Sinus Headache During Early Pregnancy

You might want to go to Better Health....better yet, Whole Foods! and get a netti pot. It is popular for flushing out the sinuses.

Hi K.,

1. Use a vaporizer at night in your room.
2. Maybe put some vicks on your chest before you go to bed.
3. Exercise, this really will help, even though you won't feel like it with a headache.
4. Go outside for a while. I know it seems weird, but when I have a bad one that won't go away I spend some time out in the cold, usually shoveling or sledding, and my head clears out, jsut have kleenex ready.
5. Fill a bowl wiht boiling water, and put your head over it, with a towel over you and the bowl. Or, turn on the shower and fill the bathroom with steam and sit in there, you don't want to get in a really hot shower because of the baby, and your body temp.
6. Drink lots and lots of water,
7. I would bet that it's dry inside your house, bring a pot of water to boil and turn it down so that there is still steam coming off it to bring up the humidity in the house, this might help prevent headaches from coming back

The trick is to get things moving

Massage? Much stress is in the upper back/shoulder area and relieving the muscle tension helps with sinus headaches. Also, the back of the skull and neck area. Safer than taking any pill and works MUCH better.

Also, get a tennis ball either lay on the floor or sit on chair/couch and roll the ball around, which works in relieving the muscle tension.

Saline spray as needed...I used it when I was pg with my youngest..It helped a lot. It only costs a couple of dollars for the big bottle.

I 'm so sorry for you. I experienced the same thing with each of my pregnancies. You should talk to your OB to see if you are far enough along in your pregnancy to use Afrin nasal spray. I was able to get some relief from that along with the sudafed and tylenol. Best of luck to you!

I too am pregnant and have been having terrible sinus headaches. You can take tylenol but I don't think that you are supposed to take Sudafed until about 16 weeks. Check with your Dr. I have been taking Tylenol and drinking alot of water. Use a humidifier at night and try Vicks.
Good luck!

Hi K.,

Ask your doctor is taking the Sudafed you get over the counter is OK to take.The Sudafed you buy from the shelf might not work for you, it doesn't with me. I did when I was pregnant with my daughter who will be 20 this year.

C.

You could try a Neti Pot.. It is a a sinus cleanser. Dr Oz swears by it. I purchased mine at GNC, but you can probably get them at Walgreens etc. It is a saline solution that you put into one nostril, and it drains out the other. It's kind of tricky when you first try it, but it does work. Good Luck!

I would verify if you can take sudafed. My doctor told me benedryl, not sudafed. though after 2 days and it doing nothing, i stopped taking it.

A few things to try, have a humidifier with you. When I had the sinus infection that lasted about 10 days, the humidifier went with me. If i was downstairs it was there, and when i went to bed, it was in my room. I did add some of the vicks liquid to is, that does help to clear it up.

Saline Spray, works WONDERS. it helps to keep the nasal passages moist. I used it about 3 times a day, and it did help to relieve some pressure. If you aren't really blowing anything out, the pressure builds because the passages are dry, so keeping them moist will help the pressure out.

Rest and drink water. I am due in august as well, and when i had the sinus thing, i brought the gates back out to make sure my daughter stayed in the one room, and let her play. I played some, and laid on the couch. When she took her nap, I napped the whole time as well.

Lavender essential oil applied to the back of your neck, one or two drops.

do a sinous rinse from the drug store, its easy to get them all of the stores have them and increase your Vit C to 500mg every few hours.emergency C drinks are good too. I took 3000 mg max in a day. And WATER WATER WATER. I would not take the tylenol if you do not have to its hard on Livers. Good luck

BENADRRYL. no generic. works every time on those buggers that last for days, =)
GOOD Luck!
A.

Lots of humidity to help keep it loose and be able to blow it out. Inside the boiling water add some vics to it. That will help clear your passage. Also use saline spray in a bottle I was very sceptical about it. But it really works. I use it all the time. That not only helps loosen and keep your nose fresh and moist but i can blow out more with it.

Hi K.,i'm also pregnant and have had the same issue.There's nothing you can really take that won't harm the baby.My Dr. said tylenol is ok.I say continue with the tylenol but don't over do it.If you have a reg OB call and ask.Just try and keep getting as much rest as you can.

Drink lots of clear fluids to thin the mucus.

K.,

You've had a lot of great advice so far. If you can afford a massage, I suggest you schedule one for yourself and talk to the therapist about your sinus problems. They are trained to open those areas and help relieve any blockages.

Then, after you get home, use your neti pot and think about your eating habits and diet. Some of the foods you used to be able to eat, you might not be able to during pregnancy. Specifically, dairy products, many people's bodies react to dairy by over producing mucus in their bodies. The most common reaction is a sticky feeling in the back of the throat.

But, you might be intolerant to other types of foods as well. Try eliminating wheat products, gluten products, and corn products one at a time for a few days and keep track of your body's reactions.

I hope you feel better soon.

C..

I feel for you. I had that with my first pregnancy and I couldn't breathe for a week. Sudafed never even touched it. I have since been introduced to the neti pot, and it really does work. A little gross, but it works. I wished I had known about it years ago. Also, Zicam has a sinus relief gel that really helps to keep things clear after using the neti pot. (it recommends that you check with you doctor first)

Good Luck!

The best way to get rid of sinus problems is by using a neti-pot and it is natural and wouldn't harm the baby in any way. It's just a saline rinse in the sinuses. I have suffered terrible sinuses forever and a ENT dr. told me about the neti-pot and said it was the best thing you could do for sinus problems. I find it to be a miracle! Dr. Oz also talked about it on Oprah and he the same thing. It's a little unpleasant at first, but after a couple of times, it is so much relief that it's worth it.

Good luck,
L.

Definitely try the neti pot! I can't say enough good things about it. I was introduced to it during my second pregnancy because I suffered from bad sinus headaches and this helped tremendously. It even helps clear you out when you have a cold (since you can't really take any cold medicines during pregnancy). I've also read that the salt water helps you to avoid future colds and shorten existing ones because the salt makes your nose an "inhospitable envoironment" for germs...

HI, I have a suggestion. Dr. Oz talked about a Neti Pot on his show a few times. I kind of thought it was silly and kind of weird BUT recently I have had a lot of sinus problems and a pharmacist suggested I try it. So I did the first time this week...and WOW! It helped so much with the pressure and flow. It is totally safe while pregnant and gives instant relief. This is not a cure if you have an infection or anything...but for for some relief with sinus pressure, allergies, etc. its great. You can buy it at any drug store by the cold/sinus meds. Totally worth the 13.99.:) Good luck!
PS Sorry I just read the other responses and apparantly everyone has told you this already...:) Good luck

Some medications are considered safe during pregnancy. Including actifed, benadryl, claritin, chlor- trimeton, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, halls lozenges, nasal crom, rhinocort aqua, robitussin (plain), saline nasal spray, sinex/ neo-synephrine nasal spray, sucrets, sudafed, sudafed PE, Tylenol Plus, Vicks 44, zinc lozenges,and zyrtec.

Ask your dr if they have a list so you can keep it on hand depending on your symptoms and illnesses. :-)

With all 4 of my pregnancys my dr always said that it is much better to have a mom who feels better and handles symptoms than to have a mom who is so tired, wiped out, stressed, and sick. THAT will have more effect on the baby's well being than taking one dose of a medication. But I am not one to dope up on meds unless I really need it... If you take them just to take them and take them for a while, then that will have a negative effect on baby no matter what is in the meds...

So in other words, do what you gotta do, but do it sparingly. AND REST!!!!