The day came, the delivery is over, and finally after nine long months you’re holding your newborn baby in your arms. Now you should be on top of the world right? But are you? Or are you silently worrying about what the end of pregnancy will mean for your migraines? If they were better while you were pregnant will they come back? If they do how will you cope? Preparation is key.
Between 55%-90% of women during the second and third trimester of their first pregnancy experience an improvement in their migraine attacks, and in some cases their attacks disappear entirely (Unfortunately some women will also get migraines for the first time while they are pregnant – an unlucky 5%-10%.) These improvements are a welcome change but then what does this mean for after the birth?
Usually the migraine improvement will last until your periods start again and your hormone levels begin to fluctuate once more. Thanks to a sudden drop in oestrogen however two thirds of women will get an attack within the first week.
Other reasons for an attack commonly include low blood sugar levels and exhaustion. To combat this and lessen the impact and intensity of a migraine it’s important to keep your energy up. Eat regular snacks and above all, when baby sleeps, you sleep.
One other big factor to consider is what medications you can safely take now. If you’re not breastfeeding then this isn’t so much of an issue, but the problem is that any medication you take while you are breastfeeding can be passed onto your baby through your milk. The best solution is to try and use alternative management methods like aromatherapy and reflexology, but these aren’t effective for everyone.
The best thing to do if you know tablets are needed is to consult with your doctor. A couple of pills that should definitely be avoided though are aspirin, which can cause Reye’s Syndrome – a condition which damages the brain and the liver, and metoclopramide. Should you feel an attack is on it’s way then some triptans are ok to use provided that you do not breastfeed for twenty four hours after taking them. Please check carefully with your GP for more details. If you suspect an attack is imminent express some milk first before you take the tablets.
Even with medication the prospect of dealing with an attack and a new baby at the same time can be daunting. Remember you’re not alone. Friends and family are there to support you. Make a list of people who you can call on for help if you feel an attack coming. Simply knowing you have a safety net ready for if things get bad is incredibly reassuring and will help to relieve your stress; a big migraine trigger.
A new baby is a gift to be enjoyed so don’t let your migraines get in the way. Plan, prepare and conquer.
DISCLAIMER – When using any medication, always read the label and make sure you keep all medicines out of reach of children. The information supplied within this online resource is brought to you by Imigran Recovery Tablets (contains sumatriptan) for migraine relief, from a variety of author sources including health care professionals, lifestyle experts and the general public. None of the published authors endorse any brands.
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