Headaches During Pregnancy

Tension, stress, hormones, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal…  There are so many potential culprits behind those persistent, pregnancy-related headaches.  Headaches during pregnancy are a common ailment that typically peak during the first trimester, but it’s not uncommon to experience headaches throughout the entire duration of your pregnancy.  Now that I’ve given you the potentially not-so-awesome news, here’s the good news.  Headaches usually aren’t indicative of a serious underlying problem.  #Winning!  With that said, if your headaches aren’t manageable and you are suffering from them more days than not, you do want to be sure to bring them to the attention of your care provider. Better safe than sorry is a great policy to subscribe to, especially when it’s your health we’re talking about.  And as always, these suggestions are not to be construed as medical advice and are merely suggestions from my own experience.  Please discuss any frequent, recurring, severe or unmanageable headaches with your care provider.

Try: Mini Can of Coke + A Green Apple

Don’t ask me why this combination works but for those headaches that just won’t quit try drinking a mini can of coke and eating a green apple.  Is it the combination of carbs + sugar + caffeine that makes this remedy so effective?  Who knows and who cares – the only part that really matters is that it works.

Try: Extra Strength Tylenol

For the days where regular ole’ Tylenol just isn’t getting the job done, upgrade to extra strength.  Extra strength Tylenol is safe for use during pregnancy.  Please read the label on your specific bottle, or speak with your care provider, for dosage directions.

Try: Tylenol with Coffee

If your Tylenol on it’s own isn’t getting the job done and you want a gateway option before popping extra strength, try taking your regular dose Tylenol with a little bit of coffee.  It is said that the caffeine in the coffee works to dilate blood vessels in your head which helps to relieve that pressure.  Can’t stomach coffee?  Use another caffeine source. Maybe not energy drink strength though.

Try: Upping Your H20 Intake… And then some

You’ll quickly learn that this is basically THE go-to answer for almost any pregnancy related grievance but the importance of sufficient hydration during pregnancy cannot be stressed enough.  From my experience, even if you think you’re definitely drinking enough water, you aren’t (sorry).  The analogy I always use is to “flood your body” with water.  And if that isn’t clear enough and you need a measurable goal, aim for 4 litres of water a day and then try to get in, well, more.

Try: Peppermint Oil

Just a small dab of peppermint oil on your temples and the back of your neck should do the trick.  As always, before apply any essential oil to your body, make sure you can actually stand the smell first – because once it’s applied, there’s no getting it off until you get into the shower. As a side note, do not use peppermint oil if you are breastfeeding.

Try: Magnesium

Magnesium is the nutrient those of us in North America are most deficient in and being magnesium deficient can cause a few issues.  One of them being – you guessed it – headaches!  85% chocolate is a great food source of magnesium but if you’re looking to simplify your life (and want to save your chocolate consumption for chocolate you actually enjoy…), magnesium supplements are available in powder or capsule form.

Try: Bringin’ the Heat

Honestly, is there anything heat can’t fix?  Don’t answer that, there are definitely some things that cannot be cured by heat.  Anyways, here’s one way heat can help! Apply a hot water bottle or a heating pad to the back of your neck.

Try: Hot + Cold Therapy

Place a cold compress on the back of your neck and submerge your feet in warm water.  Listen, I won’t pretend to know why this works but I suspect it has something to do with sending conflicting signals to the nerves in these areas that gives your body something else to focus on other than the headache.   With that being said, I know many people who have tried this with success.

Try: Massage/Chiro

Not just a frivolity!  There are real health benefits to making massage and chiropractor a regular part of your wellness routine.  One of them being that their body-work through touch and proper ailment can relieve your headaches by easing any tension that has built up in your body.  It’s important to see a registered massage therapist or chiropractor who has experience working on pregnant women.

Five Reasons to See a Naturopathic Doctor for Prenatal Care

A few weeks ago, Dr Carley reached out to me to see if I would be interested in “talking shop” over Zoom. Would I? Would I ever! For a few reasons. One, a Zoom call is a great excuse to close the office doors, effectively muting the noisy children - my noisy children - behind them. Two, it meant I would get to talk to another adult. One who, like me, is mom to three young kids while simultaneously stoking (juggling?) her passion for helping women achieve their wellness goals as they relate to pregnancy, birth and postpartum. And three, I’m a big believer in naturopathic care, myself having used a naturopath during pregnancy, postpartum and for infant ailments. My experience with naturopathic care has been overwhelmingly positive - in other words, I’m a huge fan! There’s a use of creativity and a real desire to problem solve, in order to find a lasting solution to your issue, that I just haven’t experienced in the same vein with a GP. One of the things Dr Carley and I kept circling back to was our feeling that many women just didn’t know that naturopathic care could help them during this phase in their life. So, I asked her if she would be willing to put down, in writing, some of the top reasons a pregnant person might turn to a naturopath for prenatal care. I’m so thankful that, despite her extremely busy schedule, she said yes!

Dr. Carley Akehurst, Naturopathic Physician, pictured, with one of her three children

Top Five Reasons to See an ND for Pregnancy Care by Dr. Carley Akehurst, ND

So you just found out you are pregnant – congratulations! You likely want to do everything you can to make sure that you and your baby are on the right track. These days, it’s not uncommon to receive unsolicited pregnancy advice at almost every turn. But how do you find reliable and trustworthy information? Adding an ND on your pregnancy health care team can help you sort through those details and create a solid approach. Here’s how:

To Manage Early Pregnancy Symptoms

Early pregnancy can be a challenging time. You may feel nauseous or tired, have headaches, feel bloated or constipated, and have varying degrees of interest in eating. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I have multiple options to help with those early pregnancy symptoms. Acupuncture can be a nice way to address nausea and calm the nervous system. We have several options available to manage digestive symptoms such as constipation or loose stools, bloating, heartburn, or lack of appetite. A dietary plan can help ensure you get the nutrients you need without worsening your symptoms.

To Know What Health Products are Safe to Take While Pregnant

You might have heard that it’s good to take folic acid while you are pregnant, but what about other nutrient needs? What is the best form of folic acid and do I need a whole prenatal vitamin? How long do I need to take it? These are some of the most common questions I get regarding supplements in pregnancy. As well, many people want to avoid pharmaceutical medications in pregnancy and try something ‘natural’ instead. Unfortunately, ‘natural’ doesn’t always mean safe. A Naturopathic Doctor who is familiar with pregnancy can help you decipher what products are best for you.

To Get Answers To Your Questions

Feeling informed and empowered is incredibly important in pregnancy (and in parenting!) This is a time in your life where you will be faced with many different choices, and ensuring that you have solid, evidence-based answers to your questions is one of my favourite parts of being an ND. What does genetic testing look for? How do I protect my microbiome if I need antibiotics in pregnancy? What will it look like if I require a caesarean? While NDs don’t actually catch babies, an experienced ND can help you decipher common pregnancy concerns and prepare for your delivery in an educated way.

To Prepare for Post-Partum

Our culture in North America doesn’t do a great job of supporting women after having a baby. Typically, a perinatal care provider will see a patient until six weeks post-partum. Six weeks is still very early post-partum! Many patients can feel a little bit lost after this time. As an ND, I help families navigate these early weeks by providing well baby checks, helping with breast or bottle feeding concerns, providing nutritional support, checking on birth recovery and referring to other professionals when needed, running lab work to assess post-partum recovery, and more.

To Optimize Your Baseline Health

Your midwife or OB/GYN will often run screening bloodwork in pregnancy, but NDs usually interpret them differently. We want to make sure that nutrient levels are optimal – not just sufficient. This not only helps prevent pregnancy complications (such as ensuring you have enough iron to deliver vaginally), but it also protects against post-partum complications as well (optimizing vitamin d can protect against post-partum mood disorders).

Dr Carley Akehurst, ND is an evidence based Naturopathic Doctor living and practicing in Vancouver, BC. She has a primary practice focus on women’s and children’s health – including pregnancy, birth, and post-partum care. With over a decade of clinical experience as a Naturopathic Doctor and doula, Dr Akehurst brings a common-sense approach to healthcare. When not in practice, she can be found enjoying time with her husband and three young children. She practices at both Mint Integrative Health and Crossroads Naturopathic Clinic in Vancouver. You can find more information on her website here.