Pregnancy is a time of great change, both physically and emotionally. It can be a wonderful time, but it can also be a challenging one.
There are so many things to think about and prepare for! This blog will explore all aspects of pregnancy, from the symptoms of pregnancy to the later stages of pregnancy.
We’ll mainly discuss headaches as a symptom of pregnancy. We’ll also dispel some of the myths surrounding early pregnancy symptoms.
So whether you’re pregnant yourself or you’re just looking for some information, we hope you’ll find this blog helpful.
What do early pregnancy headaches feel like?
It is true that most women have experienced headaches during pregnancy. Headaches during early pregnancy can be painful and managing such severe headaches is a tricky affair.
Pregnancy headaches frequently take the form of migraines. Dilated blood vessels in the brain cause these excruciating, throbbing headaches, which are typically felt on one side of the head.
Sometimes, nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity come along with pregnancy headaches.
What kind of headache indicates pregnancy?
Headaches during pregnancy feel no different than usual headaches. Throbbing headaches can often be a symptom of early pregnancy, though not a conclusive one.
Needless to say, headaches are not the most common symptom of pregnancy. There are different types of headaches that may indicate pregnancy:
- Tension headaches during the first trimester of pregnancy: These types of headaches are usually caused by muscle tension in the neck and shoulders.
- Sinus headaches: These types of headaches are usually caused by nasal congestion due to allergies or a cold. Sinus headaches can be accompanied by a fever, runny nose, and sore throat.
- Migraine headaches: Migraines can occur at any time during pregnancy, but are most common in the first and third trimesters. Symptoms of a migraine include severe head pain on side of the head, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting.
- Chronic headaches
- Cluster headaches: Cluster headaches are characterized by a burning or throbbing sensation in one eye. These types of headaches are often accompanied by nasal congestion, watery eyes, and sometimes even nausea or vomiting.
Primary headaches or secondary headaches in early pregnancy are often characterized by a dull aching feeling coupled with occasional throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head.
Primary headache disorders such as migraine or cluster headaches are not caused by underlying disease processes and are not secondary to another condition.
Secondary headaches disorder are caused by an underlying condition such as pregnancy, infection, trauma, or tumor.
Headaches pregnant with girl
Usually, it is believed that those pregnant with boy children are more likely to suffer from headaches during pregnancy than those pregnant with girl children.
Such headaches in pregnant women are usually more common in the second trimester due to changes in hormone levels in the body.
Which gender is more active in womb?
There are many different folktales regarding how to predict whether you are having a boy or a girl. You may have heard that if your unborn child is not actively moving around in the womb, you are most likely having a girl.
Or that if your baby starts to move around earlier, a boy is surely on the way. In reality, there is no proof to support this.
Simply said, determining whether you are having a boy or a girl by watching your baby’s movements is unreliable.
Pregnancy headaches second trimester
Headaches in pregnant women are usually prevalent in the first and third trimesters. However, pregnant women can suffer from headaches in the second trimester as well.
Although there can be numerous causes for headaches in pregnant women in the second trimester, high blood pressure, also known as preeclampsia, is a common cause for the same.
High blood pressure can put pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia and in such circumstances, it is always wise to consult your healthcare provider.
Some common symptoms of preeclampsia include severe headache, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, and general uneasiness. Abdominal pain on the right side can also be a sign of preeclampsia.
Headaches in early pregnancy
During the early stages of pregnancy, headaches can be quite common. However, such headaches improve along the course of the pregnancy.
Although such pregnancy headaches are not particularly harmful to your baby, they can be quite uncomfortable for you. Such headaches can be a symptom of high blood pressure leading to preeclampsia.
Headaches in the early stages of pregnancy can also be caused by low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Although such episodes are common, repeated occurrences of the same are a sign that you should seek medical advice.
There may be a variety of causes of headaches during pregnancy, such as:
- Low Blood Sugar
- Dehydration
- Lack of Sleep
- Stress or Anxiety
- Caffeine Withdrawal
Early pregnancy headache location
In the early stages of pregnancy, the blood vessels in the brain expand, causing painful, throbbing headaches that are typically felt on one side of the head. Sometimes, nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity come together with severe pain.
You should call your healthcare provider if you experience a strong headache, one that simply won’t go away, dizziness, blurred vision, or changes in your field of vision. Sometimes, issues with blood pressure during pregnancy can be linked to headaches.
Inform your healthcare provider if they persist or are severe and start after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Although strokes during pregnancy are uncommon, they can be made more likely by migraines.
How long do pregnancy headaches last?
Pregnancy headaches usually occur during the earlier stages of pregnancy and improve with time. Headaches in the early stages of pregnancy are caused due to hormonal changes and an increase in the blood volume in the body.
Around nine weeks of pregnancy, you may start to have more headaches. For the first few months of pregnancy, migraines may get worse, but for many women, they might get better as their pregnancies progress and the level of the hormone estrogen stabilizes.
While pregnant, other women’s migraine headache frequency may remain the same or even decline. Cluster headaches usually last for about 30 minutes to an hour and can occur multiple times per day.
Tension headaches can last for 30 minutes to several hours and are often worse at night. Migraines can last for hours or even days and can be extremely debilitating.
Headaches in early pregnancy 4 weeks
In early pregnancy, at around four weeks of pregnancy, the cause of pregnancy headaches can be varied. Such headaches may be a result of changing hormone levels or blood flow in the body.
Dull, overall headaches may result from fatigue, stress, anxiety, or even eyestrain. Sinus headaches are caused due to nasal congestion which is very common in the early weeks of pregnancy.
Low blood sugar and dehydration can also cause pregnancy headaches during the early weeks.
The good news is that such pregnancy headaches usually reduce after the first trimester.
Pregnancy headaches relief
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There are several things that you can do to help manage headaches during pregnancy. Try to get as much rest as possible and rest in a dark room and avoid loud noises.
Drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy snacks. a cold compress with an ice pack can also help relieve that dull pain.
There are a variety of reasons why a woman may experience headaches during pregnancy. Unfortunately, many of the counter medications typically used to treat headaches, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, are not considered safe for use during pregnancy.
However, there are some counter medications that can be prescribed by a healthcare provider for pregnant women who are suffering from headaches. Acetaminophen is one such medication.
It is generally considered safe for use during pregnancy, though it is always best to check with your physician first. It is important to note, however, that even though acetaminophen is considered safe for use during pregnancy, it is still possible to overdose on the medication.
Therefore, it is important to follow the instructions on the bottle carefully and only take the recommended dosage.
If you are experiencing severe or chronic headaches during pregnancy, it is important to speak with your physician. Some causes of headaches during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, can be serious pregnancy complications and require medical treatment.
Your doctor will be able to determine if your headaches are cause for concern and prescribe appropriate treatment if necessary.
FAQ relating to headaches and pregnancy
What do pregnancy headaches feel like?
Pregnancy headaches are usually mild during the early weeks of pregnancy. However, migraines during pregnancy can cause excruciating pain on either one or both sides of the head.
It can also be associated with light sensitivity, blurred vision, and dizziness.
How early in pregnancy do headaches start?
Around week nine of your pregnancy, you can start to have more frequent headaches.
What kind of headaches are common in early pregnancy?
The most common pregnancy headaches in early pregnancy are migraines, tension headaches, sinus headaches, and cluster headaches.
Can headaches be part of early pregnancy?
From around the ninth week of pregnancy, women may experience headaches owing to a variety of reasons. It is a common factor in the early stages of pregnancy.
