Headache during pregnancy: causes, symptoms, how to deal with it

Headaches are not uncommon for pregnant women to complain. Of course this pain makes pregnant women feel uncomfortable. However, what exactly causes headaches during pregnancy? Check out the following explanation, including how to fix it.

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Is it fair to have headaches when you're pregnant?

Headaches are common in pregnant women.

Based on a study published in a journal Obstetrics and Gynecology , 36 percent of women reported experiencing headaches during pregnancy.

The difference is the timing of the headache.

Headaches during pregnancy experienced during the first, second, and third trimesters can have different causes.

In fact, frequent headaches during pregnancy can be a sign of other health conditions experienced by pregnant women.

For example, headaches caused by high blood pressure in pregnancy to symptoms of preeclampsia.

So, it would be better if you consult a doctor if you have a headache.

This will make it easier for you to find the root cause of the pain.

Symptoms of headaches during pregnancy

The following are symptoms of headaches during pregnancy that you may feel. These symptoms make it easier for you to identify the type of headache that is striking.

Tension headaches usually cause the following symptoms:

• Pain that is prolonged and doesn't go away.
• The head felt throbbing.
• Feels on one or both sides of the head.
• A sharp pain at the back of the eye.

Meanwhile, a migraine will taste like:

• Nausea and feeling like vomiting.
• There is a line of light that is caught by both eyes
• Dots of light appear when viewing an object

If you are not sure about the pain you are experiencing, do not hesitate to consult a doctor.

Causes of headaches during pregnancy

There are several reasons for pregnant women to experience head pain with a stabbing sensation.

This condition is divided based on the trimester of pregnancy, along with an explanation.

First trimester

Quoting from American Pregnancy, the body experiences hormonal surges and spikes in blood volume in the first trimester.

These two changes can cause headaches to become more frequent.

Some of the causes of headaches during the first trimester are:

• Dehydration
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hormonal changes
• Drinking too much caffeine
• Stress during pregnancy
• Lack of sleep
• Poor nutrition
• Low blood sugar levels
• Lack of movement
• Sinusitis
• Sensitive to light
• There is a change in eye sight
• Migraine headaches
• Breathing problems (stuffy nose and runny nose)

Generally, the types of headaches in pregnant women that most often appear in the first trimester are tension headache or tension headaches.

This is very likely to occur early in pregnancy because at this time there are many changes in the body.

Second and third trimester

In contrast to the condition of headaches during pregnancy in the first trimester of pregnancy, pain during the second and third trimesters can be a complication of other health conditions being experienced.

Pregnancy complications characterized by headaches such as high blood pressure and preeclampsia.

This condition includes frequent occurrences, especially at gestational age which has reached more than 20 weeks.

However, headaches during pregnancy in the second and third trimester can also be caused by other conditions, such as:

• Overweight
• Bad posture habits.
• Lack of sleep
• Food consumed
• Tense muscles
• Diabetes

Immediately find out the exact cause of your headache to the doctor.

How to deal with headaches during pregnancy

Headaches during pregnancy sometimes coexist with dizziness. However, the way to deal with dizziness during pregnancy with headaches is quite different.

Dizziness is a sensation arm like the world was spinning, while the headache was prickling.

There are several ways to deal with headaches during pregnancy, here are some that you can try:

1. Taking non-prescription headache medicine at the pharmacy

One of the ways you can treat headaches is by taking medication.

A headache medicine that is classified as safe for pregnant women is paracetamol. Paracetamol can be purchased at a pharmacy without having to include a prescription from a doctor.

Meanwhile, other drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin are not recommended for use in pregnant women.

This drug can have a negative impact on the health of pregnant women and the fetus.

2. Exercise

Lack of physical activity can also trigger headaches during pregnancy.

Therefore, try to stay active, as long as you are still strong.

There is nothing wrong with doing sports for pregnant women who are still relatively light and suitable.

Sports that can be an option are walking, swimming, to exercise specifically for pregnant women.

Getting used to being active can also help smooth the labor process later.

However, you still have to pay attention to the condition of your body and not force it if you are not able to exercise.

3. Compress the back of the neck

To treat tension headaches, you can use a cold compress to relieve the pain.

For example, put the compress on the back of the neck. In addition, you can also overcome it by taking a shower or using a warm compress.

Headaches during pregnancy should be handled carefully to prevent the risk of side effects to pregnant women and the fetus in the womb.

Headaches that cause discomfort or are very annoying should be seen by a doctor immediately.

How to prevent headaches in pregnant women

Not only dealing with headaches, you can also take precautions when symptoms of frequent headaches during pregnancy come.

Several ways to prevent minor headaches that can be done, including:

• Do physical activity such as walking regularly in the morning.
• Use relaxation techniques to avoid stress, which can also cause you to get frequent headaches during pregnancy.
• Enough water intake in the body to prevent dehydration.
• Improve your sleep patterns because lack of sleep can also cause dizziness during pregnancy.

You also need to avoid triggers for headaches by consuming foods and drinks that are good for health.