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Headache in pregnancy is more common during the first trimester of pregnancy, and can occur due to several causes, such as hormonal changes, tiredness, nasal congestion, low blood sugar levels, stress or hunger. Generally, the headache in pregnancy tends to diminish or disappear because the hormones tend to stabilize.
However, headache in pregnancy can also be caused by more serious conditions, especially by increasing blood pressure, which, if it is constant and appears accompanied by stomach pain and blurred vision, can be a sign of pre-eclampsia . In this case, the pregnant woman must immediately go to the obstetrician to confirm the cause and start the appropriate treatment, since pre-eclampsia can seriously harm the pregnancy, if it is not properly evaluated and treated.
Better understand what preeclampsia is and what should be done.
Remedies to relieve headache
The use of medications during pregnancy should only be done under the recommendation of the obstetrician, since some medications can be harmful to the pregnant woman or the baby.
Usually, the obstetrician only indicates the use of some medication when the headache is very intense, does not pass with natural measures or is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, for example, being indicated, in most cases, the use of paracetamol.
How To Relieve Headache Naturally
Before starting to use any medicine to relieve headache, pregnant women should choose natural options such as:
- Rest in a quiet, well-ventilated environment, without noise and with the lights off;
- Apply a cold water compress to the forehead or the neck;
- Apply a compress of warm water around the eyes and nose, in case of headache due to nasal congestion;
- Massage the forehead, the base of the nose and the nape of the neck, using your fingertips. Learn how to massage your head to relieve pain;
- Make a foot bath with marbles, dipping your feet and moving them over the balls to relax and relieve pain;
- Eat light meals every 3 hours and in small quantities;
- Bathe in warm or cold water or wash your face with cold water.
In addition, acupuncture is also a great natural solution to relieve constant headaches in pregnancy.
When to go to the doctor
Although it is very common for pregnant women to experience headache during pregnancy, due to hormonal changes, it is important to inform the obstetrician about these symptoms, especially when the headache is frequent, or accompanied by other symptoms, such as stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, fever, convulsions, fainting or blurred vision, as they can be signs and symptoms of some health problem that can harm the pregnancy.
See also this super simple technique taught by our physiotherapist to relieve headache: