Can Pregnancy Cause Headaches?

Can pregnancy cause headaches? In a word, yes. Hormone changes, dehydration, as well as blood pressure issues make headaches in pregnancy a frequent occurrence. The good news is there are things you can do to help prevent them or help you handle them when they happen.

A word of caution: If you have a persistent headache that isn’t going away with rest, lots of fluids, and a Tylenol — you should call your provider ASAP. It could be a big problem, and we’ll talk more about it below.

Hi, I’m Hilary — The Pregnancy Nurse 👩‍⚕️. I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of L&D nursing experience, I am also the curly head behind Pulling Curls and The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. 🩺​ I’ve seen a LOT of pregnant women with headaches (as well as having plenty of my own headaches during pregnancy).

If more information about your pregnancy is something you’re interested in — be sure to check out my online course. I have a lot of information about 3rd trimester testing in it that can help you cope with the changes you’ll experience.

Headaches in Pregnancy

As I said above, headaches are very normal in pregnancy. There are different types of headaches, some are harmless, but some can be an indicator of pregnancy complications. While they may be a common experience for pregnant women you should pay attention to your headaches. Let’s take a closer look:

Causes of Pregnancy Headaches

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia causes your blood pressure to rise.

When your blood pressure rises it can give you severe headaches. Preeclampsia can be SUPER problematic (it’s why your provider will test your urine for protein during your prenatal appointments). I have a whole post on preeclampsia symptoms during pregnancy on my sister site.

I don’t want to go into too much detail — however…

If you have a persistent headache that doesn’t go away with rest, 2 giant glasses of water, and a Tylenol — I’d call my provider to be checked. It could just be a headache, but it could also be something more. This isn’t something to ignore.  {and yes, I know I already said this — that’s how important this is}.

If you’re worried about headaches and how often they’re happening it could be helpful to keep a headache diary. Write down where it starts, how it feels, and how long it lasts so you can share that with your provider.

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can also give you a headache. Again — talk with your provider if you’re experiencing headaches. While not all blood pressure issues are preeclampsia, you may need to possibly go on medications. Your provider will be able to answer your questions, check your blood pressure, and check on your baby. This can help reduce stress you may be feeling.

Dehydration

Staying hydrated during pregnancy is key. It’s likely you aren’t drinking nearly enough. Your baby will take LOTS of fluids out of your system. Morning sickness can bring on dehydration even quicker. If you have a headache I always (pregnant or not) recommend plenty of water, at least a couple giant glasses and then a little rest. If you’ve had plenty of fluids and your headache hasn’t gone away after a while it’s a good idea to call your provider. Dehydration can cause a common type of headache in a pregnant woman.

If you’re wondering I also have a whole post on if you can drink Gatorade during pregnancy on my sister site.

Hormones

The hormonal changes in pregnancy can cause transient headaches. Transient headaches are migraine like headaches that can come on quickly. Hormone levels can be all over the place during pregnancy, I find that staying hydrated can help. That being said, some headaches during pregnancy are VERY normal. 🙂

Body Positioning

As your hips change how they carry your changing body, especially during the later stages of pregnancy, it can cause back issues and possibly neck issues. Sometimes that can cause headaches. One of the common triggers of pregnancy headaches can be poor posture. Try to pay attention to how you’re standing and sitting, it may help.

You should also try to take breaks from being on your feet for extended periods of time. If you need to sit for long amounts of time during the day I recommend getting up and walking regularly.

Lack of Sleep

Lack of sleep can also be the cause of occasional headaches. If you’re not getting enough sleep, that can really cause headaches. I have a post on getting better sleep during pregnancy.

Stress

The stress of a LOT on your plate during pregnancy can cause headaches as well. Delegate where you can, let people help you. Regular physical activity can also help reduce stress.

Helping reduce stress is why I made taking a prenatal class easy. 🙂

Preventing Headaches in Pregnancy

What can you do to prevent some of the most common types of headaches? There are a few things I recommend trying:

Drink enough — I’ve talked enough about hydration so I don’t want to beat a dead horse TOO much, but DRINK more WATER. 🙂

Proper Rest — Make sleeping a priority. I cannot stress enough how much getting proper rest can help with preventing headaches.

Go to Your Appointments — Making sure you and your baby are healthy is so important! There are things your provider checks at each appointment, it’s important to keep your appointments.

Stopping Headaches in Pregnancy

If you have a headache you should be able to take some Tylenol to help. Ask your provider if there’s anything else safe for you, including things like essential oils. These could help depending on the kind of headache you have. Please don’t start or stop taking medications without talking to your doctor first.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pregnancy Headaches

Here are some of the most common questions I’ve been asked about pregnancy headaches.

Why do I have more sinus pressure?

The increase of blood flow during pregnancy can cause you to feel like you have more sinus pressure than normal. This can cause sinus headaches. If you feel like the symptoms are getting worse or lasting too long talk to your provider. If you have nasal congestion, a runny nose, etc. you may have a sinus infection that could require an antibiotic.

What if I have Migraine Headaches?

If you have a history of migraines makes sure and let your provider know. You may need to change your migraine medications while you’re pregnant. If you have sudden severe pain with your headache, blurry vision, or any other significant changes don’t wait, call your healthcare provider. If you feel like you’re having your first migraine, drink some water, take Tylenol, and try to sleep. Those steps can often help migraine sufferers.

Can Giving Up Caffeine During Pregnancy Cause Headaches?

Caffeine withdrawal can definitely cause headaches. Make sure you’re getting lots of water or other fluids to replace the drinks you’re not having. Continue to get good sleep and eat a healthy diet while you’re body adjusts to not having caffeine. You should feel better in a couple of days.

Is it Okay to Use an Ice Pack While I Have a Headache?

If you think it will help you can try applying cold packs to the side of the head or base of the neck. I recommend a cold compresses over an ice pack unless you’re wrapping the ice pack in a cloth before applying it to your head.

If you’re having migraine pain, cold packs and a dark room may help get you some relief.

Can Low Blood Sugar Cause Headaches?

Yes, a drop in blood sugar can cause headaches. Keeping healthy snacks on hand is a smart move during pregnancy.

Can I Take an Herbal Supplement While Pregnant?

You shouldn’t take anything during pregnancy, especially in early pregnancy, without talking to your provider first. Herbal supplements aren’t as strictly regulated by the FDA as prescription over-the-counter drugs are. This means there may be side effects that are harmful to your developing baby.

I hope this article helped you realize that having headaches during pregnancy is very common (I have another post about other common pregnancy problems). We don’t always know the exact cause of a headache and the treatment of headaches may change from headache to headache and person to person.

Keeping a headache diary could possibly help you pinpoint headache triggers. You may realize that you have headaches at the same time every day which could mean something like too much screen time is causing your headaches. You may also realize you have trigger foods. Keep an eye on possible patterns and talk to your provider about what you find.

Regardless of the type of headache you’re experiencing if your headache sticks around and nothing seems to help you should call your provider.

Learn more about what’s normal during pregnancy, labor, and your postpartum life in my Online Prenatal Class. It’s the best (and most entertaining way – per the reviews) way to get your confident birth. 🙂