The pregnancy care planner

Your NHS guide to having a baby

Headaches in pregnancy

Some pregnant women find they get a lot of headaches.

How to cope with headaches

  • try to get more regular rest and relaxation
  • paracetamol in the recommended dose is generally considered safe for pregnant women, but there are some painkillers that you should avoid in pregnancy, such as those containing codeine 

Speak to your pharmacist, midwife, GP, nurse or health visitor about how much paracetamol you can take and for how long. You can use the service search to find a pharmacy near you.

When to seek help

If you often have bad headaches, tell your midwife or doctor so that they can advise you. Severe headaches can be a sign of high blood pressure and you should seek urgent advice, as this could indicate a serious condition called pre-eclampsia. Find out more about symptoms of pre-eclampsia and treating pre-eclampsia.

Find out more about health problems in pregnancy.

 

Coping with stress

There are many ways of coping with stress. Professor Cary Cooper provides some techniques for managing stress, such as exercising and using relaxation techniques, and explains who you can talk to if you're feeling under pressure.

Last reviewed: 18/03/2011

Next review due: 18/03/2013

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