Migraines during pregnancy can be a first time occurrence or they can persist from a history of migraines before conception. This type of headache is caused when the blood vessels in the brain begin to dilate. If you have them already you may or may not continue to have them when you become pregnant. You may never have had one before and you may experience your first when you become pregnant. A few studies have been done and show that there may be a relationship between this type of headache and hormones. Women tend to suffer from the disorder more so than men. It will usually start slowly and grow in intensity to finally throb with pulsating pain in the front of the head or the base of the head. A lot of times the sufferer will become nauseated and may vomit. Some people describe an aura that is described as wavy lines, jagged lines, or flashing lights. You may be a person who reports having tunnel vision or blind spots as an affect of this type headache.
When you experience this discomfort when you are pregnant you should always let you physician know. If you have a this serious headache and also have a fever; your headache lasts longer than a few hours; your headache comes back frequently; or you have blurred vision you should call your doctor immediately. In order for you to help your doctor diagnose and treat the cause of the headache you should keep a journal. See if you can help identify the cause. Write down what you ate or drank right before the onset. There are foods and beverages that are thought to cause this type of pain. These are chocolate, coffee, and cheese. The weather, hormones, and stress are also suspected as having a relationship to these migraines during pregnancy.
What are some of the possible treatments for migraines during pregnancy? Some methods that have been effective in the treatment of this disorder are relaxation techniques and yoga. Take a nap, a cold shower, or apply a cold compress to your head. Exercise and biofeedback are also recommended. You should always seek the advice of your health care provider when you have conceived and you suffer from one of these intense headaches. You will have to experiment to determine whether heat or cold, rest or exercise, or a combination of the recommendations work for you. A new pain relief called SootheAway will deliver either hot or cold and you can go on line to find out where you can purchase this product.
There are some medications that are considered safe for use during gestation. You can take acetaminophen for pain relief but only if a health care provider has discussed it with you and you are following his recommended dosages. Do not take any product with aspirin unless directed by your physician. If you are experiencing the pain of migraines during pregnancy be sure to call your health care provider immediately and follow the treatment regimen prescribed for your relief.