Pregnancy is a great sacrifice for a mom as another life forms within her. She has to take extra care of herself and her baby this is a delicate period for both of them. Since she’s out of her comfort zone, a mother might be susceptible to minor health dilemmas such as headache or migraine. Normally, one will automatically swallow a pill or two to fend off the throbbing pain. But then, again, a sensitive and delicate life may be put at risk. So, what should a mother take when having a migraine or headache during her pregnancy stage?
- Be aware of certain migraine warning or symptoms.
- Hazy vision, sense of weakness or numbness, fever, high blood pressure with eclampsia (or preeclampsia) must be taken into medical attention immediately as they often lead to more serious health condition.
- Setting aside the aforementioned symptoms and you are merely having headaches, consider these natural therapies:
- Have a regular sleeping schedule and take siestas in between.
- Remain hydrated by drinking lots of water daily.
- Nutritious diet comprising vegetables and fruits is a must.
- Take a hot bath or shower when a headache becomes apparent. This can give relaxation and relax muscle tension.
- Avoid looking or being exposed to bright lights.
- These are pregnancy- friendly medications that expectant women can take in case that migraine is inevitable:
- Tylenol (Acetaminophen) can be taken but should be limited most especially when a mother consumes caffeine (like in coffee) of 200mg daily.
- NSAIDs such as naproxen and ibuprofen are recommended in the second trimester (4-6 months of pregnancy stage) but should not be taken at the last part of the trimester period (7-9 months).
- These are migraine-fighting pills that should be avoided when pregnant:
- Ergotamine and dihydroergotamine must never be taken during pregnancy or by any woman in her reproductive (or childbearing) years who’s not observing proper intake of contraceptives.
- Sumatriptan is a triptan is a category C medication which should be avoided as there are limited research studies about this anti-migraine med.
- Opiods such as morphine and oxycodone must be taken with the advice of physician. Opiods tend to worsen constipation and nausea commonly seen as pregnancy condition.
