Migraines are a type of vascular headache, in which persistent dilation of blood vessels in the brain occur as a result of disturbed tone in the arteries. Seventy percent of migraine sufferers are women in their reproductive years. Factors that can trigger migraine headaches during pregnancy are low blood sugar, hormone fluctuations, allergies, lack of sleep, stress, and dental problems.Some women experience worse migraines during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Headaches may diminish as pregnancy advances.
Follow These Dietary Recommendations
Consume small meals of proteins, whole grains, and nonstarchy vegetables. Eat nutritious snacks between meals to help stabilize wide swings in blood sugar that may precipitate a migraine. Avoid sweets and refined starches and avoid missing meals.
Foods that contain the amino acid tyramine are associated with migraine headaches in susceptible individuals. Tyramine-rich foods include aged meats, hard cheeses and other dairy products, canned fish, chocolate, lima and navy beans, cabbage, raspberries, citrus fruit, plums, avocados and bananas. Alcoholic beverages and aspirin, which should not be part of a pregnancy diet, also contain tyramine, as do nitrites (preservatives found in hot dogs and luncheon meats) and monosodium glutamate (msg). Also avoid foods in the nightshade family: potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant. Keep a written journal and use a process of elimination to see if some or all of these foods exacerbate migraines during pregnancy.
Increase dietary intake of almonds, almond milk, watercress, parsley, fennel, garlic, cherries and fresh pineapple. Cayenne pepper, ginger, chamomile, peppermint and ginko biloba are herbs that can alleviate migraine pain. Do not use feverfew or wormwood during pregnancy.
Follow These Tips for Managing Pain
At the first sign of headache, warm baths can help divert blood circulation to the extremities. Apply pressure and ice packs to painful areas and keep the head upright rather than reclining. A dark and quiet environment may also help to manage pain.
It is important to resolve dental problems during pregnancy because the presence of harmful bacteria can cause preterm delivery. See a dentist for treatment of tooth decay, gum disease, infection, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), or tooth grinding that may contribute to migraines.
Nonphysical factors such as emotional stress can be helped by journaling feelings prior to the onset of headaches to gain insight that can assist women to change patterns that lead to migraines. There is no evidence that harm to the pregnancy or the fetus occur from migraine headaches.
Fetal risk from drugs is highest during the first two months of pregnancy. Acetaminophen alone or with codeine can be used to treat pain if necessary.
References:
Anne Frye, CPM, Holistic Midwifery, A Comprehensive Textbook, Labrys Press, 2002
National Headache Foundation, www.headaches.org
American Pregnancy Association, www.americanpregnancy.org
Mary Earhart - Mary Earhart, RN, BSN, is a Licensed Midwife. She has written articles for professional journals and grants for non-profit agencies as ...
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