Pregnancy & Headaches

I have been getting lots of headaches since getting pregnant. Does anyone know of any drug free remedies?

I have had a lot of headaches as well. Unfortunately I don't know of any drug-free remedies, but panadol is quite safe to take during PG. I try to avoid it where possible, but if I really need something, then I will take a panadol or two. It always helps just to get into a dark room for a while and to lie down for a while....and sometimes putting a cold face washer on my forehead helps.

hmmm.. unhappy to report that i had my first migraine in ages today - and first one while p/g
i usually vomit up aspirin anyways, so what i usually do is just go to bed, make it really dark and go to sleep. what others recommend is also cold compress on the head and warm one on the feet - but i am not sure if that just works for migraines or headaches too.. but maybe worth a try.

there is also a peppermint oil which you can rub on your temples and is supposed to help ( i believe peppermint oil is safe in pregnancy - any herbalists here??)

snowy

Something I used to do which was fabulous - get a heat wheat pack (a long shaped one) and while lying down, drape it over your face, eg. eyes and temples. It was soooooo good.

It's not a good idea to put any undiluted oils on the skin as it's very concentrated, so perhaps this one you would be best tackled with someone qualified. I am sure you could burn it in an oil burner though, also try burning lavender also geranium for headaches. Yummy! If you check out the aromatherapy article on the main site, I have listed many different ways of using oils.

Good luck!

Just wanted to point out that asprin is a no-go during PG unless it has been specifically prescribed for you by a Doctor (there are sometimes reasons why PG women must take a low dose of asprin, otherwise it should be avoided). So, if you have a headache, just go for panadol if you do need to take something.

good point tootie im glad someone is on the ball!

I'm not pregnant but to cure my headache I usually have a cool but wamr shower and just sit there and close my eyes and let the water pour over my head and it seems to help alot , or i do the same thing but in the bath and just put my head a little bit under the water..
other then that i take come panadol and have a lie down for an hour or so untill it goes away..

there was something in england when i was pregnant that the doc gave me it was called tiger balm or something i honestly cant remember but u rub it on your temples and my god it was fabulous!! it got rid of my headache in litterally minutes it was fantastic, i only wish i could remember exactly what it was called so i could use it again

Lesley

There is also a pressure poing in the webbing between your thumb and pointing finger. If you squeeze the muscle in there it can help headaches (helps mine anyway). FWIW I got some NASTY headaches in the first trimester, but havent had them lately.

Thanks for the tips. Its nice to know that I can pop a panadol if the headaches get too nasty but I'll try to stick to the other cures.

I woke up at 4am with an awful migrane last night... took a panadol and massage from DH with a heat pack afterwards... and got back to sleep amazingly enough... its still sore, but nothing like what it was!!

Christy

Hi,

Just found out on Sunday that I am pg with first bub (yay) and I have had a headache since Saturday :( I normally suffer from some pretty bad headaches and nurofen normally works or I go to bed early.

Has anyone got any natural ways to cure a headache? I know that panadol is OK to take but I want to use that as a last thing if nothing else works.

Thanks!

Best way :--- you have to trust me and atleast try it :)

Get a small towel, or hand towel and thoroughly wet it through. Then wring it out so its not dripping and put it in the microwave on high for about a minute or so until its steaming hot.

Wait until its JUST bearable to touch on your skin and wrap it around the back of your neck really tightly underneath your skull and pull it toward the front like you are trying to strangle yourself.

Keep it pulled tightly until its not hot anymore and see if that works. This garantees more blood flow into the head and really does help.

Try it now and let me know :)

hmm well I am at work now and I think everyone will think that I am weird! LOL

hmm but if you say only keep it there until it is not hot anymore then maybe I could just take a long toilet break! hmm is a tea towel ok?!

yep try that! Normally its better if you can use a fluffy thickish type one, but yep try it! And because its thin really strangle yourself with it :)

Thanks Danni :) I am going out to the shops later so I will pick myself up a nice fluffy towel.

My head doesnt seem to hurt when I move around tho! Office is fairly hectic at the moment so cant reall hide away in the bathroom! I will try it soon. Thanks Danni :)

Youre welcome! I really hope it works for you. I suffered from mirgaines and headaches for WAY too long before someone recommended this and I cant thank them enough :)

Wow danni I will have to try that one day!!!! Sounds good.

Danni - I just tried it! It felt really nice.. I think I need a fluffier towel tho! hehe Still got my headache tho, just not as bad.

Emma - I drink heaps of water but cant really rest when I am at work but I can slack off a bit.

What about a wheat pack? does that work the same as a hot towel would?

wheat pack is good...but i prefer the towel as i can wrap it around my whole neck if you know what i mean?

You can do the hot towel again as often as you like and see if it helps. Also try a gentle massage around your neck, base of skull and tops of shoulders :)

Ooh good tip there Danni...will have to remember that one for future use.

Veronica - Have you tried one of those migraine stick things? I think they have peppermint in them and you rub a bit into your temples. I use to have one years ago for migraines, and it worked most of the time. Congratulations on your pregnancy..All the best..

Nic

Glad Danni's tip worked for you. I know how you feel about taking Panadol. I'm a regular migraine sufferer (2 per month minimum!) but fortunately since being pregnant have just had really bad headaches. Asked my doctor about them - said I was only taking Panadol when they got to the unbearable stage and was there anything else I could do? She said yes - "take the blo*dy Panadol before it got unbearable!!!" Her view was that mum being unwell and stressed was worse for baby than popping a panadol on a non-frequent basis. I'm still reluctant but will now take a panadol before I get really bad

LOL thats funny what your doctor said!!

I think that yes it would be better to take some panadol before things get too bad and stressing the baby out. How many would she recommomend? I know that sometimes panandol does not help my real bad headaches thats why I was talking nurafen, but something that didnt even help!

drink a litre of water and 2 panadol. Take 2 every 4-6 hours but I wouldnt take very many before I saw a doctor.

Because I'm getting headaches pretty regularly, I'm trying to take one panadol to start to see if that dulls it enough so I can keep doing stuff. If it doesn't subside in say half an hour, I pop another one. Doc was fine with me basically sticking to the packet directions. I'm a mersyndol girl so I'm really really missing them!!!

A dr I worked with when I was pg with Kat, saw I got migraines and said Codiene is ok in small doses also, she too was of the opinion that if mum was feeling as bad as I do when I get migraines, two panadine, would do more good for the bub than trying to soldier thru in pain and sickness and stressing myself and bubs in the process.

yeah i have heard the same Kat, but im a bit scared...

Thanks so much girls!!

I am definitly going to ask my dr what is best..

But I have gotten to the point that I have had this headache for 3 days now, so I think I will take a panadol and then try the hot towel when I get home and just rest.

I also had one Dr who when I was 13wks pg and having terrible hormonal migraines for a week or more non stop, told me "pity ur not 20wks, then I could give you something stronger". NFI what he meant. I normally have to take cafergot when I get a migraine (and maxalon to stop the vomitting the cafergot induces), but the migraine goes quite quickly. When Pg, I take panadine, but only when nothing else has worked and only when I am about to have a sleep/rest to get the best possible effect from it.

I too suffer from the dredded pregnant headaches.

I also get sinusitis when pregnant to add insult to injury.

My headaches were very bad at the end of my pregnancy with Patrick as I went 41 weeks and had some fluid build up by then.

Find out what works now as you never know what you'll get at the end as well!:hug:

Danni - Just want to say THANKS for the towel idea! I went out yesterday after work and bought some small fluffy towels and gave it a go last night. It felt great! DP thought I was a little crazy putting a hot towel on my neck cause it was about 30 degrees last night! But it worked. No headache today :D

whooo hoooo I love helping others with headaches especially when I know how debilitating they can be!! Im so glad it worked :)

Hi, just wanted to see how your headaches are going? I too have been getting some beauties. My head aches so much its hard to keep my eyes open. Ive been taking panadol when I cant take it anymore and going to bed early. Hope your feeling better.

Hey Ollie

My headaches have been pretty good since they went away monday.. not one since and havent even felt one coming. Touch wood that they are going to stay away from me!!

I have found helping to ease my headaches, pregnant or not....is tiger balm on your temples. It doesn't smell all that great, but is quite relaxing and soothing. It is used for lots of other things as well. Available at most chemists and supermarkets.

I was told tiger balm is a HUGE no-no??????

Hi
I have been getting really bad headaches. I am 13 weeks and wanted to know if i can take panadol and is it ok to take it every 4-5 hours or is that too much
Sara

Panadol is fine to take during pregnancy, unless your dr says otherwise. Headaches are very common during pregnancy, so make sure you're getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of water.

As the PP said. Panadol is fine. I also find that a class of ICE cold Coke helps too.

Lisa

Panadol is fine as long as you stick within the recommended daily dose.

My Dr also said that for severe pain, it is ok to take Panadeine (ie Paracetamol & Codeine) but I haven't been brave enough.

Lisa