Why Do You Get Migraines During Pregnancy

Here are some tips to help you manage migraines during pregnancy.

Why do you get migraines during pregnancy. First the good news. Headaches can sometimes be related to blood pressure problems in pregnancy. Common triggers include glaring lights or loud noises excessive heat or cold tobacco smoke and foods such as chocolate cheese artificial sweeteners and nitrates in processed meats though you ll want to avoid the latter during pregnancy anyway. During the first trimester estrogen levels rise quickly then level out.

Avoid your known triggers such as specific foods as much as possible. Headaches during your second or third trimester of pregnancy may be a sign that you have high blood pressure. If they are persistent or severe and happen after 20 weeks of pregnancy let your healthcare provider know. Many women get both tension headaches which result from stress and migraines during this time.

Headaches can sometimes be a symptom of pre eclampsia a condition that affects some pregnant women usually from around 20 weeks of pregnancy or soon after the baby is. They are most common in early pregnancy and usually improve or stop completely during the last 6 months. If you have headaches in your first trimester you ll probably find that they diminish or even disappear during the second trimester after the flood of hormones stabilizes and your body gets used to its. Jot down what you ate where you were and what you were doing just before you experienced a pregnancy migraine.

Dizziness or feeling faint is a normal symptom during pregnancy. Although strokes during pregnancy are rare migraines can increase a pregnant woman s risk for them. Between 50 and 80 of pregnant migraine patients actually experience a reduction in migraine attacks during their pregnancy according to david dodick a professor of medicine at the mayo clinic school of medicine in arizona. Other causes of headaches might be pregnancy fatigue tension increased hunger during pregnancy physical or emotional stress overeating sinus congestion or allergies you re more susceptible when you re pregnant or a combination of any or all of these.

Migraine sufferers usually get some relief during pregnancy although some women get their first migraine headache when they re pregnant. Keep a predictable schedule of meals and snacks. Keep a migraine journal. It is more common in the first trimester but you may experience it throughout your pregnancy.

The main cause of dizziness in pregnancy is due to the rising hormones that cause your blood vessels to relax and widen. They don t harm your baby but they can be uncomfortable for you.