According to the suggestions of the AIFA (Italian Drug Agency) in pregnancy the first choice therapy against headache is the non-pharmacological therapy which mainly involves the use of relaxation techniques and massages.
It is also advisable to prevent and treat headaches during pregnancy by avoiding all the environmental factors that can contribute to triggering or worsening the pain .
If the non-pharmacological therapy is not effective, it is possible to use paracetamol, a painkiller widely used against migraine and headache, considered safe even during pregnancy.
Instead, it is preferable to avoid aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially in the first and third trimesters, as they can have negative effects on the fetus.
For any questions regarding the use of drugs during pregnancy, seek medical attention. The AIFA website also dedicates a section to the topic of drugs in pregnancy, which contains a lot of useful information.
Find out more about how to get rid of headaches
What are the causes of headaches in pregnancy?
Headache is a disorder that especially affects women ; 63% of people suffering from migraine is, in fact, female.
The cause is to be found mainly in the hormonal variations that a woman continually encounters during her life.
In actual fact, most women who commonly suffer from headaches notice a marked improvement, precisely because of the hormonal changes characteristic of this particular moment in their reproductive cycle.
In rare cases, however, the pregnancy causes a worsening of the headache . Moreover, in some women who had never suffered from it before, the headache appeared just during the gestational period . The factors that determine the appearance of headaches in pregnancy are not entirely known.
Natural remedies for headaches in pregnancy
The first natural remedy for headaches in pregnancy consists, as mentioned above, in limiting the environmental factors that can trigger it. Yes, therefore, to rest, sleep and relaxation, in silent environments; darkness and soft light help reduce headaches. No to excessive activity, poor sleep and, as far as possible, to frequenting noisy places. Furthermore, stressful situations should be avoided.
There are herbs, teas and essential oils that help fight headaches, but in pregnancy it is essential to seek the advice of a doctor before using it because even herbal remedies can have harmful effects on the fetus.
Specific massages, practiced by expert personnel, and yoga, can always help to relieve headaches in pregnancy, always guided by an expert who knows how to identify the right exercises and help the pregnant woman to perform them in the most correct way.
