The severe symptoms do not go away simply because you have a baby at home, but these tactics can assist.
The adjustment to parenting is difficult enough; add a potentially crippling illness like migraine disorder, and it may feel like a daily fight. I know because I suffer chronic migraine, which is defined as 15 or more headache days per month, at least eight of which are full-fledged migraine episodes, and I have an 11-month-old kid. Most days, I wake up with excruciating head pain and need to take prescription migraine medicines (which have unpleasant side effects) to function.
Migraine, a neurological illness affecting at least 39 million Americans, causes a wide range of symptoms, including severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, and smell. “Migraine is defined by its disability,” says Teshamae Monteith, MD, assistant professor of clinical neurology and chief of the headache section at the University of Miami. “It is the leading cause of disability in women [under 50] and the second most disabling condition worldwide.”1
Of course, having a new baby does not make the severe symptoms go away. If anything, they can worsen—nothing worsens a migraine episode like a wailing infant. That’s why, if you’re a new parent suffering from migraine, it’s critical to understand how to control episodes so you can best care for your child (and yourself). Here are some suggestions from professionals.
1. Treat suspected migraine symptoms as soon as possible.
To avoid a migraine attack that has you curled up in the fetal position all day, address it before the agony sets in. But how can you know when an assault is about to happen? Most migraine sufferers have symptoms during the prodrome, which can last one to two days before the headache begins.2
According to Jan Brandes, MD, assistant clinical professor in the department of neurology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and founding director of the Nashville Neuroscience Group, this “pre-headache” period frequently generates symptoms such as strange cravings or overwhelming weariness. “Being able to recognize this phase is important because, if an attack is treated during it, you may be able to avoid the next phase, which is the headache phase.”
According to the American Migraine Foundation, other symptoms to watch for include yawning, mood changes, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and muscular stiffness (particularly in the neck and shoulders). Many of these symptoms are normal when you’re a new parent, but Dr. Brandes recommends paying extra attention to recurrent yawning (not just a few yawns here and there) and weariness that’s out of proportion with what you’d anticipate. “You may think you’re just exhausted from the baby waking up every few hours to feed, but then the next thing you know you have a full-blown migraine attack and you didn’t realize you should treat it,” she says.
Keep note of your symptoms and whether or not therapy with preventative or abortive drugs helped you avoid a pounding headache to see if they are foreshadowing an attack. “It doesn’t have to be complicated—you can make a quick note somewhere like your phone,” explains Dr. Brandes. “Just becoming more aware of the stages of your attacks helps.”
2. Take care of your neck.
Being a mom surprised me with how physically taxing it is, especially on your upper body. Everything from nursing to cradling your kid for hours on end can induce headaches and migraines. “One of the most common problems I see in postpartum women is neck strain, which can set off a migraine attack in some people,” Jennifer Evan, MD, assistant professor of neurology in the department of headache management at the University of Colorado, tells SELF. Any type of neck strain, whether from a lot of staring down at your infant or a whiplash injury, might possibly activate the occipital nerve at the back of the head, which can then excite the trigeminal nerve, which is the major nerve that causes migraine discomfort.3
She recommends extending your neck and shoulders many times a day to relieve a painful neck (and maybe avert a migraine episode). If you’re nursing, make sure you’re well-supported with cushions and try to take pauses from staring down at your baby (it’s difficult). A hot bath or applying heat to your neck might also assist. Dr. Evan recommends that when friends or relatives come over to visit, you let them hold the baby so you may rest.
3. Make an effort to prioritize sleep.
According to Dr. Evan, sleep deprivation is a typical migraine cause. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to avoid during your baby’s first few weeks of life, when they need to eat every few hours. However, there are things you can do to make the most of your sleep when you do get it.
“Try to sleep in two-hour increments so you can get through a full sleep cycle and wake up feeling more restored,” recommends Dr. Evan. This might imply dividing feedings with your partner, a trusted acquaintance, or a family. If you’re breastfeeding, try pumping at least one bottle each day so that someone else may take a feeding; otherwise, utilize formula if you don’t want to pump. “There’s nothing wrong with giving your baby formula so you can get more sleep,” explains Dr. Evan. “It is not selfish to consider yourself and your wants. You can’t be a good parent if you’re not feeling well.”
You should also think about sleep training your infant. It’s a personal decision, but one I’m glad my husband and I made. We followed the advice in the book Twelve Hours of Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old, and (much to our astonishment and relief) they succeeded. Having my son on a routine and knowing he’ll sleep through the night has given me peace of mind and made managing my migraine bouts much simpler.
4. Practice good migraine hygiene.
When you have a new baby at home, it’s tempting to become so preoccupied with them that you forget to take care of yourself. However, while you have migraine, it is critical to maintain lifestyle choices that promote your general well-being. First, drink plenty of fluids, especially if you’re breastfeeding. “Staying hydrated can make a huge dent in your migraine threshold,” Dr. Evan explains. “Aim for 12 glasses of water per day.” You can even drink milk or juice; just stay away from soda.”
It’s also important to remember to eat frequently, because missing meals can cause migraines in certain people, according to Dr. Brandes. It’s especially vital if you’re nursing since your body needs an extra 500 to 700 calories each day to create milk. “Eat at least three meals a day and have lots of high-protein snacks like hard-boiled eggs in between,” Dr. Brandes advises. When you have a baby, it might be difficult to keep your fridge stocked and make meals, so don’t be hesitant to ask for help from your community. When my baby was born, a friend set up a Meal Train for me, and it was a tremendous relief not having to figure out what to cook for dinner a few times a week.
5. Be kind with yourself.
Many parents battle with guilt, and it can be exacerbated if you have a chronic health condition. “I feel like I’m the mom, so I should be able to do everything,” Shruti Shivaramakrishnan, 33, a chronic migraine sufferer, tells SELF. “I find it difficult to ask for help, and even when I do, I feel guilty, so I sometimes end up doing things myself.”
Laura Hughes, 31, who suffers from chronic intractable migraine (severe migraine that lasts more than 72 hours and is resistant to standard treatments) and works as a patient advocate with the group Miles for Migraine, understands. “I sometimes feel guilty about not being able to be completely present with my daughter,” she tells SELF. “But even when I’m in pain, I try to find ways to be with her that work for me, like putting pillows on the floor and laying down next to her while she plays.”
Avoiding comparisons with other parents who do not have migraine sickness is one strategy to alleviate feelings of guilt. “I’m not like other able-bodied parents,” Shivaramakrishnan explains. “I’ve had to accept that migraine is a disease that I have to live with, and I’ve learned to focus on the things I can do for my daughter rather than the things I can’t.”
Erin Balsa is a highly skilled and knowledgeable health journalist with a passion for educating the public on important health and wellness topics. With extensive experience in both traditional and digital media, Erin has established herself as a trusted voice in the field.