Q&A: What can I do about headaches during pregnancy?

by Dr. Marjorie Greenfield

I am 10 weeks pregnant, and the last two days I've had a minor headache that just will not go away. What can I do?

Headaches are quite common in pregnancy. One frequent cause is caffeine withdrawal, which can be treated with small amounts of caffeine and then slow weaning off. Tension headaches can be treated with non-medical treatments like scalp massage, ice, or relaxation exercises, or with medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol®). It is best to avoid non-steroidals like ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) and Naproxen® (Aleve®) in pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester and after 28 weeks. Any headache that doesn't respond to acetaminophen or that is more severe or different than any headache you have experienced before should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

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