By Kylee Harris
More pregnant women are coming forward and citing headaches as a side effect. According to a recent medical review, approximately 39 percent of pregnant and postpartum women experience headaches. With more cases coming to light every day, it is becoming more apparent that experiencing headaches is almost as common as nausea, fatigue, and other popularly cited symptoms during pregnancy.
However, while many women want relief, they also need to be careful with what they put in their bodies.
Natural remedies can provide some greatly needed relief for mothers-to-be, giving you a chance to enjoy the beauty of pregnancy.
What is behind Headaches During Pregnancy?
Most women tend to experience headaches during their first or third trimester. According to the American Pregnancy Organization, headaches during your first trimester can stem from the surge of hormones common in the first weeks of pregnancy. Other causes can include stress and poor posture. As your baby grows, your abdominal muscles will stretch and are less able to help you maintain proper alignment. This is part of the reason why so many pregnant women experience lower back pain.
Other factors that can contribute to expecting mothers experiencing headaches include low blood sugar, caffeine, and poor sleeping habits.
A recent study estimates that approximately 66 to 94 percent of women experience sleep issues during their pregnancy.
Therefore, it is important to find out the underlying cause behind your headaches, particularly since some cases of headaches during pregnancy may be masking a more serious condition. However, in many cases implementing simple natural remedies can provide you with immediate relief and comfort during your pregnancy.
Increase your water intake
Low levels of water intake can lead to dehydration, which is more common during pregnancy. Many pregnant women make the mistake of now increasing their water intake until their third trimester. However, the Institute of Medicine says pregnant women should drink 10 8 ounce glasses of water daily.
The World Health Organization also recommends increasing your intake up to 3 litres a day.
Your intake requirements will change throughout your pregnancy, in line with your calorie increases. If you are worried you may be dehydrated, look out for the signs of dehydration during your pregnancy like fatigue, dizziness, repetitive thirst, dry skin, and of course, headaches.
I wish I had read this post much earlier, I have always disliked taking medication and much more during pregnancy, so little tricks like these help a lot to pass the bad times.
Thank you very much for the advice ¡¡