https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 11:51:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-pregnancy#post-1577173 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 10:21:39 +0000 Mrs. BD 1577173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Thank you so much for these great suggestions! It's nice to have something tangible to refer back to for help. This one went away on its own...finally! But, I'm sure that more will come. I really appreciate you sharing this. I love the ice pack idea and the eating thing. While I don't ever skip meals, I am not very good at eating regularly. </p> <p>@spaniellove: I was taking firoicet before I got pregnant, and my doc said that there is no way I should be taking it now. Maybe since you're 30 weeks? Hopefully you're doing better now.</p> <p>@mrskoala: Wow! That sounds miserable! I hope that you're better now! I am 10 weeks, so I'm hoping that like you, mine will dissipate in the second trimester. </p> <p>Thanks again for the advice everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-pregnancy#post-1576897 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:18:31 +0000 MrsKoala 1576897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can take medicine, just not the ones you are used to. I was prescribed Fioricet and Reglan and both of these helped enormously with my migraines.</p> <p>ETA: I had a week of migraines in my first tri and then they were gone until the third tri. Then I had two weeks of migraines and high BP! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-pregnancy#post-1576829 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:47:00 +0000 californiadreams 1576829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i got some bad migraines that lasted for days in my second trimester - which also happened to be during the summer months. One thing I managed to figure out overtime is that i was triggered much more easily, So before pregnancy, if staying out in the sun too long with not enough water triggered it, it would take half the amount of time and i would need double the water. once i started taking better care to avoid things that might trigger them, they got better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-pregnancy#post-1576820 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:43:56 +0000 spaniellove 1576820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: You have a great list of tips here!</p> <p>I ran into a lot of resistance getting any help from either my OB or neurologist, but finally when I hit 30 weeks and I explained that Excedrin Tension Headache (acetaminophen and caffeine only, no aspirin) wasn't doing it for me anymore and I'd had a weeklong migraine my OB gave me Fioricet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-pregnancy#post-1576812 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:40:53 +0000 Foodnerd81 1576812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: I agree with all of this!</p> <p>Acupuncture helped mine so so much, but I think a lot of the time they get better after the first trimester anyway, so there's hope. But realy acupuncture was a life saver for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-pregnancy#post-1576711 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 01:34:06 +0000 stratosphere 1576711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually get them once a year or less but since getting pregnant have been getting them weekly (or more). My doc said they seem to either go away entirely during pregnancy or some lucky souls get them on overdrive like us. </p> <p>For me ice pack to the back of the neck is key to drug-free coping. Peppermint essential oil dabbed very lightly around my hairline and temples seems to help a bit too. And a cup of black tea for a jolt of caffeine (I have been off caffeine for a year now so a cup of tea actually registers with me). And of course sleep and a cold dark room--the usual.</p> <p>There was another thread about just this very recently with lots of good suggestions--do a search and you'll find that too. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-pregnancy#post-1575312 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:48:04 +0000 gingerbebe 1575312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Migraine sufferer here. I had THREE last week, but I've had none so far this week (knock on wood). Its so hard. Basically, I've done the following:</p> <p>1. Keep LOTS of those squishy ice packs in the freezer and keep one at the base of my neck and one over my eyes while laying down. When one set thaws out, I swap them out for another pair.</p> <p>2. Take fast release Tylenol with hot tea.</p> <p>3. Make sure I have a little caffeine every day, preferably a cup of coffee in the morning.</p> <p>4. Get your eyes checked to make sure your Rx is current so you don't have that as a trigger. I just went in on Tuesday and the Dr. adjusted one eye a quarter of a point and I think its helping. Avoid stressing your eyes in general - limit TV or computer at home, don't stare at your phone all the time, wear sunglasses, keep the house dark, etc. We generally use lamps everywhere.</p> <p>5. Everything in our house is unscented and hypoallergenic so as not to trigger anything.</p> <p>6. Keep your bedroom cold and dark. Blast the AC, put up blackout curtains, get an eyemask, whatever. (But check your AC filter to make sure its clean/newer so that you're not blowing dust all over the house to mess up your sinuses).</p> <p>7. My doctor said to eat a piece of fruit if I feel a headache coming on, and if I could pair it with some protein and fat with it, even better. He said blood sugar can trigger them. I can suck down a smoothie or eat yogurt bowls in bed, so I've been doing that a lot. I like smoothies with fatty yogurt, whey powder, or coconut oil or nut butter added in, or yogurt bowls wit fruit, yogurt, nuts, and cereal or granola. </p> <p>8. Take a hot shower before going to bed or laying down and let the water beat down on your face and the back of your neck. It relaxes your muscles and will help you fall asleep faster. I also neti pot in the shower to keep my sinuses squeaky clean during allergy season and prevent any sinus pressure from adding to my woes.</p> <p>9. I will take half a tab of Unisom with hot water if the pounding is terrible and I need to fall asleep right away. Doctors let you take it with B6 for morning sickness and its a histamine anyway, so I figure its fine for a bad headache.</p> <p>10. I sleep with a humidifier (again, to help keep my sinuses clear). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-pregnancy#post-1575279 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:32:13 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1575279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry. I was able to at least take phenegren which helps me sleep them off. </p> <p>Other than that I find that decongestants help with the pressure and most OB's say Sudafed and Claratin are safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-pregnancy#post-1575273 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:30:49 +0000 Mrs. BD 1575273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi All! I am wondering if anyone else out there is a fellow migraine sufferer. I have been getting them since I was 5 years old. I'm now 29. I've been on every medication under the sun, and some have worked over the years.</p> <p>Now, however, I am 10 weeks pregnant, and not allowed to take any medication...not even advil! The docs all told me that when I got pregnant, I would no longer get migraines. I guess I proved them wrong. </p> <p>Other than sleep and rest, is there anything you've used that has worked for you? I'm going on day 3, and I'm miserable! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-migraines-again#post-870821 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:52:05 +0000 MsLipGloss 870821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: I also had Oxycodone. I took it once or twice. It seems so crazy to me that Oxycodone would be on the approved list but that Excedrin Migraine would not! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-migraines-again#post-870803 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:49:16 +0000 MrsKoala 870803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Thank you so much! I talked to my GP and he basically told me that nothing was okay but gave me a prescription for oxycodone. I'm afraid to even use that. I'll talk to my OB. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-migraines-again#post-870757 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:38:00 +0000 MsLipGloss 870757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: You need to call your OB and ask for a prescription for Fioricet. Totally safe to take during pregnancy, and it should give you some relief. ((hugs)). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-migraines-again#post-870750 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:36:46 +0000 MrsKoala 870750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCastro: Thank you. I'm trying this right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-migraines-again#post-870734 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:32:55 +0000 MrsCastro 870734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i use to get migraines all the time too...i have gotten a few headaches now that i am pregnant...have your tried pressure points...i swear by this one as soon as i know its coming on...i just apply as much pressure as i can tolerate...</p> <p>[attach=2075/13/mopcqw.600x389.Press-between-thumb-and-index-small.jpg] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-migraines-again#post-870708 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:25:47 +0000 MrsKoala 870708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe I have exhausted all over the counter options... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-migraines-again#post-870439 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:30:55 +0000 MrsKoala 870439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started a thread on migraines before and got some great advice and now I'm looking for a little more help. My situation is a little different this time since I am now pregnant. I can't take my usual migraine medication any longer. I've been getting migraines everyday and sometimes twice a day since last Friday. I have been taking tylenol, a benadryl, and a small glass of coke and it gets rid of the migraine for a little while but it inevitably comes back. I also started to take a magnesium supplement as some people swear by this. But I'm at my wit's end here. Is there anything else I can do to prevent this or stop the migraine cycle? I'm hydrating, avoiding triggers, etc. Is there anything left to try? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-791816 Fri, 17 May 2013 14:58:29 +0000 MrsKoala 791816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all for the advice!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-791718 Fri, 17 May 2013 14:18:27 +0000 MrsF 791718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have frequent migraines that I never considered hormonal but since having DD I've been having bad migraines during AF. I had been on BCPs (and then pregnant) for pretty much my whole adult life, so I guess I never knew what an unmedicated cycle would be like, migraine wise. </p> <p>Like @mrs.jacks, Imitrex is my miracle drug. I also take amitriptyline as a preventative (there are other great preventatives out there too but I've had trouble with allergies). I was so worried about pregnancy because I couldn't take either one, but my migraines were definitely less frequent while I was pregnant. My neurologist (and our pedi) also ok'd both meds for breastfeeding. They really are life-savers for me. Definitely talk to your GP and see a specialist if you need to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-791713 Fri, 17 May 2013 14:16:11 +0000 heffalump 791713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: @mrswin: @wahine08: I always take a benadryl if there's bad weather coming my way and it usually works. </p> <p>I've gotten bad migraines my whole life, and pretty much everything triggers it. Not helpful now, but if the hormonal migraines continue after you have a baby you might want to ask about getting on seasonale. It makes it so you get your period every three months instead of every month so that's a few less migraines. </p> <p>When I was pregnant I took Tylenol 3 and lortab. I tried fioricet, but the caffeine did crazy things to my heart so I had to stop that. Also, if I had a very crazy long migraine that was lasting for weeks and wouldn't go away, my doctor gave me predisone. It's my wonder drug, it gets rid of the migraine and stops the long migraine cycle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-791113 Fri, 17 May 2013 11:43:03 +0000 Pirouette 791113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wahine08: @mrswin: mine are triggered by the weather too! i dread summer because every time the humidity starts to rise and a storm is coming i know i'm homebound. :(</p> <p>I don't (knock on wood) get hormonal migraines, at least i haven't yet. i am a bit nervous about this summer, between the summer and being pregnant, and seeing whether it triggers more migraines for me than usual. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-791029 Fri, 17 May 2013 11:22:43 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 791029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I treat them with Imitrex. It's a miracle drug for me. During pregnancy I got 2 migraines and couldn't use it. For those I used Tylenol and caffeine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-791008 Fri, 17 May 2013 11:16:31 +0000 lovehoneybee 791008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before I got pregnant I'd get them right before my period started and whenever the weather changes (specifically whenever a front is coming in). I got one bad one during the first trimester and two milder ones later in my pregnancy...which sucked but they came much less frequently when I was pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-790913 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:52:06 +0000 littlebug 790913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrswin: I say the same thing! I tell people I"m a great barometer! (c:</p> <p>Excedrin migraine usually worked for me, but if not I moved on to Aleve and caffeine.</p> <p>FWIW, I had only 1 or 2 migraines during pregnancy, after being a monthly (not hormonal) migraine-sufferer. So you could get lucky! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-790900 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:47:41 +0000 Mrs.Someone 790900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Yep, I think it would be totally different. I've found that a naturopath prescribes supplements and things you can get at somewhere like Whole Foods, whereas an acupuncturist treats with chinese herbs along with the acupuncture and you have to see him/her more often to get results. Also, acupuncture treats problems like blood/qi deficiency, etc, but naturopaths think more in terms of western medicine. Hope that makes sense? Both are good, just very different :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-790895 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:46:31 +0000 Revel 790895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine came back when I went off BCP. I would get one about a week before my period. My acupuncturist said it was probably related to an estrogen surge at that point in my cycle? I got acupuncture for them and that seemed to help - they didn't go away but got less severe.</p> <p>I had a terrible few weeks with them as I transitioned from first to second trimester of pregnancy, but overall have been mostly migraine free. I'm not sure what approach I'm going to take after I have the baby, assuming they come back.</p> <p>Oh, and I never took any prescription medication for them - I have long cycles so even if I got one every month that only works out to 8/year. Caffeine, advil and the dark usually helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-790887 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:44:34 +0000 MsLipGloss 790887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: Yeah. It started the day before my Amniocentesis (at 16 weeks) and hung around until 21 weeks. But yanno, I totally forgot about that misery when I started to swell like a puffer fish at 24 weeks. lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-790858 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:37:54 +0000 MrsKoala 790858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: 5 WEEKS!?!?! I'd die. I think horrible migraines are one of my biggest fears about getting PG. My doc mentioned something that he thinks will work for my type of migraines but I think it was pill form. I'll wait and see what he suggests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-790700 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:01:30 +0000 MsLipGloss 790700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: Pre-pg, I took Imitrex injections (self-administered) for my migraines. While I was pg (I had a migraine for 5 weeks!) I took a combination of Fioricet and Benadryl. It was approved by both my Neuro and OB, and it worked wonders! Maybe you could consider these as safe alternatives while TTC? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-790685 Fri, 17 May 2013 09:59:03 +0000 MrsKoala 790685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Someone: @Foodnerd81: Thanks for the suggestions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraine-sufferers#post-790570 Fri, 17 May 2013 09:36:41 +0000 Foodnerd81 790570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Someone: how different do you think the treatment from a naturopath would be from acupuncture? Two totally different things? I'm much better now but if they come back I'm totally open to something like that. </p>