Pregnancy & Migraines

Hi all, I realize this is my (gulp) first official post on the pregnancy board.. how nerve-wracking/exciting



Anyhow I have a question to those ladies who were migraine suffers BEFORE getting Pregnant

I am curious: did you notice an increase or decrease in the frequency of your migraines once pregnant? And if they did INCREASE, how are you dealing with them

I have been suffering with migraines for years. Once I started TTC, my neurologist weaned me off medication. I was 'holding my own' by using herbal remedies (Feverfew amongst them) and in general I was able to keep them at bay.

Now that I am PG, I am concerned that they will return with a vengence

My obgyn and neurologist used to assure me that often women who suffer with migraines pre-pregnancy found that once pregnant, their migraines all but disappeared (I hope I am one of those ladies!)

ANyhow.. any insight /experiences would be helpful as to how my fellow migraine sufferers deal with this during pregnancy

Thanks ladies!!

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

On days like today, I'd be sure to get a migrane. You can take Tylenol. There's really not much you can do about them. Drink lots of fluids. Enjoy your pregnancy. Congratulations!

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

I'm not a migraine sufferer but wanted to Welcome you since this is your first "official" post over here!



I got terrible headaches in the first trimester though, so maybe/hopefully the opposite will be for you. Since you are a sufferer hopefully they will disappear for your pregnancy.

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

I used to get the occasional migraine before pregnancy. I had a few in the beginning and I took my sinus pills and had a small cup of coffee. The caffiene helped alot.

Congrats again!!!!!!

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

Hi, first off, CONGRATULATIONS! Second, I will be starting to TTC soon and am worried about the same thing. I suffer from vision blurring migraines that don't go away without medication.

I spoke with my friend's mother recently who has grown children now and she said she did get them during all 3 of her pregnancies as well. I think it is just something us migraine sufferers have to accept and deal with. My neurologist told me that women who get migraines usually get them up until menopause.

That being said...that is partially why we are going to TTC now while we don't have a mortgage, incase of any complications trying to work with them being prego.

I do know you can take tylenol but being a migraine sufferer, I know it doesn't work as good, but its something!

Hope that helped, and good luck!

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

I am a migraine sufferer and I did't get not one in the 1st trimester, However I have been getting them more frequent not that Im in my second. Tylenol is all I take. It hardly helps but for some reason the migraine is not like I used to get them, They are alittle different. But with this heat, I seem to have a constant headache all day
Some of the books say that women who suffer from migraines don't usually get them while PG, who knows!

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

I got migraines once a month before I was pregnant - always about 3-4 days into my period. I haven't had a single headache in 9 months. Hopefully you will have a similar experience.

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

Thanks everyone!! I guess I'll just wait and see how this plays out

I do notice that I have an awful headache today, but its not really a 'migraine' like I normally have... its more of a 'foggy brain' type of feeling that is much more tolerable than my typical migraines

I just went and bought a bottle of Tylenol since I know that's about all I can take (though pre-PG, Tylenol did NOTHING to alleviate my sytmpoms)

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

Although you may want to limit caffiene, I found it helped me with my headaches when I was pg.

I used to get pretty bad migraines before I had sinus surgery, so I know how bad they can be. I definitely hope the Dr. are right that they tend to subside when you're pg....

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

I am only in my first trimester, so I don't know how helpful I can be. I got very bad migraines before pg, mostly hormonal, and was on Ibitrex (which obviously I can not take anymore). I have only had one so far, and it was right before AF was due. Besides that I have not had any. The only thing I notice is I get headaches from the nauseau often, but they are different then migraines.

I hope you have a happy, healthy, migraine-free nine months!!!

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

Welcome aboard Felicia! I used to suffer from terrible migrains from time to time and was concerned about not being able to take the medication when I needed it. Luckily, I haven't experienced any migraines with my pregnancy, I'm 15 weeks. I will be starting prenatal yoga soon and have heard that has helped migraine sufferers.

Good luck

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

Congrats again Felicia!

I got very bad migraines until I started taking Topamax (I'm migraine free since March '04!!!)

I obviously had to stop the Topamax, and KNOCK ON WOOD I haven't had a single migrane during my pregnancy.
(so far...)

I will keep my fingers crossed for you, but talk to your Neuro about other options just in case.
FYI- You may want to look into it a bit more, but I heard Feverfew is not recommended during pregnancy.

ETA: I DO have a cup of tea every morning just to get a bit of caffeine in my system, seems to ward off the migraines in my case.

Just found this on Feverfew:
Feverfew Flowering Tops: Not to be used during pregnancy.
Feverfew Leaf: Not to be used during pregnancy.

Message edited 8/5/2005 3:32:01 PM.

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

Welcome Flee

I use to get migraines before I was preg. like once a month(every 2 months)...

I found that I did get them while I was preg. not as much...mostly when I was exhausted and lacking sleep (or stressed)....

As the preg. gets further along... I notice them more... but I think my not getting enough sleep and again STRESS has ALOT to do with it...

Try and relax as often as possible... I found that was the most helpful with all of my preg. woes!!!

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

Thank you everyone for your warm welcome and sharing your information/experiences thus far

Andrea: thank you for looking up the info about Feverfew.. I had actually stopped taking that as well a few months ago, since my neurologist told me that he it was not safe during pregnancy.. I figured I should wean myself away from everything in the even I got PG. Now I'm glad I did


Hopefully I'll be amongst the lucky ones and my migraines will disappear these next months.. given all the other fun little joys we have to go thru, it would be nice if at least the headaches stayed away

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

First of all, congratulations Felicia!! I'm so glad you joined us!

My migraines have been about the same if not worse. But, I'm not sure if it just seems like they are worse now because I can't take anything that actually works. Tylenol never did anything for me, but I've been trying to take the Tylenol along with a glass of soda for a little caffeine. I hope they stay away for you!

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

congrats a healthy nine months

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

Ahhh....she's made her way here!!!

I have never been diagnosed with migraines, but I do get them here and there, and they might just be a BAD headache that lasts 3-4 days.

I actually noticed they started going away once I moved away from NY and all the stress. I think I got 3-4 in the last year that were REALLY terrible.

I've had a few headaches, the worst being right after the 2nd trimester---I even threw up and NO headache before had ever made me throw up!!

Pre PG, I'd pop about 800 mg of ADvil and get some rest (and I'd do it for several days!)

Now-2 Extra STrength Tylenol and a glass of regular Pepsi-the caffeine seems to help. Then a good nights' sleep usually helps. Sometimes I'll take a warm bath or a nice shower to relieve the tension, since my neck gets SO tight. DH will rub it out for me too then I go to sleep. I'll also try an ice pack then the warm bath/shower to open up the sinuses.

I think I've only had one that lasted more than 2 days.....last time I had one was when my sister was here a month ago....but I've also started taking in more fluids, which could be MY problem!

Re: Pregnancy & Migraines

I wasn't a migraine sufferer pre-pregnancy, but I wanted to welcome you to this board!!! To add, for some reason, I ended up developing migraine like headaches during the pregnancy, but it was only for a couple of weeks during the second trimester...