Headaches?

[Metasequoia]

Anyone else have near-constant headaches since birth? I had one migraine 2 days before birth, complete with eye pain & vomiting and have had SIX since birth. I get the aura (swirly, starry, weirdness) and then the pain sets in in my head and eyeballs. If I take 800mg of ibuprofin as soon as I see the aura, it's usually manageable. But it's left me feeling REALLY anxious!

Is it posture? Hormones? Lack of sleep? All three?

I've never experienced this with my other three. I was beginning to worry about brain tumors but was relieved to see a couple of you mention it on FB. *phew* (a little anxiety along with the exhaustion, it seems. )

I've tried adjustments (was told me neck was pretty screwed up despite getting adjusted weekly) and massage - oh, and magnesium. If DP starts the massage right away, it usually helps A LOT, but he's not always around.

I bet yoga every day would help...just that need to stretch out of these cramped & contorted positions we end up in constantly.

[BirdMum]

Yep, I have them too. Not that severe, but certainly painful. I was chalking it up to the weather, myself, since I am so sensitive to changes in barometric pressure.

I have found some relief since starting my nightly karate routine (just a warm up and some easy kata.)

Wondering whether it has anything to do with the strange positions I use to nurse at night without turning over, lol.

[Stitches]

Me too.  My eyes are sore and my sinuses hurt (possibly left over from my cold) and my neck is sore.  I think it's mostly posture...I got my back and neck super messed up with DD1 from nursing in bed and her sleeping on my chest (makes my arms fall asleep), and I'm starting to have the same problems again. I needed massage to help but now our health coverage cut off maasage for spouses, grrrr.   It's also dry as dust here and I've been cooped up in a warm house, which gives me headaches.  I suffered horrible migranes in my pre baby days, luckily it's not that, I don't think I could handle it. 

We moved the comfy rocker into our room yesterday because nursing in bed is getting to me...but it's also exhausting getting up in the night instead of sleeping through nursing.  My neck feels better this am but I'm pooped.  I can't win. 

[birthdancedoula]

I've had nasty headaches, not daily but almost, in the mornings since giving birth.  I'm typically prone to getting headaches normally so I'm not surprised, although they are really annoying.  Most days rescue remedy seems to do the trick in getting rid of them but I've had to resort to ibuprofen a few times. 

I kind of think mine might be weather related, too, like Kay.  Its been dark and gray here for several weeks it seems and we've been cooped up inside.  But Erin, the 3 things you mentioned- not so great posture, crazy pp hormones, and lack of sleep- are definitely responsible for headaches.  The good news is that headaches and migraines postpartum are, for the most part, harmless, albeit annoying.  Hopefully with a little more sleep you'll start to get some relief.

[chambom]

Yep, here too.  It's always there right when I wake up, so I am thinking it is the interupted sleep.  I didn't have a single headache the whole pregnancy- it was nice.

[~Demeter~]

While I was pregnant I got a lot of aura activity with no pain, oddly enough. I have them periodically from my hormones, plus I think part of it is positional... I'm constantly craning down staring at my pretty new nursling. ♥ I've suffered from headaches my whole life... I take ibuprofen (so glad I can take that while nursing... pregnancy headaches suck because Tylenol does diddly) and usually that helps, if I need more I ask my oldest to rub my head and neck and that usually takes care of it. I have 5 kids and their care is mostly my duty (hubby is home now... but it wasn't always this way, you know?) so I don't have the luxury or option of going into a cool, dark room... there have been many of headaches I've had to suck it up, grin and bear it and plow through the day in pain.

[my kidlets and me]

I had 3 migraines in a week at the beginning of this pregnancy (that was awful!), but started taking Vitamin B2 at the recommendation of my mw's receptionist, and it worked.  I had 2 or 3 auras since then, but no headache, and no auras since May.

I hope you find something that works, Erin - migraines suck.

[HeatherB]

I'm so sorry! :(  Migraines are awful.  I have definitely been having more headaches including ones that are all *around* my eye - like the eye socket.  I had those some in the pregnancy and had my chiro do a lot of work on my neck which helped a ton.  I'm guessing it's positional this time, too, like others have said.  I'm getting more jaw pain, too, which, if we're going to talk anxieties, makes me think of cardiac problems.  But, I've started noticing that I'm clenching my jaw in some way and that's probably related!  

I'm also finding it harder to stay hydrated.  I drank a TON while pregnant and I sit here now, parched and with chapping lips because I am so dehydrated.  I even have a huge glass of water next to me that's completely unappealing!  I need to force myself to drink more... I'm sure that would help with a lot of things.

I hope you feel much better soon!!

[Metasequoia]

I thought of dehydration too, after posting this - I bet that's playing a part. I haven't had a headache in a few days!  (knock on wood!)

I take a B-complex every single day too. Getting out of bed at night to nurse in the chair probably helps, but yea, then I miss more sleep. I can't stop myself from staring at my little darling either. I'm so in love.

Oh, Heather! I have pain in my teeth - I've *definitely* been clenching/grinding at night which is something I tend to do when I'm lacking solid sleep. Magnesium helps *a lot* with this (give it a try for the jaw pain!) - I need to be better about taking it myself.