| Headaches
are one of the more unpleasant “side effects” that
come with pregnancy. All women will have some, but
most will experience them in the first and last trimesters.
In the first three months, this is thought to be primarily
due to such factors as increased blood volume, the
initial stresses, and hormonal changes. In the final
three months, the causes are more likely to be poor
posture, which can result in pressure on parts of
your body that communicate their discomfort to the
brain, and also from the discomforts of carrying extra
weight.
Oddly enough, women who experience migraine headaches,
may have fewer during a pregnancy, while a small percentage
of sufferers will have more. These patients should
discuss relief for the migraines with their doctor,
as soon as a pregnancy is confirmed, if not beforehand
while they are planning to start a family. The best
idea for dealing with headaches during pregnancy,
is to avoid the “known” triggers, or those that are
most likely responsible. The food preservative MSG,
cheeses, spicy foods, caffeine, chocolate, and other
elements of our normal diet, are best eliminated while
expecting a baby.
A healthy, balanced
diet, eaten in several small meals a day if necessary,
with plenty of fluids, and lots of rest, is your first
line of defense against headaches. Being tired, dehydrated,
and unable to eat “normally”, can all work together
to start your head pounding.
When you do get a headache, try and identify the cause
and deal with it accordingly. If the headache is from
your sinuses, a warm compress around your nose and
above your eyebrows may relieve some of the pressure.
Stress or tension headaches can benefit from cold
compresses to the back of the neck. Using these while
lying down in a darkened room, will help to alleviate
some of the tension that builds up from the pain,
and makes the headache worse. Depending on your preferences,
some women may also benefit from using aroma therapy
and sound therapy techniques at the same time.
While most pregnancy headaches are from “benign” causes,
you should call your doctor if they get worse, become
more frequent, are debilitating, or are accompanied
by swelling of the hands, feet or face.
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