Causes, symptoms and treatment of migraine during pregnancy. Migraine during pregnancy - how to treat it, what to do. What you can do for migraines during pregnancy What you can drink for migraines during pregnancy

Headache attacks are more common in women (2/3 of all patients) and can worsen during pregnancy. Migraine does not pose a threat to the unborn child, but it can cause severe inconvenience for a woman, because almost all pills that help get rid of headaches are contraindicated for pregnant women.

Symptoms of the disease

The manifestation of migraine attacks varies from person to person. In some pregnant women it can be expressed in the form of mild malaise and discomfort, while in others it can be unbearable attacks accompanied by vomiting. Its most common and typical symptoms include the following:

• severe throbbing headache;
• pain often spreads to one side of the head;
• the duration of pain ranges from 4 hours to 3 days;
• increased sensitivity to bright light and loud sounds;
• increased blood pressure;
• vomit;
• general weakness.

Causes of migraine during pregnancy

The clear causes that can cause migraine during pregnancy remain not fully understood.

But today, as a result of the research, the following factors can be identified that can provoke severe headaches:

• severe physical or psychological stress;
• lack of sleep and stress;
• eating certain foods: chocolate, citrus fruits, cheese, smoked fish;
• sudden change in weather conditions (some expectant mothers are especially sensitive to climate change);
• lack of water in the body (especially in the first trimester);
• taking certain medications in large doses (for example, Citramon).

There is a close connection between headache attacks and the state of pregnancy, because the cause of any pain in a woman’s body is often a change in hormonal levels. Therefore, migraines often have a hormonal nature. Severe attacks in expectant mothers are more often observed during early stages pregnancy. After this, they either stop completely or are repeated several times throughout pregnancy.

It can be noted that for those women who suffered from headaches for a long period, everything went away with the onset of pregnancy. 70-80% of all pregnant women who previously suffered from migraines noted that there was a decrease in pain or its complete disappearance during pregnancy.

But the opposite situation also happens, when a girl who knew about headaches only by hearsay experiences the first attack precisely after conception.

The danger of migraine attacks for an expectant mother

Despite the harmlessness of migraines for a child, there are some risks for a woman. So, if severe pain in the head is accompanied by darkening of the eyes and nausea, then this may be a sign of sudden surges in pressure, which is not desirable during pregnancy. Sharp spasms of blood vessels interfere with the full supply of nutrients to the fetus.

In addition, headaches can be symptoms of conditions such as blood clots, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and increased intracranial pressure. Therefore, in cases where headaches recur quite often and intensely, you should report them to your doctor, who will be able to determine the nature of their origin.

Non-drug treatments

As you know, the use of any medications while carrying a child is extremely undesirable.

But what to do when you can’t take medications and the headaches are already unbearable? There are several ways to treat pain or reduce it without resorting to pharmaceutical products:

1. Caffeine. Verified and effective means Hot drinks containing caffeine (coffee, cocoa, tea) are the remedy for headaches. It has been established that in moderate doses, caffeine does not harm the unborn child. It is better to add a lot of sugar to the drink. Glucose is the main food for the brain.
2. Massage is no less effective for pain. For migraines, massage of the cervical spine and head is indicated. If there is no massage therapist nearby, you can massage your temples, scalp and neck yourself. Movements should be circular, intense, but not sharp.
3. Cold. To reduce pain symptoms in pregnant women, it is recommended to apply cold compresses to the head and hold for several minutes. You can also take a cold shower or simply rinse your hair with cold water.
4. Walking on fresh air. Small physical exercise useful not only for the pregnant woman’s body, but also for the outflow of part of the blood from the vessels of the brain to the muscles, thereby normalizing blood pressure and eliminating pain.

Medications for migraines during pregnancy

Doctors have an extremely negative attitude towards drug treatment of any disease during pregnancy. This is due to the negative effects of drugs on the fetus. Therefore, if it is possible to endure a headache, experts advise refraining from taking pills.

If the pain is too severe, then Citramon and Paracetamol remain the safest means in the fight against migraine. However, they must be taken in a strict dosage prescribed by the attending physician.

In some cases, the doctor may prescribe magnesium-containing medications, which have a beneficial effect on blood vessels and do not threaten the child’s health.

Under no circumstances should you take aspirin and its derivatives when treating migraines during pregnancy. They thin the blood and can lead to internal bleeding and provoke premature birth and miscarriage.

It is also prohibited to treat yourself with analgin and other analgesics. They have a detrimental effect on the hematopoietic function of the body and can cause disturbances in the development of the fetus.

It is important to remember that self-medication during pregnancy is very dangerous both for the child and for the woman herself. Therefore, before deciding to take any medications, you should consult your doctor.

Preventing an attack in pregnant women

Due to the fact that the use of medications for migraine attacks is limited, prevention remains an effective method of combating the disease.

To prevent severe headaches in pregnant women, the following tips can be highlighted:

1. Regular meals, preferably small ones. It is known that one of the most common reasons Headaches in pregnant women are caused by changes in sugar levels. Therefore, it is important to prevent hunger. To do this, you need to eat often and in small portions.
2. It's important to get enough sleep. It has been established that lack of sleep is the cause of headaches. Pregnant women need to sleep at least 7 hours a day, but no more than 9-10.
3. Peace. Stress and any serious worries and worries are contraindicated for pregnant women. They not only cause headaches, but can also lead to premature birth.
4. Regular physical activity. Expectant mothers are recommended to take daily walks in the fresh air, as well as light exercises in the form of yoga and breathing exercises. They reduce or relieve headaches. In addition, they increase the supply of blood to brain cells, therefore preventing migraines.
5. Massage remains an effective way to prevent migraines. It has a calming and relaxing effect. To do this, you can sign up for a session with a massage therapist or massage your face and neck yourself. The impact should be soft and smooth.

Let us remind you that the longer the period of bearing a child, the less frequent and less intense the migraine attacks. This is explained by the restructuring of the woman’s body and the preparation of the body for childbirth. If in the early stages headaches are observed quite often, then closer to the birth of the child in 90% of expectant mothers the migraine completely disappears. Therefore, the main task in the fight against migraine during pregnancy comes down to the prevention of headaches in the first trimester. It is at this time that the body needs outside help. In the second half of the term, the body itself learns to cope with the problem.

When migraine attacks occur, you should never self-medicate, as taking some medications can harm the fetus.

Therefore, any actions should be performed only after visiting a doctor.

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Migraine during pregnancy: how to get rid of migraine

Migraine is intense unilateral headache pain, main reason which are vascular disorders. During an attack, strong pulsation in the temples, frontal lobes or the back of the head is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms - nausea, dizziness, weakness, visual, tactile and auditory disturbances. Doctors have identified a specific list of common causes of migraines, which are supplemented during pregnancy and aggravate the woman’s condition.

Common causes of migraines during pregnancy

At different stages of pregnancy in female body changes occur that can cause migraine pain. During this period, more frequent and intense manifestations of attacks are promoted by:

1. In the early stages of pregnancy, there is a change in the level of hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and the condition of the arterial vessels, as a result, a double load on the heart and nervous system.
2. On later pregnancy - emotional sensitivity, the occurrence of weather dependence, load on the spine and vertebral arteries.

Migraines are often observed in women even before pregnancy, and during pregnancy the attacks simply become more intense. In this case, the causes of migraine during pregnancy can be very diverse:

• exposure to stress;
• chronic fatigue;
• illnesses nervous system;
• hypertension;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• head injuries resulting in disruption of the vascular system or the development of tumors;
• heredity;
• hormonal instability;
• insomnia or prolonged sleep;
• factors present in Everyday life(polluted air, working at a computer, smoking, watching TV, frequent quarrels, scandals, living or working in noisy places, strong unpleasant odor).

In some cases, migraine attacks subside with the onset of pregnancy, and women forget about painful discomfort and associated symptoms during pregnancy. This occurs if the development of pain was associated with the menstrual cycle, which disappears for the next 9 months after fertilization of the egg.

If a woman is bothered by migraine attacks during pregnancy, she and her gynecologist need to develop a treatment chart that describes safe medications and non-drugs, optimal dosages and methods of taking them.

Drugs during pregnancy

During pregnancy, you should limit the intake of any medications and use alternative methods. If migraine pain aggravates the pregnant woman’s condition with its intensity and the use of chemical medications is inevitable, then, in agreement with the gynecologist, you can take one of the painkillers:

1. Ibuprofen and its derivatives (Nurofen, Imet) are prescribed once in the first two trimesters, and it is not recommended to take it later in order to avoid complications labor activity and premature closure of the ductus arteriosus in a child.
2. Paracetamol and its derivatives (Efferalgan, Panadol) are prescribed at the end of the second trimester and in the last months. Despite the presence of many side symptoms when taking it, the drug is considered a safe painkiller for pregnant women.
3. Mild antidepressants (Fluoxetine, Phytosed) are indicated for pregnant women whose migraines are triggered by emotional instability, fear of childbirth, and suspiciousness. In this case, taking the medicine is a preventive measure.
4. Beta blockers (Atenolol, Propranolol) reduce blood pressure in hypertension to normal levels and thereby prevent the development of migraine pain.
5. Magnesium preparations (Magne B6) prevent the development of migraines.

The use of the described drugs during pregnancy must be coordinated with a gynecologist, who, when prescribing a dosage, must compare the condition of the pregnant woman and the risks of exposure chemicals on fetal development.

If you have a migraine during pregnancy, then during this period you should not take triptans, as well as drugs in which the main substance is analgin, aspirin, ergot alkaloid, and narcotic substances. In exceptional cases, during severe attacks, they can be prescribed by a doctor if the choice between the fetus and the pregnant woman is made in favor of the health and life of the latter.

Treatment of migraine during pregnancy with folk remedies

For moderate pain attacks, medications can be replaced with available folk remedies:

• When you have a headache, apply a cold compress to your forehead.
• Take a fresh cabbage leaf, mash it a little in your hands, apply it to the painful part of the head and wrap it with a cloth on top. The compress should be kept on the head until the headache goes away.
• If you have low blood pressure, you need to drink hot tea with added sugar; if you have hypertension, add lemon to the drink.
• Use the “Star” balm, gently rubbing it into the temples and forehead area.
• Take a cold one a raw egg, apply to the area of ​​the upper cervical vertebrae and hold until it becomes warm.
• Inhale during an attack essential oils orange, lemon, lavender, lemon balm.
• Give a light head massage using a comb. To do this, you need to comb your hair first in one direction, then in the other.
• Use a raw onion for a compress, which must first be cut into halves and then applied to the area of ​​pain.

A pregnant woman needs to be careful when using infusions of medicinal herbs, as some of them can cause a miscarriage or negatively affect the condition of the fetus. In this case, the specific type of herb, as well as the medication, must be prescribed by the gynecologist.

Prevention of migraine in pregnant women

Preventive measures play a significant role in reducing the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks during pregnancy, which is very important for women carrying a baby. First of all, you need to review your usual daily routine and eliminate factors that provoke migraines. To do this, it is advisable to keep a diary in which to record the time and duration of the attacks, their intensity, as well as the events that preceded the development of the pain syndrome.

During pregnancy, to prevent the development of migraine pain, a woman needs to follow simple but effective measures:

• Ensure healthy sleep for 8-9 hours in a well-ventilated room;
• Regularly take walks in the park area, if there are no contraindications to walking from a gynecologist;
• Avoid dehydration. To do this, drink up to 2 liters of liquid per day, provided that the woman does not have kidney pathologies;
• Avoid visiting noisy public places during pregnancy;
• Avoid traveling to countries with a different climate;
• Develop a “healthy menu”, giving up nuts, hot seasonings, hard and processed cheeses, dark chocolate, and alcoholic beverages;
• Eat small portions, but often;
• In agreement with the gynecologist, engage in physical therapy;
• Avoid overheating in the sun or, conversely, hypothermia;
• Periodically, in agreement with the doctor, perform a light relaxing massage of the neck and collar area, head;
• Prevent the development of migraines against the background of worries and fears characteristic of pregnant women, with the help of soothing teas and decoctions.

Preventive measures, as well as treatment of migraine, must be coordinated and adjusted with a gynecologist depending on the condition of the pregnant woman. Only an individual approach will help reduce the number of attacks and ease the course of pregnancy.

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Migraines during pregnancy: causes and treatment with folk remedies

Migraines are a medical problem that occurs at any age, more often in women. During pregnancy, it has a number of course features and specific correction tactics.

Migraine

This is an attack of severe one-sided headache against the background of a sharp deterioration in well-being, the reaction of internal and sensory organs. It is based on a violation of the interaction between the nervous and vascular system. Lasts from several hours to 3 days, passes through several stages.

Has the following manifestations:

1. In the initial period (several hours before the pain), rapid mood swings, weakness, and nervousness occur due to noise and light.
2. The aura stage (when it occurs) lasts up to 1 hour and is manifested by changes in the sensory organs.
3. During the painful stage, a debilitating headache occurs due to the reaction of the internal organs.
4. At the final stage (no more than 1 hour), the pain stops, the condition improves, and digestion normalizes.

An aura does not always occur. It can be observed before a painful attack, or at the height of pain. Depending on this, migraine without aura (simple) and with aura (associated) are distinguished. Read more about how to avoid a migraine with aura.

Migraines during pregnancy

When carrying a child, it sometimes occurs for the first time.

Symptoms

Manifestations depend on the degree of damage to the nervous tissue and are most pronounced during the pain stage.

• headache;
• dizziness;
• loss of appetite;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• sensitivity to light and sound;
• pale skin;
• weakness;
• feeling of heat, cold.

Headache is caused by the location of the affected area of ​​nervous tissue.

Pain syndrome is always combined with intolerance to noise and loud sounds, light, and smells.

Early dates

Pregnancy in different periods has its own characteristics that contribute to the occurrence of the disease.

• specific stresses;
• changes in hormonal levels;
• lack of water, dehydration;
• allergies or aversion to previously familiar foods.

Late dates

At this time, the woman’s body undergoes the next stage of changes and prepares for childbirth.

• the amount of fluid increases;
• vascular permeability increases;
• blood movement becomes difficult;

There is an increase in the load on different parts of the spine, especially the lumbar. Posture changes. Changes in the spinal column affect the condition of the nerve endings and vascular formations in this area.

Pregnant women become more sensitive to changes in weather conditions, fluctuations in atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature. This causes an increase in the occurrence and intensification of attacks of the disease.

In trimester

The second trimester, in contrast to the first (early terms) and third (late terms), is characterized by a noticeable improvement, relief of symptoms, and a decrease in the frequency of occurrence. Often there is a complete disappearance of manifestations at this time.

Doctors are also expanding the list of approved drugs somewhat.

Causes

The occurrence is associated with a violation of the nervous regulation of blood vessels, the release of special biologically active substances (serotonin). This leads to a deterioration in the functioning of the nervous tissue, the processing of information about pain, as well as impulses emanating from the senses and internal systems, is disrupted.

Most often the disease can be provoked by:

• strong emotions, including positive ones;
• prolonged anxiety, low mood;
• physical overload;
• fluctuations in atmospheric pressure, temperature, magnetic storms;
• consumption of large amounts of chocolate, smoked meats, red wine, coffee, hard cheeses;
• changes in hormonal levels.

Strong light, loud sound, or a certain pungent odor trigger a cascade of processes leading to the appearance of symptoms.

Migraine with aura during pregnancy

During pregnancy, a number of signs associated with the reaction of the sensory organs and nervous system (usually one-sided), which are called an aura, are often observed before the pain syndrome.

Aura manifests itself with symptoms:

• visual effects (dots, lines, zigzags, light rays);
• temporary blindness in one or both eyes;
• weakening of the motor ability of the arms and legs on one side;
• tingling, loss of sensitivity in the limbs;
• speech disorder.

If at this stage it is possible to stop the action of the provoking factor, then further development of symptoms may not occur.

What to do and how to treat it?

During pregnancy, it is advisable to avoid taking pills as much as possible. Normalize lifestyle, diet, use traditional medicine. A doctor's supervision is required.

1. Create peace, stop irritating all senses.
2. Turn off the lights in the room, close and curtain the windows, turn off everything that spreads sound, humidify the air.
3. Next, use folk and traditional remedies.

Folk remedies

Before using alternative medicine methods, it is better to consult a doctor to avoid negative effects on the body of the expectant mother and child.

The safest way to relieve the condition is:

1. Brew and drink sweet tea, stronger than usual.
2. Apply a compress of fresh cabbage leaves doused with boiling water to the painful area. Wrap with a woolen scarf.
3. Place ice for a short time.
4. Massage with your hands or a massage brush, along conventional lines from the forehead to the back of the head, every half hour.
5. Inhale the vapors of citrus aromatic oils, lemon balm, mint.
6. Use a pillow containing dry laurel, cherry, and eucalyptus leaves.
7. Place small slices of lemon on the temple area, bandage your head with a towel soaked in hot water.
8. Place napkins moistened with water with a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil on your temples and forehead.
9. Place a compress of steamed wormwood on your forehead, temples, and wrap with a towel.

Before use herbal remedies and aromatic oils, you need to make sure that you are not allergic to them.

Drugs

Most traditional migraine medications are dangerous to use during this time. The use of aspirin can lead to bleeding, complications, miscarriages in the early stages, and premature birth in the later stages.

Can be used under medical supervision, only in the second trimester in small doses of Citramon. Find out what Citramon tablets help with here.

Paracetamol

Paracetamol today is one of the few drugs that can be taken for treatment during pregnancy. This drug is prescribed and the number of tablets that can be taken per day is determined exclusively by a doctor. You should take paracetamol during pregnancy with caution and try not to take it on an empty stomach.

When to go to the doctor

A pregnant woman should definitely go to the doctor if she begins to worry or if previously observed migraines intensify. The consultation will help you navigate the recommendations and select tablets for treatment, if necessary.

However, there are situations when seeking medical help should be urgent.

You should definitely be wary of:

• more intense headache than usual;
• persistent visual impairment;
• numbness or deterioration of movements that persists after an attack;
• gradually increasing chronic pain in any area of ​​the head;
• confusion.

The importance of urgent diagnosis for these manifestations is due to the fact that symptoms and signs similar to migraine may be signs of other diseases that require completely different actions.

Prevention

Prevention is based on lifestyle and diet correction.

First of all you need to:

1. Maintain a rest and wakefulness regime (sleep 9-10 hours);
2. Avoid nervous psychological overload;
3. Ensure low noise levels, absence of chemicals, light irritants (light indicators);
4. Maintain the room temperature no more than 23°C, humidity – 50-70%.
5. Sleep predominantly on your side, especially in the third trimester.
6. Stop active physical activity no later than 6 hours before bedtime.
7. At dinner, eat a small amount of easily digestible foods that contain a lot of protein (lean meat, fish, cottage cheese).
8. Eat no later than 2 hours before bedtime.

Thus, a number of changes occur during pregnancy that contribute to the onset of and also influence existing migraines. Observation, timely detection and a set of treatment measures allows you to stabilize the condition, avoid complications, and restore health.

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Migraine during early pregnancy

Treatment of migraine during pregnancy

Migraines in pregnant women are quite common. But how can you help yourself with this illness? You can’t take pills, and even more so the ones you took before pregnancy.

Migraine is characterized by severe headaches that are localized in one side of the head. Actually, the ancient Greek word “Hemicrania” is translated as “half of the head.” Migraine is a vascular type of pain. The walls of the blood vessels that supply the brain dilate and put pressure on the nerve endings of these cells.

Treatment of headaches during pregnancy

Medication methods for treating any headache during pregnancy are very, very modest. Basically, all medications that can relieve headaches have a very adverse effect on the formation of the fetus and negatively affect the course of pregnancy as a whole. In addition, if there are drugs that are acceptable during pregnancy, they are prescribed by a doctor and should be taken strictly under his supervision.

Alternative to drugs

What methods can pregnant women use to cope with headaches? Here are some of the methods:

Read also:

• Lie down in a dark, ventilated room in complete silence and try to fall asleep for at least half an hour.
• Light massage. Use your fingertips to make circular movements across your head.
• Wash your hair with warm water.
• Perhaps a cold shower aimed at the back of your head will help you. But only for half a minute, so as not to catch a cold.
• Cold compresses on the frontal, temporal and occipital parts of the head.
• In the back of the head, in the hole, place an egg from the refrigerator until it warms up. Helps.
• Cabbage leaf compresses. Before using, remember the leaves to release the juice. Apply the leaves and tie a scarf or handkerchief around your head. Keep the compress until the pain subsides.
• Fractional meals. Hunger can cause headaches.
• If your blood pressure is low, strong and sweet tea will help.
• Decoctions of mint, lemon balm, rose hips or chamomile - you can drink them instead of tea.

Medicines during pregnancy

If all of the above recommendations do not help, take Paracetamol, Efferalgan or Panadol. Aspirin and its derivatives are contraindicated: Citramon, Askofen, etc. Aspirin is so dangerous that taking this drug in late pregnancy increases the likelihood of bleeding during childbirth, and also contributes to premature closure of the duct in the baby. Spazmalgon, Analgin, Baralgin and the like negatively affect the blood condition of pregnant women.

To relieve migraines in pregnant women there is alternative treatment, which can only be prescribed by a doctor. Be sure to consult your doctor if you notice the following:

• Headaches in the morning, after waking up;
• Constant intense headache;
• Pain appears in only one area of ​​the head;
• Headache associated with high or low blood pressure;
• Headache is accompanied by deterioration of vision, hearing, motor functions or numbness of the limbs.

In such severe cases, of course, you should not rely on your own intuition, especially during pregnancy. Consult your gynecologist and family doctor immediately. You may be able to prevent serious complications. Be healthy!

Especially for iwom.infoBely Sergey

Treatment of migraine in pregnant women with folk remedies

Considering that you have to give up medications during pregnancy, you can turn to traditional methods, many of which actually help relieve or alleviate an attack.

• Peace and quiet. At the very beginning of the attack, you should go to a well-ventilated room, take a horizontal position in silence and darkness, and try to fall asleep by placing a cool, damp towel on your forehead.
• Tea with big amount Sahara. Coffee is not suitable as a caffeinated drink - it increases blood pressure.
• Breathing exercises.
• Cold on the forehead (for example, ice in a towel) or, on the contrary, dry heat (down shawl, dog hair, felt bath cap) - depending on what exactly helps.
• Under a shawl/scarf bandage, you can apply halves of a raw cut onion (cut to the skin) to the points of pain localization - the method is very effective. Even a severe attack can be relieved by onions in minutes. After this, of course, throw away the onion.
• Washing with cool water.
• Relaxation techniques - meditation, auto-training, yoga for pregnant women, the Bradley method, biofeedback method.
• Head massage, acupressure.
• Lubricating the pulse areas on the wrists with Espol ointment. In summer - rubbing the same areas with nettle, ground to a paste.
• Zvezdochka ointment - on the temples and forehead.
• Ginger root - against nausea during migraines. Acupuncture bracelets will also help.

The expectant mother chooses the treatment methods herself. Of course, if the pain becomes too frequent and unbearable, then you cannot do without consulting a doctor. To avoid resorting to pills, take steps in advance to eliminate all sources of migraines. The best option– go to a quiet, calm place in your climate zone during pregnancy (for example, to a dacha, to a village with relatives), establish a sleep/diet regime and eliminate all contacts with unpleasant people.

The site Colady.ru warns: self-medication can harm your health! The recipes given here do not replace a trip to the doctor!

Expectant mothers often experience discomfort in the early stages of pregnancy. After all, their body is being rebuilt, their immunity is decreasing, which is manifested by drowsiness, apathy, and migraines. But the latter for pregnant women is simply a disaster. Migraines knock a woman out of her usual working rut, and besides, treating them in a new situation is problematic. How to be saved and with what?

Briefly about migraine

It is a hereditary pathology, which is expressed in sharp pain in one half of the head. The headache can be so severe that it cannot be relieved by the usual tablets of Citramon, No-shpy, Paracetamol. Other analgesics may also be ineffective.

Migraines are different from regular headaches. This is a stronger and more dangerous pathology. It is accompanied by so-called precursors of attacks - they are also called an aura. These are the signs:

1. Fear of light. It can accompany headaches all the time or only during the daytime.
2. Intolerance to strong odors, noise, loud sounds.
3. Closedness, detachment, self-isolation.
4. Vomiting and as symptoms of an impending headache.

Pregnancy and migraine

It is worth noting that this pathology in expectant mothers has its own specifics. The reasons for its occurrence also differ:

1. Eating certain foods. These include cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits, hot spices. Alcohol, which is contraindicated while pregnant, can also provoke an attack.
2. Water deficiency in the female body, especially in the first trimester.
3. Overdose of medications. For example, Citramon in large quantities may worsen headache symptoms.
4. Stress, psychological stress, lack of sleep.
5. Changes in weather conditions, changes in the indoor microclimate.

So, migraines in expectant mothers are provoked by many more factors than in ordinary people.

Eliminating migraines using traditional methods

Many women who experienced similar conditions before the onset of an “interesting” situation do not want to see a doctor about this. Especially in the early stages, when medications to alleviate the condition are extremely undesirable. They use proven folk recipes migraine treatment:

1. Brewing sweet, strong black tea. But you need to be careful with this treatment option in the early stages of pregnancy.
2. Compress made from cabbage leaf. It must be scalded with boiling water, applied to the frontal part of the head or the area that is bothering you, and wrapped in a woolen scarf.
3. Applying ice. Promotes vasoconstriction. You cannot keep an ice compress on your head for a long time.
4. Aromatherapy. Many people find it helpful to inhale the vapors of lemon balm, lavender, and citrus fruits. The method is acceptable if the pregnant woman is not allergic to esters.

About relieving seizures with medications

Even Citramon, which is familiar to a woman before pregnancy, should be used carefully. After all, when carrying a baby, this medicine can only worsen the headache.

If Citramon does not help, then the doctor may prescribe more serious medications, for example, Acetaminophen. In minimal doses, this safe and hypoallergenic drug can be taken in early and late pregnancy.

You can try using Paracetamol. It is safer compared to Citramon. For pregnant women, doctors prescribe medications containing magnesium for migraines - they are beneficial for blood vessels. But relieving migraine attacks with Aspirin is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women. This remedy can provoke bleeding and premature birth and pregnancy.

Prevention of migraine during pregnancy

To prevent unpleasant attacks, you should follow simple recommendations:

1. Maintaining a daily routine. Eating without a schedule, lack of sleep and oversleeping often become causes of headaches. They are signs of a weak body, so you should take care of yourself and live according to the regime.
2. Physical exercise. Yoga for pregnant women, Pilates, and swimming will help you forget about pills, feel more energetic and not gain weight.
3. Massage of the cervical-collar area You can do it yourself (with a long-handled brush) or ask your husband to do it.
4. Maintaining water regime. Lack of fluid can contribute to headache attacks.

There is a clear relationship between changes in a woman’s hormonal levels and the frequency of her headaches. Pregnant women suffer more than others because of this - increased stress on the body and significant changes in hormonal levels can significantly increase the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.

The situation is complicated by the fact that most medications that can effectively relieve migraines during pregnancy are prohibited. What to do in this situation? There are ones that you should resort to first.

1. Effective, affordable and safe means Sweet hot caffeine-containing drinks (tea, coffee) can help reduce the symptoms of migraines. It has been proven that caffeine, when consumed in moderation, does not have a harmful effect on the fetus, so this method can be used at any stage of pregnancy without restrictions. Glucose contained in sugar is the main nutrient substrate for the brain, which will support brain cells in conditions of insufficient blood supply due to vasospasm.
2. Another effective method fight pain - cold. You can use a special ice pack, or a regular one. plastic bottle with frozen water, even just ice cubes for drinks. There are also special “cold accumulators” - a bag with jelly-like contents that takes the shape of the body and maintains temperature for a long time. The only caveat is that before use you need to wrap the ice in a cloth or towel to avoid frostbite on the skin.
3. A cold shower has the same effect. Even a simple wash or pouring cold water on your head will be enough.
4. Massaging the collar area will also help reduce headaches. If there is no one nearby who can massage you, massage your temples, neck and scalp yourself. The massage should begin with light stroking movements, gradually moving to more intense ones. The strength of the impact must be selected so that the sensations are pleasant, but not too weak.
5. Light exercise, such as walking, will help increase blood flow from the brain to the muscles, thereby reducing pressure in the blood vessels of the brain and.

Drug treatment of migraine during pregnancy

The range of medications that can be prescribed during pregnancy is very limited due to their possible effect on the fetus. There have been no comprehensive studies of the safety of various antimigraine drugs. There are only isolated clinical observations of women who were treated with medications for migraine during pregnancy. What to do if auxiliary methods do not help cope with a headache attack? Several rules for the use of medications in pregnant women with migraine have been empirically formulated.

• Herbal medicine should be used with caution. Despite the apparent safety of this method, some herbs can cause miscarriage.
• Most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used during pregnancy without harm to the unborn child. The soluble forms of these drugs are especially convenient - they are quickly absorbed and immediately begin to act. It is very important to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the first 2 hours of the onset of a migraine attack. Only in this case will they be able to act fully. Combinations of NSAIDs with caffeine are very effective. Unfortunately, finished drugs produced by the pharmaceutical industry contain painkillers that are prohibited for use by pregnant women. An adequate replacement would be an NSAID in combination with tea or coffee.
• Magnesium salts are a fairly effective and safe drug for pregnant women.
• In extreme cases, triptans may be prescribed. This is the most modern and effective way. Currently, retrospectively collected data allow us to say with confidence that most triptan drugs do not affect fetal development. Accidental use of triptans by a woman who does not know she is pregnant will not worsen the health of the unborn baby. However, due to insufficient awareness of the effects of triptans, their systematic use by pregnant women cannot be recommended. In case of migraine in a nursing mother, triptans should also not be taken unless absolutely necessary. If it is impossible to do without taking them, it is advisable immediately after feeding, so that by the next feeding the concentration of the drug in the milk has time to decrease.

Migraine prevention

Due to the extremely limited possibilities drug treatment migraines during pregnancy, prevention options come to the fore.

• It is extremely important to maintain a rational daily routine. , getting enough rest during the day helps reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. Sleeping too long can also adversely affect the condition of a pregnant woman. It is undesirable to sleep less than 7 and more than 9 hours a day.
• Proper nutrition is very important. Consume as much as possible natural products, avoid pickles, marinades, spicy, fatty and fried foods. Break the daily amount of food into small portions - preferably 5-6 small meals throughout the day.
• Drink enough water. Pregnant women's need for fluid increases, and its deficiency causes blood thickening and can provoke migraine attacks.
• During pregnancy, it is not advisable to go on long journeys or move - a sudden change in climate or environment can trigger a migraine attack.
• Don't forget about regular exercise. Every day, the expectant mother should walk for at least an hour. It is also advisable to perform special exercises for pregnant women and breathing exercises. There are varieties of yoga designed specifically for pregnant women. These methods are guaranteed not to harm the child. Regular yoga and breathing exercises will also help you learn to cope with stress and difficult everyday situations and react less emotionally to them. This way you will significantly reduce the number of migraine triggers.
• Reflexology sessions can both help combat the current migraine attack and reduce their frequency in the future.
• Massage is an excellent remedy for... You can visit a professional massage therapist or teach a relative the basics of massage. For migraines, it is important to avoid too intense techniques; the massage should be relaxing. Depending on the situation, you can receive massage sessions of the collar area, head, back, or all of these areas at once.
• You can do acupressure massage of the face and head yourself. Pay attention to the area between the eyebrows, the beginning of the neck and the corners of the eyes - these are reflexogenic zones that help reduce headaches. There are similar points on the palms and soles between the first and second fingers.
• It is extremely important in the prevention of migraine attacks to create a protective regime for the expectant mother. It is necessary to avoid all kinds of stress and mental strain. The atmosphere in the house should be as comfortable as possible. The support of loved ones is important.

Another important way to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks is psychotherapy. Teaching a woman relaxation techniques and how to respond to stress will help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.

It should be remembered that for most women, migraine attacks become less frequent as pregnancy progresses. This is due to the increasing amount of estrogen in the body and preparation for childbirth. If in the first trimester less than half women note a decrease in attacks, then in the third migraine ceases to bother almost 90% of women. Therefore, it is extremely important to observe maximum preventive measures in the first half of pregnancy. In the second half, the body itself will help cope with the disease. However, migraines cannot be left untreated. In this case, the body is forced to use its own reserves to fight the headache. Of course, they will cope with the attack. But repeated attacks will lead to the depletion of the body’s compensatory reserves. The attacks will become more severe each time. Also, repeated untreated migraine attacks cause depletion of the body's anti-pain mechanisms, which are extremely important during pregnancy and childbirth.

Migraine is a chronic pathology accompanied by severe headaches, increased sensitivity to light, sounds and smells. The disease itself and the causes of its occurrence are still not fully understood. Scientists have been able to establish that it develops due to a genetic factor and occurs most often in women.

Watch a video about what migraine is:

Features of migraine in pregnant women

Each woman experiences migraines differently. For some, the pain causes practically no discomfort, because it is barely noticeable; for others, it does not bother them at all, but more often than not, it still occurs. The reason for this is the hormonal changes in the body. This condition occurs with the following symptoms:

• Darkening of the eyes;
• The appearance of nausea;
• A sharp increase in blood pressure.

Reasons why migraine is dangerous for pregnant girls and women:

1. Severe headaches cause expectant mother get nervous, and the baby also becomes restless.
2. A sharp contraction of blood vessels affects the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.
3. Migraine is sometimes mistaken for toxicosis and treatment is started that is harmful both for oneself and for the child.
4. Nausea and vomiting cause exhaustion of a woman’s body, so it can provoke a miscarriage. It is also possible to stop the development of the fetus.

note: According to doctors, the appearance of migraines during pregnancy can warn of other dangerous pathologies, for example:

• meningitis;
• glaucoma;
• sinusitis;
• brain tumors.

If you are experiencing severe headaches, you should immediately seek medical advice. Other dangerous diseases that can develop as a result of complications include migraine stroke. It is accompanied by long bouts of pain, and severe manifestations can cause neurological disorders that can lead to paralysis of the facial nerve.

Causes of occurrence during pregnancy

Doctors identify two main causes of migraines in pregnant women:

1. Body changes, hormonal changes. The nervous system becomes sensitive to external stimuli and reacts with headaches.
2. Increased load on the kidneys, heart and blood vessels.

Other factors that seriously affect health during pregnancy include:

• severe stress;
• lack of sleep at night and general fatigue;
• physical or emotional overload;
• decreased blood sugar levels;
• lack of water (especially in the first three months of pregnancy);
• sensitivity to weather changes;
• Not proper nutrition with lots of chocolate, cheese, fish and nuts;
• caffeine abuse;
• Availability unpleasant odors, stuffiness, too bright light or loud music in the room;
• an increase in toxins due to the fact that the woman has recently suffered an acute respiratory viral infection or poisoning;
• pancreatitis;
• liver diseases;
• diabetes.

Please note: migraines appear early in pregnancy, but can also occur during the last trimester. Most often this occurs due to preeclampsia, hypertension, overweight and severe stress on the spine.

Main symptoms

Among the main symptoms of migraine:

1. Pulsating pain in one area (most often they are concentrated in the temples, forehead and superciliary area). Sometimes an attack is accompanied by pain moving to the occipital region.
2. The occurrence of pain during physical activity.
3. Increased sensitivity to light, sounds and smells.
4. The occurrence of nausea and vomiting.
5. Visual impairment. Before an attack, a woman may see jumping dots in front of her eyes, objects become voluminous, fog and hallucinations are possible.
6. Changes in the perception of sounds - this symptom is called “aura”.
7. Increased blood pressure levels.

Headaches may last for several hours or several days, depending on the individual characteristics body. Symptoms will disappear within three days at the latest.

Is treatment with pills acceptable?

During pregnancy, most medications are prohibited for women. If the headache is very severe, you can take paracetamol and drugs in which it is the main component: Panadol or acetaminophen. Their use is acceptable regardless of the stage of pregnancy.

Important: the permissible dose per day should not be more than four 500 ml tablets.

Aspirin or ibuprofen can be taken only at the onset of the second trimester, otherwise the baby may experience various diseases. In the final stages, these medications can trigger premature birth. The use of analgin, baralgin, tempalgin during pregnancy is strictly prohibited. You should not take medications without a doctor's prescription.

You can learn more about how and how to treat a migraine head in this material.

How to get rid of an illness using folk remedies?

In the early stages, acupuncture helps relieve headaches. The procedure is effective and completely safe. Needles have a blocking effect on nerve impulses passing along painful pathways. Several procedures restore the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, and relieve headaches for a long time. If the needles themselves cause concern, you can try the following methods:

1. Drink hot, sweet tea - one mug will normalize glucose levels. Attention: this method cannot be used if you have diabetes.
2. Applying a cabbage leaf to the diseased area - it must be secured with a towel or scarf.
3. Massage in circular, light movements of the neck, head, temples.
4. Lavender tea – take 10g of herb, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. After the specified time, you need to drink the decoction.
5. Breathing exercises.

You can find out more about whether you can do without taking pills in this material.

Prevention

To prevent migraines, simple recommendations will help expectant mothers:

• avoid stress;
• walk more in the fresh air;
• sleep at least seven hours a day;
• include yoga classes in your daily routine;
• review your diet and reduce your consumption of chocolate and citrus fruits.
• limit the performance of unpleasant duties and the circle of communication with negatively minded people, communication with whom does not bring joy.

Conclusion

Migraines can also occur during menstruation and breastfeeding. Pregnant women experience severe headaches as a result of changes in the body. By the second half of the term, he gets used to the changes and learns to solve the problem with his own resources. By the end of pregnancy, migraines usually hardly bother you. The problem of headaches can be solved with medications and traditional methods, but the main thing is to follow preventive measures.

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Carrying a fetus (unborn child) is a joyful event for many, but it can be spoiled by migraines that arise during pregnancy.

This is a serious test for any woman, since, in addition to other signs of pregnancy, pain occurs in the head in the early stages of carrying a baby.

Migraines during pregnancy can appear in the form of severe and moderate headaches, which greatly undermines the nervous system and health of the expectant mother.

How to relieve pain and how to treat this pathology? This question is often asked by women who are pregnant.

We will try to lift the veil of secrecy, which can, in some cases, alleviate the condition of the future woman in labor.

Causes

In order to understand how to treat migraine during pregnancy, it is necessary to find out the cause of the pain condition.

When pain appears on a constant basis, this may indicate several factors that provoked it.

Some of the causes of pain in pregnant women:

1. Hormonal imbalance. Migraine during early pregnancy involves a certain amount of hormones released. All this leads to a strong impact on the nervous system of the expectant mother. Most often this happens at the beginning of the first trimester of pregnancy, because the body becomes accustomed and adapts to this position. For this pain, therapy is not prescribed. If, however, the pain occurs with severe attacks, then the doctor can prescribe the necessary medications to relieve symptoms and pain. If this condition continues throughout pregnancy, it can greatly worsen the condition of the mother and her baby.
2. Development of hypertension. An increase in blood pressure often occurs in the last months of pregnancy (third trimester). All this is due to an increase in blood flow and blood volume itself. If this state If the expectant mother had it before pregnancy, then she should constantly carry out prevention of this pathology from the beginning of her interesting situation.
3. It often happens that this condition provokes kidney disease, so a specialist is obliged to prescribe treatment with drugs that cannot harm the fetus. Proper nutrition and outdoor recreation also help a lot. At this moment, it is necessary to completely eliminate nervous experiences and stressful situations.
4. Development of hypotension. When blood pressure drops significantly, this means that the body is oversaturated with the hormone progesterone. Since the properties of this hormone are tonic, it dilates blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Head pain occurs due to lack of oxygen to the brain. Whether therapy is necessary or not in a given situation is determined by the doctor observing the pathology. The main drugs that are prescribed contain caffeine. You can drink a cup of hot coffee, but only if there are no contraindications for use.
5. Developing other diseases. Such diseases include: meningitis, sinusitis, eye diseases, kidney disease, encephalitis. When they are diagnosed, the doctor prescribes complete therapy that does not harm the pregnancy. Often, when migraine occurs in pregnant women, gestosis appears. This disease is characterized by vasospasm, which leads to increased blood pressure. In this case, the woman may lose consciousness or experience a severe headache.
6. Often the cause of pain may be the progression of chronic diseases. Migraines during pregnancy throughout pregnancy are due to problems with the spinal column. This exacerbation is associated with an increased load on the spine. Osteochondrosis and vegetative-vascular dystonia are also accompanied by headache.
7. Dietary violations. If you overeat heavily while carrying a baby, weight gain leads to an increase in blood pressure. When malnourished, the body lacks essential substances, which also causes headaches. Therefore, it is necessary to fully comply with the diet and avoid eating foods that contain toxins and harmful substances. Eating small, frequent meals helps a lot.
8. Experienced stressful situations. Constant nervous tension, fear of something, domestic quarrels - all this can cause a migraine and pregnancy can fail. Therefore, it is necessary to lead a more measured lifestyle, not to overload and think more about the unborn baby.

Therapy without drugs

During pregnancy, the use of many medications is prohibited, so you need to follow some recommendations:

• severe overwork and constant lack of sleep;
• excessive consumption of chocolate, citrus fruits, cheese products and spices;
• lack of fluid in the body, which occurs in the first and second trimester of pregnancy;
• allergic reactions;
• weather changes and changes in climate zones.

All this can manifest this painful condition, so it is necessary to more carefully follow the recommendations of doctors. For pain, many women and girls turn to traditional medicine for help.

Traditional medicine methods for migraines

Often, fear of harming the child pushes a woman to use traditional medicine at home.

But it is worth paying attention to the fact that if a painful condition occurs frequently, then you cannot do without consulting a specialist.

There are the most popular methods to relieve migraine pain, which were used by our great-grandmothers:

1. Ice in bags. This remedy can be applied to a sore head, which will dilate the blood vessels. This method relieves headaches. This compress cannot be kept on a sore spot for a long time, as it can cause a cold in the head or provoke colds. It is also advisable to wrap the package with a towel so that there is no direct contact with the scalp and forehead.
2. You can use fresh cabbage leaves, after dousing them with boiling water. All this needs to be wrapped in a woolen scarf. This is the most effective and simplest remedy for relieving pain.
3. Sweet tea. Brew strong tea in a steamer, add sugar and drink slowly. This remedy and method has its contraindications. It is especially dangerous to drink it at the beginning of the first trimester of pregnancy.
4. Various herbal decoctions. If there are no contraindications, then take the herb lemon balm, chamomile, mint in equal parts and steam it in a jar or thermos. Before using this decoction, you should consult with your pregnancy doctor.

All these methods of pain relief have been tested over the years and centuries, so it is necessary to have a consultative conversation with a doctor. In addition to these methods, relaxation activities are widely used.

Relaxation techniques for migraines

In some cases, acupuncture is prescribed - the safest and most effective way to relieve pain.

There is the most pleasant way to relieve pain - aromatherapy. It is used in the absence of allergic reactions to additional essential oils.

Inhaling and exhaling evaporating oils relieves internal tension from the muscles and central nervous system, improves blood flow through the vessels, and relaxes the human body. The following oils are suitable for use:

• rose oil;
• basil;
• essential eucalyptus;
• lemon;
• rosemary;
• peppermint oil based on essential components.

Massage method for relieving migraine pain

This method helps well with migraines, if only it is performed correctly and by a specialist.

Massage activities on the neck and head are a proven method, but in this situation this method cannot be done without a specialist.

You can try to master the basics of this method, and then you need to do it yourself.

There are three most common ways to massage yourself. These measures need to be done to yourself and massaged for 10-13 seconds, 10 approaches:

1. The starting point of influence is located between the eyebrows in the middle of the frontal bone.
2. The second point that can relieve pain from a migraine is located between the fused bones on the foot of the big and second toe.
3. The third place is in the place of deepening of the bone growth behind the edges of the eyeball.

What is the rule for performing these procedures:

• Pressing on the points should be done with the pads of your fingers.
• The pressure is strong, but not painful.
• Pressure on the points must be done with circular movements, as if rubbing the cream into the bone.

If massage activities are carried out correctly, then you can notice good relaxation of muscle tissue and how tension and pain go away.

The massage session ends with slow circular movements with gradual deceleration until a complete stop. It happens that you still have to use drug intervention.

Drug intervention for migraine

If the above methods do not bring positive result, drug treatment is used.

However, before this you need to consult with your doctor so as not to harm the pregnancy.

The most dangerous is the use of drugs during the first and second trimester, since the fetus is not protected and the drugs can harm the development of the baby.

If the pain is incredible, a pregnant woman can take paracetamol or similar products containing it.

This drug, although it is a way to relieve heat from the human body, is also a good analgesic.

What is positive about this use is that this drug is the safest among other drugs. This remedy is even prescribed to infants.

If you have problems with blood flow, you can sometimes see Actovigin in doctor’s prescriptions. This remedy relieves migraine headaches well and eliminates the cause of its occurrence.

Before using this product, you must make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the composition of the star.

If these migraine attacks are caused by periodic surges in pressure, then the doctor, taking this into account, must carefully prescribe the appropriate medications. For severe pain, you can take a No-Shpa tablet.

It is completely prohibited to take medications containing acetylsalicylic acid.

To prohibited data medical supplies also include Analgin and its derivatives. All of them are highly toxic to the baby developing in the womb and can cause serious problems to kid.

With development modern technologies, special medications have been created for migraines, but they are prescribed only by a specialist doctor. Some of them are recommended even during pregnancy.

When to see a doctor for migraines

Seizures during pregnancy are common and widespread. Migraine is not particularly dangerous for humans.

True, quite often this pathology and the condition requires urgent advice or treatment from a specialist.

In what cases should a pregnant woman consult a doctor:

• pain due to migraine occurs very often;
• constantly increasing migraine pain;
• pain constantly in one part of the head without a long tendency to subside;
• the painful condition is accompanied by surges in blood pressure;
• in addition to the pain in the head, there is a deterioration in speech ability, a strong reaction to light and bright objects, vomiting and nausea.;
• sensitive numbness of legs, arms;
• the auditory reflex disappears and vision is lost.

All of the above can become serious signs of illness in a pregnant woman, so after contacting a doctor, he will issue a referral for a full diagnosis of the body.

Migraine during early pregnancy requires immediate consultation with a doctor and subsequent treatment.

During pregnancy, it is necessary to completely protect not only the woman, but also the fetus itself. Since improper self-medication will lead to the child’s disability or loss.

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