https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 11:49:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-802454 Thu, 23 May 2013 06:19:51 +0000 dagret 802454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all of your suggestions and thoughts ladies. Migraines are the absolute worst. I got them VERY infrequently before I was pregnant, and none during pregnancy. I am going to talk to the pediatrician about imitrex at L's next appointment. You're right, I can't take care of him if I'm not functioning (or out of sick days!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-802220 Wed, 22 May 2013 21:52:21 +0000 78h2o 802220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dagret: I had horrific migraines before geting pregnant (one month I had 20+). I had some during pregnancy, but for the most part, caffeine worked (which was weird, because it never helped me much before pregnancy). I only had a few doozies. The first month or two post-partum I didn't have any, despite crazy sleep. However, in the last 3 months I've had a number of them. I had one two weeks ago that lasted 2 days and had me vomiting half the night. Fun times! I had some Percocet left over from what I was given when I went home from the hospital for my tear. I tried to take that but vomited it. I was able to keep one down the other day when I had a migraine and I think it helped. I know they said it was ok for breastfeeding. I'm out of it now, so I'm going to see if maybe I can get more. I'll also ask about Imitrex. I have zero milk in reserve, so I can't pump and dump. Otherwise I have injections that work. </p> <p>All this to say, I feel your pain sister!!!! It's awful! I seriously would choose childbirth over a really bad migraine. I hope you are feeling better now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-802207 Wed, 22 May 2013 21:43:59 +0000 MrsF 802207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dagret - I have frequent migraines that were just horrible immediately postpartum. My neurologist and my daughter's pedi both ok'd Imitrex for breastfeeding. They also ok'd the daily preventative that I take (amitriptyline). The LC who was running my breasfeeding group had some reference books with information about meds and bf-ing that gave me more info. I think sometimes docs are quick to say that something is not ok when they don't see it as a critical med. I told our pedi honestly that I was concerned that I would not be able to continue breastfeeding (or parenting, for that matter) with daily unmedicated migraines. When she heard how debilitated I was she took another look at the references for me. Obviously you don't want to take anything that's unsafe, but you also don't want to suffer needlessly if people are dismissing your concerns without looking into it. </p> <p> - I see that you mentioned Imitrex in the comments above. If you've never tried it, it's really a miracle drug for me and many other migraine sufferers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-802188 Wed, 22 May 2013 21:25:26 +0000 heffalump 802188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My story isn't very helpful. I had to quit breastfeeding early because of migraines. For me only meds help, and if I don't take them early it will just grow and grow until I'm in the er. You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of your baby, and in my case meds were my only answer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-802147 Wed, 22 May 2013 20:55:17 +0000 Katrocap 802147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, I get migraines, too, but am lucky I've only had one in the 4.5 months I've been BFing. It was NOT fun. I just tried the non-medicinal cures: rest, darkness, cool room, ice pack on forehead and neck. Good luck and know that you're not alone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-797443 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:10:45 +0000 mrsjyw 797443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep- same routine, dark room, ice pack, water, sleep... sometimes if it's really bad I take ibuprofen and that dulls it a bit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-797413 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:04:58 +0000 T.H.O.U. 797413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I take Phenegren to at least help me sleep it off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-797411 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:04:26 +0000 dagret 797411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: that's what I was thinking - pumping and dumping - but google says fioricet has a long half-life. </p> <p>@JerricaBenton: I just saw that link, and that imitrex is approved per the aap...caffeine usually does help but I was so nauseous this am I couldn't get any coffee down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-797388 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:00:17 +0000 JerricaBenton 797388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Uggh, I'm sorry. I lucked out and have not suffered with migraines even though my mom gets them very often. She used to have to go to the hospital for the hard core stuff when I was a kid! She really relies on her medicine when she gets one now and is still out of commission until it's gone so I can't imagine not being able to take anything. Does caffeine do anything for you? Here's a list of the safety ratings if you haven't seen it: <a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/meds/migraine-meds/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/meds/migraine-meds/</a><br /> I hope you find something that works for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-797371 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:54:35 +0000 ShootingStar 797371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm pregnant and I get migraines. Luckily I've only gotten a couple of them since I got pregnant. Before the only thing that worked was excedrin migraine, which is funny because all the rx meds didn't put a dent in them. Since I can't take excedrin now, I do warm showers in the dark with some coke and tylenol. Warm packs to the back of the neck can help too. </p> <p>If you get really desperate, can you take fioricet and then pump and dump until it's out of your system? Obviously it's not ideal, but if you're in a huge amount of pain that won't go away it might be worth it as a temporary solution. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-797364 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:52:30 +0000 MrsKoala 797364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh gosh, that sucks! I'm so sorry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-797362 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:51:45 +0000 dagret 797362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shutterbug: I was able to take it while pregnant! Maybe his pediatrician office is a lot more conservative than my ob/gyn office? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-797356 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:49:32 +0000 Shutterbug 797356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugggh poor thing :( I'm not pregnant/nursing, but I am a migraine sufferer and I know how awful it is without the RX meds. Hang in there! (btw - I thought you could take Fioricet while pregnant. You can't also take it while BFing?) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/migraines-and-breastfeeding-a-pity-party#post-797346 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:45:38 +0000 dagret 797346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a migraine last night and sleep didnt knock it out - still had it when I woke up at 630 so I'm taking a half day of work. I thought I *might* be able to take sweet, sweet fioricet (but didn't). It's just about over now, thankfully. I called L's pediatrician just now to check and the only thing I can take is OTC meds. I'm not going to lie, I cried. </p> <p>I really hope exception migraine miraculously starts to work for me. If I start getting migraines again I'm not sure how long I could breastfeed. The only good thing is that I'm pretty sure it came on bc I didn't drink enough water yesterday. Hopefully I can prevent them by staying hydrated. </p> <p>Fellow bfing migraine sufferers...(or pregos who cant take meds) how did you deal? I do a dark room, try to sleep, cold cloth on my head and ice under my neck... </p>