Natural Remedies for Headaches During Pregnancy

If you suffer from headaches during pregnancy, discover the natural remedies to improve this discomfort in the following article.

Headaches during pregnancy are relatively normal, as hormonal changes have a lot to do with increasing their frequency. However, with the use of certain natural remedies, you can improve the intensity of this discomfort.

In any case, it’s always advisable to bet on a change in habits rather than on a drug, as stress often causes physical symptoms like these.

In addition, before consuming any drug (even natural options) you need to consult with your doctor and allow them to advise you on the most appropriate dose and dosage for you.

Why do you have a headache?

Women may experience headaches during pregnancy as a result of certain physical changes that occur during this time. For example, hormonal variations and increased blood volume in the body. Both tend to cause this type of discomfort, mainly in the first trimester.

Experts believe that increased blood pressure is also one of the main causes of headaches and migraines, according to a study published in The Lancet. In any case, the pathophysiology of the problem isn’t entirely clear and there are several factors that could trigger this symptom: Fatigue, stress, and lack of exercise, among others.

Pain relief remedies

When the goal is to reduce the intensity and frequency of headaches during pregnancy, there are several strategies that you can put in place. The first one is to improve dietary habits. Among them, avoiding nutritional deficits, prioritizing the consumption of fresh foods over ultra-processed foods, and reducing caffeine consumption, as research published in Nutrients demonstrates.

In addition, it’s essential for pregnant women to maintain an adequate state of hydration and drink about 8 cups of water a day. This way, they’re sure to ensure the necessary water and electrolyte balance to prevent changes in blood pressure.

Finally, we must highlight the importance of maintaining good postural hygiene. Especially when they spend several hours in front of the computer screen or in the car seat. Muscle tension in the neck area could increase the incidence of headaches.

What if the headaches are migraines?

In the case of recurrent migraines, you’ll need to turn to relaxation habits, as this problem is strongly associated with stress. So, certain practices such as meditation or physical exercise can be of great help.

It’s also necessary for pregnant women to rest correctly every night and, to do so, you have to take care of your routine. It’s important to go to bed early, avoid exposure to screens during the hours beforehand, and adopt a proper position in bed.

From a dietary point of view, increasing the consumption of oily fish and vegetables in your meal plan can help. Both groups have anti-inflammatory abilities, which can positively influence migraine prevention.

However, it’s important not to exceed the recommended weekly dose of this type of fish, due to the risk of mercury poisoning.

When to go to the doctor?

If the headaches are too frequent or become disabling, you need to see a doctor. The same is true if they involve vomiting that doesn’t stop or fever.

In the event that these episodes recur from time to time, you may need to opt for drug treatment. Sometimes, changing your lifestyle habits isn’t enough to achieve significant improvements.

Headaches, a common problem in pregnancy

It’s very common for women to suffer from headaches during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. For this reason, it’s very important to promote healthy lifestyle habits, such as a good diet and regular physical exercise.

In addition, it’s key that you avoid stressful situations, caffeine, and, of course, toxins. These not only increase the frequency of painful episodes, but are also harmful to the fetus.

In the event that the pain becomes disabling or is accompanied by fever or vomiting that doesn’t go away, you must go to the emergency department as soon as possible.