Does pregnancy cause headaches?

Many women get mild headaches when they are pregnant. Headaches are more common in the first few months of pregnancy.

Headaches can be caused by changes in your hormones. They usually get better as your pregnancy progresses.

Headaches can happen for many different reasons — it’s not always because of pregnancy hormones.

Does pregnancy cause migraines?

If you have migraines, you might notice a change when you’re pregnant. Migraines are bad headaches on one side of your head. Other symptoms of migraines are feeling sick, vomiting and being sensitive to light or sound.

Up to 7 in 10 people who normally get migraines have an improvement during pregnancy. Usually, this happens in the second and third trimesters. This may be because your oestrogen level starts to stabilise.

Up to 3 in 10 women don’t notice any change in their migraines. And a small number of women may get worse migraines during pregnancy.

You might notice changes in your migraine symptoms during pregnancy. You might also notice changes in your migraines from one pregnancy to the next.

You should talk about migraine treatment with your doctor when you’re planning a pregnancy.

What other things cause headaches during pregnancy?

Besides hormonal changes, there are many other things that can cause headaches, such as:

• dehydration — from not drinking enough fluids
• not getting enough sleep
• eye strain — so it can be useful to get your eyes checked
• dental problems
• infections — such as an ear infection or the flu
• sinusitis

Severe and serious headaches can be due to blood vessel disease, which can cause a brain aneurysm or stroke.

Pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a complication of pregnancy. It’s when you have high blood pressure and swelling of your face, hands and feet. It can happen after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

It’s very important to tell your doctor or midwife if:

• you start getting frequent headaches
• your headaches are very bad
• you have blurry vision or other symptoms that affect your eyesight

These can both be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

When should I see my doctor?

Call your doctor or midwife straightaway if you have:

• a very bad headache
• problems with your vision — blurred vision
• pain below your ribs
• vomiting
• sudden swelling in your face, hands or feet

These can all be signs of pre-eclampsia.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How can I treat headaches when I’m pregnant?

There are treatments for headaches during pregnancy.

Self-care at home

If you have a headache, you can try:

• drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
• having a nap, or resting with your eyes closed
• relaxing — perhaps try a pregnancy yoga class
• putting a cold or heat pack on your forehead or the back of your neck
• a brisk walk in fresh air

Medicines for headaches

If you need to take medicine for pain relief, paracetamol is safe during pregnancy. You should try and take it for the shortest time possible.

Your doctor may prescribe codeine for short term use if paracetamol doesn’t work.

It’s best not to take anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen and aspirin during pregnancy.

Always check with your doctor, pharmacist or midwife before you take medicines during pregnancy.

LOOKING FOR A MEDICINE? — To search by brand name or active ingredient, use the Medicines information search feature.

How can I treat migraines when I’m pregnant?

If paracetamol doesn’t help and you need something stronger, ask your doctor whether you can take codeine.

If these medicines don’t work, you may be able to sometimes take sumatriptan. This medicine is available from a pharmacist, and you will need a prescription.

Speak with your doctor or pharmacist before using any medicines during pregnancy. They can help you understand the risks and the benefits of using each medicine.

Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) should not be used to prevent migraines when you’re pregnant.

Remember to talk about migraine management during pregnancy with your doctor.

How can I prevent headaches during pregnancy?

If you find you are getting mild headaches often, it’s a good idea to try to:

• get more sleep
• drink plenty of water each day
• eat a balanced diet
• take a break from looking at a screen
• rest and relax as much as possible — try mindfulness or going for a walk

How can I prevent migraines during pregnancy?

If you suffer from migraines, try to:

• keep a regular exercise routine
• avoid things that may trigger migraines for you — chocolate, preserved meat, aged cheese and stress

If you don’t know what triggers your migraines, you may want to keep a headache diary. Learn more about headache diaries at Migraine & Headache Australia.

Resources and support

For more information about medicines you can take during pregnancy, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Speak with your doctor or midwife if you have any concerns about pre-eclampsia.

To learn more about headaches and migraines, visit Migraine and Headache Australia.