Pregnant and Having Frequent Headaches

Updated on March 15, 2007
A.L. asks from Appleton, WI
19 answers

I am 8 weeks pregnant with my third child and having daily headaches. I think they are tension headaches because they feel like they're behind my eyes. I don't have a doctor's appointment until next week and hate to keep calling his nurse, so I was hoping someone could help me out. Did this happen to anyone else, and what did you do to help them? I hate to take Tylenol every single day, but if I have a headache I can't lie down. Otherwise, I wake up in the morning and STILL have a headache (like today). I know they are not caffeine related headaches. I teach at night and these headaches make it very hard to concentrate; they also make it pretty difficult to take care of my other two kids during the day. I seem to remember having these during my last pregnancy, too, but I don't remember what my OB said to do about them. Any suggestions?

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L.R.

answers from La Crosse on

They might be hormone headaches. I had them frequently in the beginning of my second pregnancy. My doctor let me take Advil for these since I wasn't too far along yet.

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A.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I had very similar problems with headaches. I too, am pregnant with our third child. I let the headaches go on for way too long, about a month and a half. I didn't want to take Tylenol or anything else but finally it got too bad. My midwife said it is best to take something and stay on top of them so they will go away. Low and behold...they did within a day or so. Take something for the headaches. They won't get better. :)

Happy pregnancy!

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V.W.

answers from Madison on

I had really bad headaches too in the beginning. And yes, the good news is that it didn't last throughout the pregnancy. I told my doctor about it too, and she said it was very normal. Congratulations on your pregnancy! I'm due in 7 weeks! The time really does fly by when you stay excited!!! Don't forget that... even on days when you're not feeling to good. =)

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Y.B.

answers from Appleton on

Hi A. ,

My name Y., but you can call me Tesh. When I was pregnant with my son i started to get headaches more offten. The best thing to is drink a cup a of chamomile the herbal tea ,get lavender oil candle and a luke warm towel. you lite candle the and relax while you drink the tea and just breath. then lay back with the towel over you eyes. i know you may be thinking , she must be crazy i don't have time for all that but trust me it works, it should only take 30 mins, the chamomile will calm the noise in your mind and the lavender will relax you . so hope you try this !

have a happy healthly baby

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M.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

If they are indeed tension headachs you should go to the Chirioractor. Plus when you are pregnant its good for you to go anyways because it relieves alot of tension! There is a good one that I go to in burnsville called Nelson Chiropractic. Its off of county rd 42 and nicollet. Hope it helps! I know it did wonders for me!!!

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A.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

I had horrible headaches with both my pregnancies. My ob/gyn said a lot of women get them because of your hormones during pregnancy. I tried every "natural" way to get rid of them and also tried tylenol, benadryl (to help with the nausea caused by them), tylenol 3, etc...

My ob/gyn gave me a prescription for Darvocet-N and that would take away the pain. It was so nice to finally not have a severe headache!!

I also kept saw a chiropractor and a message therapist on a regular basis so I wouldn't have to rely on the Darvocet and it really helped a lot! Plus, who doesn't love a message anyway:)

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J.H.

answers from Eau Claire on

I had the same problem with my first son. I took regular tylenol during the day and tylenol pm at night. The doctor said as long as you don't excede the daily dosage you are fine.

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C.L.

answers from Duluth on

Hi A.. Sorry you're feeling so awful. I too had headaches early on in my pregnancy. I'm sure they were hormone relates. I remeber having to take Tylenol and then put an ice pack on my head. Both on top or where ever it hurt and on the base of my neck. I can't remember exactly when they let up, but I don't think I had them into my second trimester.
Good luck.
C.

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R.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

When I was pregnant with my first child I had lots of headaches in the beggining. When I met with my midwife she ensureed me it was the surge of hormones. If I remember correctly they started easing up after 12 weeks and pretty much went away after the first trimester. I didn't take anything over the counter. They do say tylenol is ok. Also limiting caffeine intake to only once a day is suppose to help. I feel your pain. I hope you find something to get you through. Good lick.

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S.R.

answers from Appleton on

Sounds like migraines to me, pain behind the eyes is a common symptom. I've suffered from migraines most of my life. Try regular Ibuprofen instead of Tylenol. And you should still mention this to your doctor at your next visit, it could be a sign of something more going on. GL/HTH

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J.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

Wow - you are a busy mom to be. I have had 5 children and the last one brought with her very severe headaches. My headaches were so severe that an ENT Dr. did a MRI to see if something was going on. Fortunately I was ok medically and was unfortunate to have to deal with the headaches until my last trimester. I did get a relaxion tape (bio feedback type) and it did miracles when I could use it. I'm not a big medicine user but did use tylenol infrequently to help me out with the pain. I'm no doc but I though Ibuprofen was a no no when you were pregnant (heart problems have been linked to the use of it). Anyway, I wish you all the luck with your new baby and hope that you can reduce your stress and enjoy your last pregnancy.

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H.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

hey A. i'm H.. actually i am 7 weeks pregnant and going through the same thing, i can't get to the doctor until next week either. i had headaches with both of my other two pregnancies and for a while after their births. i have tried every migraine medication under the sun and none of them worked. tylenol doesn't work for me either so my doctor suggested aleve. it works for me really well, of course i am not about to tell you to take aleve without your doctors input, i am not a doctor and i am only telling you my personal experience. just make sure that you definantly tell your dr at your appointment. my headaches the first time were a symptom of preclampsia (sp?) which i had really bad and it wasn't cured with birth like it was supposed to. early symptoms are important. i didn't realize it until later in my pregnancy after it had already gotten bad. i still had headaches with my daughter but they weren't as frequent or painful. but this third pregnancy is pretty much a every day thing and the aleve isn't strong enough for all the headaches. so just make sure you are very persistant when you tell your dr about your headaches and dont try to be a strong mom and down play them :) trust me they can get worse if you let them. i hope you find some relief. good luck. H. ayer

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K.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi A., this happend to me as well. I am currently 15 weeks and they are better now. I would not take Advil as mentioned in a previous post because that is unsafe in pregnancy. I took Tylenol until I got in with my ob and then she prescribed Firocet which helped tremendously, it is for tension or migraine headaches and is safe while pregnant. You are probably experiencing the same headache that goes away for awhile while the tylenol is working and then once it wears off your headache comes back, the firocet will knock it out. You could always call and leave a message for your Dr. I am sure they are used to pregnant women calling for everything I mean they tell you to practically call for everything. Good Luck!!!!

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S.K.

answers from Eau Claire on

Hi A.,
I can relate to the headaches with pregnancy also. My advice is go see your eye doctor. Before being pregnant my first time I had never needed glasses. When my headaches started during my pregnancy I saw the doctor and tried to deal with it and had many people tell me different things. Then I noticed that my eyes seemed strained and my night vision wasn't as good so I went to the eye doctor. I was prescribed glasses. After giving birth I went back and they said my eyes had returned to normal and that the hormones in my system had changed my vision during my pregnancy. I don't know how that happens but I had a lot fewer headaches when I wore the glasses and diet and exercise made the rest of them go away too. Even stranger - I didn't have that problem when I was pregnant with my second child. Good luck! S.

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J.S.

answers from Milwaukee on

I too had the headaches daily. I would also go to sleep with them and wake up with them. It was pretty bad. I'm 20 weeks now and longer have them. Thats good news huh!? I just took Tylenol everytime I had one. My Dr. said it was common and hormone related and o.kayed me taking Tylenol when needed(even if it is everyday). Hang in there, once you get toward the middle/end of your second trimester they should go away. Good Luck!

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A.S.

answers from Milwaukee on

Try making sure you are getting enough protein in your diet. I had this same problem with my second daughter and upping my protein really helped alot. It can also help to make sure you are getting some exercise, even a short walk will help with that. I hope this helps and good luck and congratulations.

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T.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

I experienced headaches with both of my pregnancies, and actually I would describe and classify my headaches with my first pregnancy more toward a migraine. I was told by my Mother who is an RN and my Dr, as well as my Mother-In-Law who works in the General Nutrition business that headaches are typically a deficiency in calcium, I began taking an extra Calcium supplement with my first pregnancy after being told this, and took them from the start with my second pregnancy and never had a headache return during either pregnancy. Calcium also helps reduce other pregnancy discomforts that occur as well, such as: Leg cramps, charlie horses, and many nighttime discomforts and sorenesses. I certainly hope this advice helps you.

Kind Regards & God's Blessings,
Congratulations on your expectancy

Savannah
Mommy to:
Dylan James Douglas, 2 yrs of age
Taylor Jeffrey Gerald, who became an Angel on March 3rd

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C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

I had horrible headaches too and my doctor prescribed codeine/tylenol for them. It helped a lot. They went away once I hit the second semester. I would mention it to your doctor and see what he/she says about them. It's pretty much caused by hormones. Also be sure to get plenty of fluids because it will help with headaches.

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T.

answers from Minneapolis on

I had headaches with both of my pregnancies. My midwife said they were hormone related. Mine only came during the second trimester. She gave me a script that had tylenol, caffiene and a mild barbituate. I took it only as needed and my headaches resolved as my pregnancy progressed. I know it isn't much help if you're not wanting to take tylenol or other meds, but maybe they are just a passing phase. Good luck.

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