- With Mayo Clinic obstetrician and medical editor-in-chief
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
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Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
"Nothing helps people stay healthy more than the power of real knowledge about health." — Dr. Roger Harms
As medical director of content, Dr. Roger Harms is excited about the potential for Mayo Clinic's health information site to help educate people about their health and provide them the tools and information to live healthier lives.
The Auburn, Neb., native has been with Mayo Clinic since 1981 and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Harms is a practicing physician and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and his specialty areas include office gynecology, high-risk obstetrics and obstetrical ultrasound.
From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Harms was director for education at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Harms was the 1988 Mayo Medical School Teacher of the Year and served as associate dean for student affairs and academic affairs. He is the co-author of the "Mayo Clinic Model of Education." In 2008, Dr. Harms was presented the Distinguished Educator Award, Mayo Clinic, Rochester.
Dr. Harms is vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and medical editor of the Pregnancy section on this website. In addition, Dr. Harms is editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" book, a month-by-month guide to everything a woman needs to know about having a baby.
"My medical education experience has grown out of a love of teaching, and that is what this site is about," Dr. Harms says. "If any visitor to this site makes a more informed and thus more comfortable decision about his or her health because of the information we provide, we are successful."
Healthy pregnancy (19)
- Flu and pregnancy: Is antiviral medication safe?
- Breast-feeding while pregnant: Is it safe?
- X-ray during pregnancy: Is it safe?
- see all in Healthy pregnancy
First trimester (4)
- Implantation bleeding: Normal in early pregnancy?
- Down syndrome blood test: How does it work?
- Nausea during pregnancy: A good thing?
- see all in First trimester
Second trimester (1)
- Fundal height: An accurate sign of fetal growth?
Third trimester (1)
- Hypnobirthing: How does it work?
Pregnancy problems (9)
- Pregorexia: A legitimate problem during pregnancy?
- Chickenpox and pregnancy: What are the concerns?
- Low amniotic fluid: How is it treated?
- see all in Pregnancy problems
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Question
Headaches during pregnancy: What's the best treatment?
What can I do about headaches during pregnancy? I'd rather not take medication.
Answer
from Roger W. Harms, M.D.
You're right to be cautious about taking medication to treat headaches during pregnancy. Many headache medications may have harmful or unknown effects on a developing baby. You're not at the mercy of your headaches, though. There's much you can do to prevent or relieve headaches during pregnancy.
To prevent headaches during pregnancy:
- Avoid headache triggers. Keep track of your meals, activities and headaches for several days to help pinpoint your headache triggers — then do your best to avoid your triggers.
- Include physical activity in your daily routine. Try a daily walk or other gentle aerobic exercise.
- Practice relaxation exercises. Calming activities such as deep breathing, yoga and visualization can help keep headaches at bay.
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. This can keep your blood sugar on an even keel, which may help prevent headaches.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated can keep you feeling your best.
- Keep a regular sleep schedule. Fatigue and lack of sleep can contribute to headaches during pregnancy. Go to bed and wake up at about the same time every day, even on weekends.
- Maintain good posture. Poor posture or muscle tension can result in headaches, especially as you gain weight to support your pregnancy.
- Consider biofeedback. With this mind-body technique, you learn to control certain bodily functions — such as muscle tension, heart rate and blood pressure — to prevent headaches or reduce headache pain. If you'd like to try biofeedback, ask your health care provider for a referral to a biofeedback therapist.
When a headache strikes:
- Rest. Lie down in a dark, quiet room with your eyes closed.
- Use a compress. Apply a warm compress (such as a hot towel) to your face, eyes and temples — or try a cold compress on the back of your neck.
- Try massage. Ask someone to massage your shoulders and neck to relieve tension. Rubbing your temples also may help.
If these steps don't help, check with your health care provider about other treatment options — especially if the headache is the worst you've ever had or the headache is accompanied by changes in vision.
Remember, medication isn't necessarily off-limits during pregnancy. Although aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and many prescription migraine drugs aren't recommended during pregnancy, most pregnant women can safely take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to treat occasional headaches. Your health care provider may recommend other medications as well. As with any medication, though, make sure you have the OK from your health care provider first.
Herbal headache remedies, such as feverfew and butterbur, aren't recommended during pregnancy.
Next questionImplantation bleeding: Normal in early pregnancy?
- Lee MJ, et al. Headache in pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 5, 2010.
- Menon R, et al. Headache and pregnancy. The Neurologist. 2008;14:108.
- Silberstein S. Treatment recommendations for migraine. Nature Clinical Practice Neurology. 2008;4:482.
- Taylor FR. Tension-type headache in adults: Acute treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 5, 2010.
- Marcus, DA. Managing headache during pregnancy and lactation. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 2008;8:385.
- Murry MM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 11, 2010.
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