Postpartum Headaches: Causes and Treatments

Just when you thought you’d get a break from all the aches, pains, and difficulties of pregnancy, postpartum symptoms start to kick in and make you miss your pregnancy.

One particular symptom that almost 95% of mothers experience within the first eight weeks is postpartum headaches.

Understanding postpartum headache will help you prevent it, or deal with it once it happens.

What are Postpartum Headaches

For some women, postpartum headaches might not come as a surprise if experienced any kind of primary headache disorder before giving birth or during pregnancy.

But along with many other changes that happen to your body during pregnancy and after giving birth, hormonal levels also affect the frequency and intensity of your postpartum headaches.

However, many other women with no prior headache or migraine history are caught off guard by the crippling pain that comes with postpartum headaches, which are severe headaches that happen during the postpartum period.

There are two types of postpartum headaches that a mother can develop:

Tension-Type Headaches

Tension-type headache is caused by tight or contracted neck and scalp muscles.

Muscle contractions that cause a severe headache might occur as a result of stress, sadness, a concussion, or worry, which can trigger headaches.

These kinds of postpartum headaches can result from postpartum back pain.

The postpartum headache can affect anyone at any age, although they are more frequent in adults and older teenagers.

The pain usually starts to occur in the neck and travels through the entire head.

The pain of the postpartum headache is only moderate and can feel like a rubber band around your head.

Postpartum Migraines due to High Blood Pressure

The exact cause of migraines is unknown, but they’re thought to result from abnormal brain activity that temporarily affects nerve signals, chemicals, and blood vessels in the brain, and they can also be connected to high blood pressure, as well as personal or family history.

The most essential initial step in managing postpartum migraine headaches and other symptoms for new mothers is to take them seriously.

Sleep deprivation and high blood pressure might increase your chances of getting a migraine.

It’s critical for new moms suffering from migraines to prioritize their own health – you can’t provide your kid the greatest care if you’re in severe agony.

Postpartum migraine pain is intense and can occur on only one side or both sides. Light sensitivity is at its highest, and it is possible to experience flashing lights, blind spots, and even numbness in the body.

Causes of postpartum headaches

After you give birth, plenty of physical and lifestyle changes occur that could contribute to the occurrence of secondary headaches or a migraine.

Many of the lifestyle changes that occur with a new baby are the same ones that might aggravate migraines and secondary headaches.

A potential trigger for a postpartum headache in the postpartum period is sleep loss caused by baby care.

Some women may report that their throbbing headaches were a little bit worse in the postpartum period, which might be because they don’t have the option of going into a quiet, dark room to relax or sleep.

The most common reasons why a mother might get a postpartum headache:

• Hormonal changes, especially estrogen and progesterone levels
• Stress
• Lack of water – dehydration
• Missing meals – low blood sugar
• Exhaustion
• Eyestrain
• Allergies and sinus issues
• Caffeine withdrawal
• Breastfeeding
• Environmental factors
• Time of year – A perfect storm of seasonal allergies, dry climates, or a sinus infection can also lead to swelling and pressure in your sinuses after childbirth

Breastfeeding and Headaches

New mothers experiencing a migraine or headaches can have something to do with the fact that they are breastfeeding during the postpartum period.

Some studies suggest that when a lets-down happens, the surge of oxytocin can trigger a headache.

Breastfeeding women can also get a postpartum headache from being physically and emotionally drained from the duties of breastfeeding.

Lastly, headaches caused by breastfeeding can also be connected to a lack of hydration, which happens from breastfeeding.

Symptoms of postpartum headache

The symptoms and warning signs of a headache after childbirth can vary depending on the intensity.

You’ll recognize if you have a secondary postpartum headache or migraine if you have the following symptoms:

• Pressure
• Aching
• Pounding
• Tightening
• Throbbing
• Pain around your eyes

In the case of a migraine, accompanying these symptoms are:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to sound and light
• Vomiting

Treatment for Headaches in the Postpartum Period

When a headache comes along there are several things you can do to help minimize the pain or get rid of it completely.

Many new mothers are concerned about drugs interfering with nursing, however, there are migraine therapies that are safe to use and do not show in breast milk.

Several migraine-specific medicines, such as triptans, are safe to take while nursing, as are Tylenol, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs.

In addition, some evidence shows that nursing may lessen the incidence of migraines. Always consult with your doctor before taking any medication to alleviate your primary headache while breastfeeding.

For the most part, over-the-counter medication will do the trick.

However, women who are breastfeeding should be extra careful since some medications might be harmful to the baby.

If the headaches are frequent, make sure to consult with your doctor as they might prescribe breastfeeding-safe medication. Some women also suggest that caffeine can be an effective treatment.

Treatment Without Medication

Here are some thoughts to try and get you through headaches without medication:

1. Relax and rest – Meditation, breathing, stretching and gentle yoga exercises, or a warm bath or shower can help you relax and ease tension in your muscles. If you are not sensitive to smells, you can also try some aromatherapy while in the shower (eucalyptus or lavender spray is a mom’s favorite) or an oil diffuser while laying down.
2. Focus on sleep – Try to turn off the lights and screens, and lie down in a dark and quiet room. Put your feet up, close your eyes, and try to take a nap.
3. Food & Fluids – Drinking plenty of healthy fluids will keep you hydrated. And, eat something to bring up your blood sugar, especially if you haven’t eaten in a while.
4. Have a small amount of caffeine – Caffeine is a drug that can treat headaches. It is even an ingredient in some over-the-counter headache medicines. So, grab a cup of coffee or some tea.
5. Use heated or cold towels – Try placing a warm or cold compress on your head. Use what works best for you or alternate between warm and cold.
6. Alternative care such as chiropractic care, massage, or acupuncture may help to relieve and prevent headaches.
7. Limit alcohol

How to prevent postpartum headaches

The best way to battle a headache is to prevent it in the first place or at least tackle it head-on as soon as you notice any symptoms.

If you want to stave off a headache, you can try some of these tips.

• Reduce stress
• Get enough rest
• Take a nap whenever the baby naps
• Pay attention to your diet and source your food from only high-quality sources
• Regularly practice Postpartum Exercises
• Take care of your eyes
• Watch your posture
• Try to not overuse screens at this special & sacred time (tv, smartphones, computers, i-pads, etc), especially at night. This can place strain on your eyes and interfere with sleep, leading to headaches. A waterfall effect. It can also add unnecessary stress to a new mother by scrolling on social media.

When to see a doctor

For most pregnant and postpartum women and for most postpartum headaches, headaches and migraines go away after a few hours, and there is no need to treat postpartum headaches.

However, if you notice that primary headaches are more common than not, or if the headache lasts longer than 24 hours, contact your healthcare provider and ask them to perform a physical examination and provide medical advice.

This could indicate a severe headache or another medical condition, and professional medical advice from a healthcare provider is needed, as well as advice on diagnosis or treatment.

You should call a doctor if along with all the other symptoms you also experience the following:

• Fever
• Stiff neck
• Blurry vision
• Seizures
• Headache getting worse
• Headache after exertion
• Change in headache pain, pattern, or severity

Conclusion

After childbirth is not uncommon for the vast majority of mothers to have postpartum headaches up to 8 weeks after birth.

Headaches can come in the form of tension headaches or migraines.

Symptoms are similar for both types, but migraines tend to be more intense and can also cause vomiting or nausea.

Both are in most cases treatable with medication and usually go away after a few hours.

It is possible to prevent headaches from occurring if you get enough rest, minimize stress, pay attention to your diet, and hydrate.

It is possible that extremely intense headaches that last over 24 hours are a sign of another medical condition, so make sure to contact your healthcare provider if the aforementioned symptoms occur, to get advice, diagnosis, or treatment.