Headaches

[Stayseeliz]

I have a 3 week old and the headaches I always get while nursing are back. I've never been able to figure this out. They start in my neck and go down through my shoulders. Not sure if it's hormonal or positional, etc. I was so hoping to avoid this on this roung of nursing! Thanks for any tips.

[PatioGardener]

Sounds positional to me - how are you holding baby to nurse? Do you get headaches when you nurse side-lying? Are you able to relax your shoulders while nursing?

nak

[HonkyTonka]

Are you drinking enough water? I get headaches if I'm not hydrated.

[trekkingirl]

I had a headache for six weeks after DD was born and also with the prior birth of DS. I was eventually put on nortryptaline (sp?) , an antidepressant that is used to treat headaches. I would try to work it out before going this route though. You never know when research might show a once thought of safe drug turns out to be not so safe.

My headache was more of a tension headache but I did get neck and shoulder pain. This is probably positional as my neck and shoulder pain improved when I switched from my breast friend pillow to a EZ to nurse twins pillow.

I would get comfortable in a side lying position for a day or two and see if that helps.

[Heba]

Do they occur only while actually breastfeeding?  Some women do get headaches which coincide with let-down - they are believed to be triggered by the oxytocin released at this time.  Jan Riordan, in "Breastfeeding and Human Lactation," suggests trying rest and ice packs before medication, although she points out that many medications used to treat headaches and migraines are compatible with lactation.

I hope yours are manageable.  Feel better, mama!

xx