12_BT_December2019

Bump to Birth
Feature
Migraines
during
pregnancy?
Here’s what
to do
Having headaches during pregnancy
is intolerable enough, what more
migraines. Migraines can last for hours
and they may even result in sensitivity
to light, and even nausea in some really
bad cases. A bad migraine is not just
painful, but it can leave you feeling
weak and lifeless too.
Sometimes, pregnancy may make migraines worse, or may
alleviate the symptoms. If you’re one of the former, here are
some ways to deal with it, safely.
Firstly, avoid triggers at all costs!
Stress, fatigue, loud noises, tobacco smoke, blazing lights,
excess heat or cold, and certain foods, like chocolate, caffeine
and even artificial sweeteners are known to trigger migraine
for many people. Even if you have never had migraines
before, pregnancy may cause migraines in some pregnant
women. So, to be safe, whether or not you’re a typical
migraine sufferer, avoiding all known migraine triggers will
help, keep them away!
Use a cold compress
Migraine during pregnancy can be bad, but it
doesn’t help if you’re feeling tired too. Stop
whatever you’re doing and lay down
for a while. While you’re resting, hold
a cold compress on your forehead or
neck. It’s a cooling, soothing way to get
rid of that throbbing migraine. In fact,
Migraine medications
Doctors may recommend to stay off medications
during pregnancy unless they are really necessary.
Paracetamol has been considered safe during
pregnancy and breastfeeding, but do talk to your
doctor if you think you need to take medication.
don’t wait for a migraine to get bad before doing this. As
soon as you feel a migraine is surfacing, lie down at once and
do this.
Have a routine
For some women, following a daily routine helps. This is
because, in many cases, factors such as sleep disturbances, or
going hungry because of having skipped a meal, are known
to trigger migraines in pregnant women. Eat at regular
intervals and avoid skipping meals. Keep everything that you
do at certain times of the day going on at that same time,
each day.
Exercise may help!
There are evidence pointing out that physical workout can
reduce the severity and frequency of migraines. It helps
reduce stress. Stress, as everyone knows, is one of the many
triggers of migraine. If you are prone to migraines, start
exercising slowly, and gently. Avoid sudden activities, for that
may actually cause a headache!
Walking is a great way to begin exercising, especially if
you’ve never exercised before. However, do not attempt
to exercise when you’re already having a migraine, for
that will only worsen the situation. Try a cold compress as
mentioned earlier to help the migraine subside before you
begin your exercise.
Always talk to your doctor before taking any drug therapy
or treatment, be it natural or herbal. Also, be absolutely
sure and double-check with your obstetrician or certified
midwife about the safety of any kind of medications during
pregnancy. Migraine pain may be agonizing; however, using
the above ways can help relieve them during this new and
wonderful phase of your life.
BabyTalk | December 2019 21