Headaches in First Trimester

[MegBoz]

I'm 11 W today & since 7W have had horrific nausea & fatigue. I'm incapacitated, I feel so horrible. (Feels just like a really bad wine hangover I've had twice in my life.) Mild to moderate headaches have been part of it off & on the past 4 weeks.

I'm seeing an HB MW & had an apt with the hospital-based CNMs who I saw for DS birth so I can get ultrasounds. Both sets of paperwork say to call if you have headaches. I've told them both & they aren't too worried about it.

Uh, why do they say it's a problem & call us - but when I tell them they sorta disregard it? Not sure what I expect them to do, but I guess I'm worried where the line is:
When does feeling nauseous & bad in the 1st tri cross a line into being a "problem?"

Anyone else have headaches or know about it?
TIA

[waterlight]

I had several tension headaches in the first trimester, and felt barfy all the time. It did pass by about week 14, with a few headaches into second trimester. Haven't had any so far in third. Tension headaches are very common, esp in first trimester.
As far as incapacitated, if it were me, and I wasn't able to even function doing regular daily stuff, I'd probably go to my doc.
Hope that helps.

[baileyann3]

Besides being a normal and usually benign symptom of pregnacy, headaches could also be a sign of dehydration. They want to know if you have headaches to make sure your not dehydrated and since you're not, they tell you not to worry.

I would just up your water intake and rest

[gemasita]

Just wanted to say that I started getting bad headaches too - late in the first trimester, like around 13 weeks. Unfortunately, I still have the nausea and vomiting also, at 17 weeks. Had those since 6 weeks. I'm on Zofran.

[nova22]

I had really bad headaches in the beginning too, then they came back recently. It's those awful, blinding, any-amount-of-extra-light-or-noise-makes-me-want-to-die type headaches. Drinking more water didn't help and I have insomnia so I figured that was the main contributor, but I went to the chiropractor just in case and after one adjustment, the daily headaches stopped. That was Thursday, and I saw him again today. I really don't know how to answer your main question about when the pain crosses the line, but it might help to try to pinpoint the source of your headaches. Are they worse at certain times of the day, do you feel sore or stiff anywhere else, etc.

[Just1More]

Yeah, watch your hydration and your iron. Eat regularly, and plenty of protein. Try to get regular sleep. Those factors greatly effect how I feel.

Headaches are common and normal. The reason they tell you to call is probably more for later in your pg. Headaches can be a sign of pre-e.

[Aliy]

I feel like death.... my midwives are hoping it gets better as i head out of the first trimester and with stopping working. I have been having headaches and neausea and all that fun stuff.

Rest and hydration and reduce stress.....make sure you are eating to the best of your ability

[babygrey]

I had the most severe headaches of my life when I was pg w/ DD.
I actually went to the ER ~7weeks bc I had such a blinding headache.
Later, my MW explained to me that the headaches were very 'normal' for some women, akin to pre-AF headaches, due to all the intense hormonal shifts. She said she sees more pg headaches in women who get AF headaches.

Agree w/ pp to make sure you are hydrated and that your blood sugar isn't getting too low bc those could either cause or make the headache much worse.

[gemasita]

I'm also wondering if I am more sensitive to barometric pressure changes while pregnant. I've always gotten headaches when the pressure changes and now, I seem to get really bad headaches when the pressure changes - much more severe headaches.

[Just1More]

Originally Posted by gemasita

I'm also wondering if I am more sensitive to barometric pressure changes while pregnant. I've always gotten headaches when the pressure changes and now, I seem to get really bad headaches when the pressure changes - much more severe headaches.

It's really easy to develop a yeast imbalance when pg. Try some probiotics and easy on the sugar to level that out, and you may find that the weather doesn't bother you as much.

[EllisH]

I suffered from the same type of headache you describe, in combination with nausea. From week 7 until about week 16. Not always the case that you can do much to prevent it, as it will be largely due to hormones and lowered blood pressure. Apparently paracetamol is harmless - I took one only when it got to bad as a 'treat' and that helped to get the edge of, together with lying down and taking rest.

By the sound of it, it's nothing to be alarmed about or call your doctor about outside of appointments.