readily explained and treated. Today we will explain the types of headaches that can arise during pregnancy, why they may occur, and how they can affect you. If you want to know more, read the text to the end and check it out!
Is It Normal to Have Headaches During Pregnancy?
When a woman becomes pregnant, her body goes through various types of transformation. Among these, hormonal changes are especially strong and have visible effects. Headaches during pregnancy are often the result of a true surge of hormones that occurs mainly during the first weeks. Therefore, we can conclude that yes, it is normal to have headaches during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be treated or even ignored. What you need to do, besides understanding the roots of these headaches, is to know the appropriate treatment for you that won’t harm your baby. For this, consulting a medical specialist is essential. If you also suffer headaches early in pregnancy, it is also important to understand which type of pain it is. That way, your doctor can more easily recommend the best treatment.
Types of Headache
There’s a common belief that a headache is just one single thing, but just as there are several causes, there are also different types of headaches, which affect you differently and require distinct treatments. Let’s talk about each of them, show what makes them different, and how they affect a pregnant woman. These types are:
- Migraine
- Tension Headache
Migraine
This is a type of headache that mainly occurs in first-time mothers. That’s because there’s a high level of hormonal activity, especially at the start of pregnancy, which can make your body react in several ways. Migraine is one of them. This headache is felt in the forehead and on one side of the head, usually just on one side. Migraines can also be accompanied by nausea and even vomiting, depending on their severity. In addition, women with migraines can be more sensitive to light and certain smells. It’s worth noting that, in some cases, migraine may be associated with preeclampsia, a circulatory disorder that can pose certain risks during pregnancy. For this reason, when a pregnant woman is diagnosed with migraines, it’s important to investigate the precise causes.
Tension Headache
Tension headache is another common type of headache in pregnancy and it can be related to a variety of causes. One that many people don’t even imagine is lack of caffeine. Many women stop consuming caffeine when pregnant and their bodies may react to this sudden lack, which causes headaches. This is not a reason for concern, as the body usually adjusts relatively quickly and tension headaches tend to decrease. This type of headache can also have other causes, such as stress, tiredness, dehydration, or even nasal congestion. This pain differs from migraines because it generally affects both sides of the head and does not come with other symptoms like nausea and queasiness. Although less common, there are also other types of headaches that pregnant women may experience, such as headaches from food and sinus headaches. These are usually associated with a prior problem and are not directly related to pregnancy itself, although they may affect a woman just the same. 
How to Relieve Headaches During Pregnancy?
First of all, it is important for you to know that these more common headaches during pregnancy also come in phases, which means they might often ease on their own. Usually, the first trimester is when they are most intense. From the second trimester onwards, your body generally adapts and the headaches decrease considerably. Even so, it’s important to understand the steps you can take to ease these headaches and to make sure they don’t become a torment. Medications in general are not recommended for pregnant women. It’s important to avoid self-medicating, even with drugs that have no contraindications for pregnancy, as they may still cause you unpredictable and adverse effects. The best approach is to adopt some precautions that can really help relieve the pain, such as:
- Sleep well – This helps ensure your body feels more rested during the day, reducing the chance of stronger headaches.
- Avoid very fatty foods – These can make you feel sluggish and worsen the headache, especially for women who suffer from migraines.
- Get some exercise – Physical activities designed for pregnant women are great not only to relieve headaches, but to prevent them. In addition to other health benefits, exercise also helps release tension.
Along with these habits that should be adopted by pregnant women, it’s important to talk to your doctor about headaches and listen to their advice. That’s how you can ensure these headaches won’t affect your pregnancy in any way.
Can Headaches During Pregnancy Affect the Baby?
To answer this question, it’s important to look at what type of headache you’re experiencing. And for that, nothing’s better than seeing your doctor and doing all the necessary tests. Tension headaches, though quite bothersome, usually don’t affect the baby and should be treated mainly by alleviating symptoms so you can have a more comfortable day to day. As for migraines, they can pose some risks to the baby, due to the possibility of being linked to preeclampsia. Some complications this condition can bring are preterm labor and cardiovascular diseases in the mother. However, it’s important to note that migraines are often just a result of the woman’s hormonal changes and, in these cases, they do not generally pose any major risk to the baby. By understanding the different types of headaches that exist, why headaches during pregnancy occur, and how treatment works, you can also feel more at ease. It’s natural to have several questions about your health and the baby’s, and with those, comes concern. However, the most important thing is to research the subject, and talk to your doctor whenever possible so you know that everything is okay with your pregnancy. In most cases, these headaches are nothing more than a scare and can be easily treated.
