Migraine sufferer

kbergmann23 · December 2015

I don't know if there's already been a thread about this but I'm a chronic migraine sufferer and do have prescription meds that I used to take as needed. I haven't taken any since finding out I was pregnant but curious if there are other moms who suffer with migraines and if you don't take meds what do you do to ease the pain

JournoGrl23 · December 2015

I, too, get migraines and have been since I was 14. I used to be on a medication for it but the particular one I was taking is very harmful to babies. I had to go off it a year before we even began trying to conceive. Since it took me years to find that particular medication I didn't bother trying any others. What I've been doing to relieve them is mostly natural stuff. I massage out any tension in my neck, chug 16 ounces of water, drink a cup of coffee for the caffeine, ice my neck and head and eat some almonds (natural antinflammatory). It probably depends on which type of migraines you get as to whether or not that will help. But it has helped me tremendously.

I hope you find something that helps.

**edited because I said inflammatory instead of antinflammatory**

Stephanie7693 · December 2015

I've had migranes on and off for as long as I can remember. My last two pregnancies the migraines got so bad I couldn't function. I ended up on narcotics as needed, because it's the only safe medication I could take during pregnancy. But I'm not sure if it's safe in the first trimester. Both babes I waited as long as possible to take anything other than Tylenol

kbergmann23 · December 2015

Before meds I'd use ice packs, hot baths and massage the areas that were the most painful...I've got my Dr appointment in a couple weeks so hopefully she'll let me know if I can continue my meds or go back to natural remedies

LilLambie · December 2015

I get them too. The only thing that works for me is 3 aspirin and a super strong coffee. Of course I can't have either so I'm just hoping I don't get a migraine. Last pregnancy I got one and it was so bad I ended up just taking aspirin because I couldn't cope. I weighed up the risks and benefits in my migraine affected mind and figured I was going to die if I didn't.

jmw386 · December 2015

I've always had migraines, but they are definitely harder to deal with while pregnant. Of course, my usual medicine is out of the question. During my last pregnancy, I was so hesitant to take any medicine at all, but the migraines were miserable. I'm trying to ease up a little this time. I've found that staying hydrated, sipping caffeine, hot showers/baths, and taking even just 1 Tylenol help to take the edge off a little, at least enough to let me fall asleep.

KUGirl09 · December 2015

My migraines are mostly hormonal based, and not sure what kind yours are, but I found that drinking TONS of water helped. Also, Coffee and plain tylenol are approved for migraine sufferers during pregnancy. Last pregnancy I carried around a tiny bottle of peppermint oil everywhere. If you put a tiny dab on your temples at early onset, it can nip them in the bud. Just make sure you put it as close to the hairline as possible, because that stuff STINGS if it gets in your eyes. I found the water, coffee, tylenol, and peppermint oil as the best doctor approved mix possible for my first.

nerdygangsta · December 2015

Both of my other pregnancies made my already bad migraines worse. So bad I couldn't see at times. But I've been taking B6 and B12 for the last few months and I haven't had any migraines. Also lots and lots of water. Hope you find some relief.

BritMC18 · December 2015

@kbergmann23 I'd check with your OB about medications you can safely take. Before getting pregnant I was having 2-3 migraines a week. I haven't had one since getting pregnant, but my OB said if they came back I could take the Fioricet that I have a prescription for.

HeyStVincent · December 2015

I have done prenatal nursing and here is what I recommend to all the patients who call with headache or migraine complaints:
1) stay hydrated
2) try to not let yourself get too hungry (this can be tough if you're having a lot of nausea and vomiting).
3) try Tylenol with a little caffeine - like a very small cup of coffee (or half a tall coffee from Sbux), or a cup of black tea. If that doesn't work, add some diphenhydramine (like Benadryl or unisom). The Tylenol may help with the pain and the Benadryl and caffeine are both vasoconstrictors, which may help to relieve some of the pressure in your brain. This is assuming you are OK to have caffeine and/or Benadryl. Also, I wouldn't do caffeine if you didn't drink it before pregnancy.

Also, if you ever develop blurry vision, dizziness, pounding heart, and/or upper right quadrant pain with these bad headaches you should definitely call your dr.

Hope this all helps and you are feeling much better soon! Headaches (especially migraines) are so debilitating in pregnancy, so I feel for you!

charmedlifex3 · December 2015

@Britmc18 Hopefully you are like my family! My mother had HORRIBLE migraines, until she got pregnant, than boom - nothing. They stayed gone for about a year after each pregnancy, and when they did come back the severity was tamped down. My grandmother never got her migraines back. (She did have 6 kids though...)

I'm really hoping I get the same luck. So far (knock on wood) so good.

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