Postpartum Headaches/birth Control Pills

Hi A.!

I too suffer terrible headaches. I was on the birth control called (Yasmin) for about 3 years when I notice that I would get painful headaches before my period. After talking to my doctor she switch me to Seasonique. I still was getting the terrible headaches. The headache would last for 3 or 4 days on one side of my head. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!! Finally, I was told that the headaches were migraines. I now have migraines pills. I've never been on the Loestrin 24 Fe. I hope everything works out for you. I do agree that headaches are a side effects when using birth control.

Hi A., my doctor recommended that I try the Nuvaring for BC, simply because the dose is much lower than found in the pill form since it is continuously released. I chose this form of BC simply because I am very sensitive to drugs and wanted the lowest dose of hormones possible after having my daughter. Although I haven't experienced the migranes like you, if your doctor is switching you because of the hormones in the BC you're taking, consider looking up info on the Nuvaring - it does the same thing as the pill, just with much less hormones. I also love it because I don't have to remember to take a pill everyday - you just change the ring once a month. I wish you the best!!!

My oldest is 10 and following her birth - I used to get the deprovera injections, which had little side effects for me compared to the pill, which gave me dreadful headaches.

My sister uses loestrin - she likes it because it has reduced her menstrual cramping amd flow .... she says she doesn't get headaches like she did with all the others she has tried.

Good luck.

Hi A.,
You may be at the beginning stages of migranes. Do migranes run in your family naybe back 2 generstions?
I had migranes. Mine got bad like yours with the birth of my first child. I used 1 capsule of Wood Betony and 1 capsule of Feverfew. (herbs) Some people need to use them right along but I used then just before my periods.

S.

Have you tried asking for a migraine medicine as opposed to Birth Control. I am not saying to stop taking it, although if you are only taking it to help your migraines I would suggest stopping. Anyways, I take Imitrex (as needed) and it works great. I also use to take Zomig (as needed) both work great, but Zomig is not breastfeeding friendly, as opposed to Imitrex which is bf friendly. Good Luck!

I get menst. migranes as well - I have to track them (as I'm not on birth control), but one week prior I double up on my calcium and double up on my omega oils (3-6-9)....you'll know what I'm talking about if you take vitamins. This helps mine immensely but I don't always do a good job remembering, but when I do, it's amazing how there is NO HEADACHE. - Also at first thought of a migrane I take 1 excedrin as I'm small and one does it for me, but sometimes within an hour or so I take another one and that breaks it pretty fast.

A.,

I developed migraines about 5-6 months after the birth of my daughter (but I also was in a car accident 3 weeks after I had her as well). Mine are believed to be due to the trauma of the accident.

I would get a referral to a neurologist. At least you know what the trigger is. There is medication to help. I know people who have used biofeed back & that has helped as well.

I can't answer the BC issue because of varicose veins I can't be on hormones. Which is how I got preg. :)

I can't give you advice about the bc pills, but I have been a migraine sufferer for years. They used to be cycle related, but now they seem to have different triggers...lack of sleep and the weather seem to be the two biggest triggers. Excedrin migraine pills are great, as is caffeine. If I feel one coming on, I take two pills, drink a diet coke, and try to get a power nap as soon as I can, and most of the time I can avoid them. I used to use Imitrex years ago, which also worked, but I had to get off all migraine meds when we were trying to get pregnant. Talk to your doc for advice, but the caffeine is always worth a try...

Hi A.. I don't know about the headaches and the effects of b/c, but I have been on Loestrin 24FE since January. I had break-through bleeding for the first 4 months. Just enough to be annoying, and have not had a real period since starting. The most noticeable side effect for me is that for the first few months I felt pregnant and was hungry all the time. That went away eventually. I have never been able to tolerate any kind of hormonal birth control before this, so I have accepted the side-effects for now. My son was a "surprise" baby, which is why I went on Loestrin after we were finished with breastfeeding.

I got terrible headaches after both of my kids were born. If I remember right, I think they started around 2 or 3 month post partum and lasted several months, then stopped. I just chalked them up to hormones and stocked up on Aleve!
I don't have any advice on the bc pills, as I am on Yaz. I do love this pill thouhg, if you haven't tried it and need to switch again. It is often used to relieve extreme PMS symptoms.
Just wanted to let you know you are not alone on the headache front!

I've been on Loestrin (aka Junel) for about 1 1/2 mo now. No problems with it other than some occasional nausea. I also did not get my period the first month (not pregnant), but the nurse at the doctors office said that was okay. I haven't finished my second month pack yet, so we'll see.
I read probably the same info that you did, it looked like a forum....that freaked me out as well. As for the headaches, I hope it helps, but I switched from the mini pill to the Loestrin once my son was weaned from breastfeeding. Good Luck!

One important thing to consider is that it is very likely that you will experience a drop in your milk production once you start the pill. Some moms see no effect, while others dry up almost immediately and then have to struggle with extra pumping and taking supplements like fenugreek or red raspberry leaf tea just to try to get the supply back to normal, even after stopping the pill. To me, it just isn't worth risking losing your precious supply of breastmilk for your little newborn, as long as they (Dr's) can try something else for you to control the headaches. Sometimes certain foods you eat (or should I say the chemicals, additives and preservatives) can be the biggest triggers during the post-partum time. If you aren't seeing a nutritionist, then your usual Dr might not suggest eliminating these things from your diet, they will just prescribe a new Rx. I would do a web search and look for things like gluten, MSG, soy lecithin, sugars, etc as well as anything else you find in your research... but I definately wouldn't take anything that would affect your milk, as this is the very best thing that your baby can get right now :-) Best wishes!!!!

Hi A.,

I had menstrual migranes while I was on a couple of different pills. I didn't want to keep popping Excedrin like candy and my doctor wasn't much help. Out of desperation, I decided to try acupuncture. After the second visit the headaches were completely gone. I went once a month - the week before my period. Once when I forgot to schedule an appointment and didn't even think about it, the headache came back. I have since stopped taking the pill and now only rarely get headaches, and they're nowhere near as bad as they used to be.

If you're interested in the details (what it's like, how much it costs, etc.), let me know. It doesn't hurt!

J.