Migraines during pregnancy: This will help you!

That means migraines during pregnancy for you

First the good news: migraines often decrease during pregnancy. In a study, between 50 and 80 percent of all patients who become pregnant report that they feel better with their migraines. This happens due to hormonal changes in the body. The increased estrogen levels that occur during pregnancy have a relaxing effect, thus helping to reduce migraine attacks.

However, if the migraine occurs anyway, it is not always so easy to treat it, since many common medications are not allowed to be taken by pregnant women. Above all, treatment without medication or medication specifically approved for pregnant women is the focus here.

• It is important to keep in mind that migraines during pregnancy are not particularly dangerous for you and do not pose a risk to your child.
• An increase in pregnancy complications cannot be associated with a migraine either.
• Never resort to the usual remedies that you otherwise take against migraines. These can sometimes be harmful to your child.
• Although headaches can increase at the beginning of pregnancy , migraines are usually not triggered by pregnancy.
• However, if you have a long-lasting headache, possibly accompanied by dizziness and nausea, you should see a doctor, as other pregnancy diseases can be involved. The same is true even if your migraines don’t get better, they actually get worse.
• Possible diseases are then preeclampsia  or pregnancy-induced hypertension. 
• Preeclampsia is a dangerous condition characterized by high blood pressure, edema and protein in the urine during pregnancy. It can then become problematic in childbed, where the mother’s blood pressure can derail and the kidneys can be damaged.
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension simply describes high blood pressure caused by pregnancy. However, this is not dangerous and often resolves itself after the pregnancy. But this only applies if it occurs alone! Otherwise think of preeclampsia.

Medical therapy

Common medications such as triptans should not be taken during pregnancy. Painkillers are generally problematic, so you should never take any painkillers or other medications without consulting your doctor.

• Paracetamol is approved in pregnancy and is the first choice against migraines in pregnancy.
• Ibuprofen isn’t allowed during pregnancy, but it’s okay if you’re breastfeeding because it doesn’t pass into breast milk.
• As a preventive treatment, metoprolol is possible as it is okay in pregnancy. It is a beta-blocker that is particularly effective against high blood pressure and can thus prevent headaches.
• If you feel severe nausea, your doctor can prescribe dimenhydrinate, which works against it. It can be used both during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
• So you see: the list is relatively short, it is better to take preventive measures and, if possible, to get rid of migraines with non-drug variants.

Non-drug therapies, home remedies and prevention

These variants are clearly preferable to drug therapy. While the above medications have been tested to be safe in pregnancy, it is still better if you avoid medication as much as possible. Fortunately, there are a number of such options.

• The top priority is the mineral magnesium . Magnesium has a vasodilating effect. That means it widens your blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Often the reason for headaches is high blood pressure.
• Don’t reach for magnesium citrates. These can raise the histamine level, which also causes headaches.
• The magnesium should also contain few co-formulants. The best thing to do here is to use so-called pure substances. These do not contain any co-formulants, just the mineral, some filler and the material that the capsule or pill is made of. Get advice on this from the pharmacy or ask your doctor.
• Acupuncture  can also help, but you should make sure the acupuncturist is knowledgeable about pregnant women.
• Massages can also be helpful, but the same applies here as for acupuncture: Find someone who is familiar with pregnant women.
• Relaxation methods such as biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation according to Jacobson can also help.
• Avoid stress, eat and drink regularly and healthily, sleep enough and regularly and get enough exercise. Light endurance sports in particular can positively regulate your blood pressure.
• Yoga  can also be very relaxing and have a positive effect on migraines.