|
Click Here for more articles
|
|
|
How to Deal With Headaches During
Pregnancy
|
|
by: Jackie G. Maxwell
|
Headaches are one of the more unpleasant “side
effects” that come with pregnancy. All women will have some, but most will
experience them in the first and last trimesters. In the first three
months, this is thought to be primarily due to such factors as increased
blood volume, the initial stresses, and hormonal changes. In the final
three months, the causes are more likely to be poor posture, which can
result in pressure on parts of your body that communicate their discomfort
to the brain, and also from the discomforts of carrying extra weight.
Oddly enough, women who experience migraine headaches, may have fewer
during a pregnancy, while a small percentage of sufferers will have more.
These patients should discuss relief for the migraines with their doctor,
as soon as a pregnancy is confirmed, if not beforehand while they are
planning to start a family.
The best idea for dealing with headaches during pregnancy, is to avoid the
“known” triggers, or those that are most likely responsible. The food
preservative MSG, cheeses, spicy foods, caffeine, chocolate, and other
elements of our normal diet, are best eliminated while expecting a
baby.
A healthy, balanced diet, eaten in several small meals a day if necessary,
with plenty of fluids, and lots of rest, is your first line of defense
against headaches. Being tired, dehydrated, and unable to eat “normally”,
can all work together to start your head pounding.
When you do get a headache, try and identify the cause and deal with it
accordingly. If the headache is from your sinuses, a warm compress around
your nose and above your eyebrows may relieve some of the pressure. Stress
or tension headaches can benefit from cold compresses to the back of the
neck. Using these while lying down in a darkened room, will help to
alleviate some of the tension that builds up from the pain, and makes the
headache worse. Depending on your preferences, some women may also benefit
from using aroma therapy and sound therapy techniques at the same time.
While most pregnancy headaches are from “benign” causes, you should call
your doctor if they get worse, become more frequent, are debilitating, or
are accompanied by swelling of the hands, feet or face.
About the Author:
Visit http://www.MalcolmsWeb.com and sign up for free
weekly tips that will take the mystery and fear out of pregnancy.
Circulated by My Article
Emporium
|
|