Headaches?

[laurelg]

Is anyone having postpartum headaches? I have been getting them a lot in the evenings. They seem to radiate from the back of my head/base of my skull (as opposed to a more sinus-centric headache, which is what I'm used to getting occasionally). I'm assuming it's hormones, tension (possibly from poor positioning while BF?), dehydration, or some combination thereof. I had a homebirth so it's definitely not an epidural headache or anything like that.

I've been drinking a TON of water, which seems to help some, but not always. I'm not really worried about it, as they're manageable and I'm assuming they'll go away eventually, but I am curious to know if anyone else is experiencing anything similar.

[skmama]

It could be the hormones, need for more water, or even sleeping wrong.
Sometimes, I find that when my stress is OVER, that's when I get a headache....because my body relaxes all of a sudden and that's when I feel the after effects of the stress/adrenaline on my body!

[mzminty]

TOTALLY! I wake up with one every morning. They're tension headaches (starting in my neck and coming up the back of my skull, often into one or both eyes). I used to get them a lot before I was pregnant. I think it's from not drinking enough water and from muscle tension related to nursing/supporting baby and funky nursing/sleeping positions at night.

I had DH rub aspercream into my neck the other day and massage my upper back. That helped a little. Putting an ice pack on my neck helps too. I wouldn't worry about it, I bet it has something to do with hormones, too!

[iowaorganic]

Ugh- mine are right behind my eyes. But that is the only thing that hurts on me- so I really can't complain too much. I think I am going to try my chiro next week and see if she can get me straightened out.

[Hallielynn01]

Did you have any problems with your BP when you were pregnant? That can often remain after the birth and cause problems. Otherwise Id agree with the other ladies, I know if i'm over tired I get head aches.

[laurelg]

Originally Posted by Hallielynn01

Did you have any problems with your BP when you were pregnant?

Not in my case - the highest it ever was during pregnancy was 106/78, and my reading a week ago was 96/60.

[Cutie Patootie]

did you have much blood loss or hemorrhaging at your birth? low iron or a tad of anemia can cause headaches. if you think that might be it, you could take some floradix. My pp headaches didn't go away until my anemia went away and i saw the chiropractor...that helped heaps.

[laurelg]

Originally Posted by Cutie Patootie

did you have much blood loss or hemorrhaging at your birth?

I didn't lose much blood at all, but to be honest I think I'm always borderline anemic. I'll try taking Floradix again and see if that helps. Thanks for the suggestion!

[racidoodle]

i get one every afternoon -- dehyedration, i think -- not drinking water liike i usually do (sorry -- NAK)

[mamajody]

I also get daily headaches. I think they are a combination of stress, hormones, and dehydration. Oh with a sprinkling of sleep deprivation for good measure.

After DD 1 I had a terrifying spell at 6 days pp where I literally went blind for almost an hour and had such a bad headache my DH took me to the hospital. We thought I was having a stroke or something. By the time they got me into see a doc the blindness had subsided so they put me on a gurney in the hallway until they could do a CT scan. In the end I was told, 'It must be a hormonal thing". Isn't it funny how YOUR health concerns are so minimized AFTER the baby arrives? If I had still been pregnant I would have been rushed into see somebody, not left to (literally) blindly nurse my 1 week old in the ER.