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Headaches

Pregnancy symptoms

Headaches

Some pregnant women find they get lots of headaches. They are most common in early pregnancy and usually improve or stop completely during the last 6 months.

Normal headaches
Normal headaches don’t harm your baby, but they can be uncomfortable for you. 

Unusual headaches
Headaches can sometimes be a symptom of pre-eclampsia, a condition that affects some pregnant women, usually from around after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the last few weeks of pregnancy or soon after the baby is delivered. Pre-eclampsia can lead to serious complications if it’s not monitored and treated. 

Consult with your doctor if you have:

Any of these could be signs of pre-eclampsia and need to be checked.

How to cope with headaches during pregnancy?

Good to know: Other than normal intake of paracetamol, do not take other medicine by yourself. There are some painkillers you should avoid in pregnancy – such as those containing codeine, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen – unless prescribed by your doctor. These painkillers may have to be used rationally due to gestational age.

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