[SabbathD]

I have a 4 1/2 week old that I am currently breastfeeding, and I am having some intense migraines. I had them before I got pregnant, and have had them since I was 12 years old, 3-6 times a week. They went away with my pregnancy, but they are back again in full swing. Does anyone have any recommendations for what to do for migraines while bfing? I took a daily medication before, but I just don't know about what I can do now. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!!

 

[mamabygrace]

My migraines aren't that frequent, more weekly, although hormones of pregnancy didn't change that. As soon as baby was out- maybe 2 months after, I started taking excedrin, but I am too afraid of anything more serious. I used to just go to bed for 1-3 days at a time, but I have family in town to help. But then when my second came along I couldn't handle them like that and started taking excedrin migraine. My heart goes out to you, very aweful having them that often!

 

[Sali]

I had a similar situation--I had a migraine free pregnancy and got my first migraine during the hospital stay after delivery--I am sorry you're going through this. Drink a ton of water and indulge in a bit of decaf coffee--that bit of caffeine can really help.

 

[broodymama]

I have daily migraines when not on preventive meds so I know how ya feel! My $0.02 is to look through Hale's "Medications and Mother's Milk" to see what it says about your meds. I'm on a pretty agressive treatment regimen, but mine are a bit of a special situation.

Good luck!

 

[SabbathD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyBug & BabyBug I have daily migraines when not on preventive meds so I know how ya feel! My $0.02 is to look through Hale's "Medications and Mother's Milk" to see what it says about your meds. I'm on a pretty agressive treatment regimen, but mine are a bit of a special situation. Good luck!

(nak) I hear ya Sonja. We went through countless medications, countless tests and they even thought I had a brain tumor for a little while cause they couldn't figure them out. I was on two preventative and 1 incident based (took when they actually came up) med, and it onlt sorta controlled mine. And migraines with a colicky baby are NO fun, and I feel bad for my dd because I want to be there for her 100% but refuse to take anything that will go through the breastmilk and cause her any problems. I know that basically everything does, so what about homeopathics? anyone try those?

 

[momof1sofar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SabbathD I want to be there for her 100% but refuse to take anything that will go through the breastmilk and cause her any problems. I know that basically everything does, so what about homeopathics? anyone try those?

I understand your hesitation, but there are medications which have very little or no effect on the nursling. Dr. Hale recommends Imitrex as the safest. If you can get a copy of Clinical Therapy in Breastfeeding Patients (Hale), it has a section on migraines. Good luck, I know how awful it is to try to care for a baby when you are battling a migraine.

 

[mamabygrace]

I am convinced my scoliosis is the reason I get migraines. And laying on my side to nurse seems to aggravate my muscle imbalance along my spine. I have had headaches since eighth grade, and I was diagnosed with scoliosis in 7th. I wore a back brace from age 13-15. Those headaches weren't nearly as bad as they got in college and then they got worse afterwards too. All I can think is that my scoliosis is getting worse and I have more stress in life and maybe that adds to my tension.

If our headaches are hormonal, my mother in law said the only thing that changed them for her was menopause and that surely doesn't help us now.

 

[CawMama]

Ugh...I feel your pain too. I had a migraine free pregnancy, but now they are back. Chiropractic care helps a little bit. I've found that Tylenol 3 (w/codeine) knocks them out if I get it early enough. I read somewhere that it is out of your milk 2 hours later, so I take it right after I nurse ds. With ANY other migraine med, you have to pump and dump for at least 8 hours.

Good luck!