Headaches in Early Pregnancy: Causes, Relief, and When to Worry

Understand the causes, management, and warning signs of headaches during the first trimester of pregnancy.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Oct 3, 2025

Understand the causes, management, and warning signs of headaches during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Headaches are a common complaint during early pregnancy. The hormonal and physical changes taking place in your body can often make headaches unavoidable, especially in the first trimester. While most headaches are harmless, understanding potential causes, safe treatment options, and knowing when to seek professional help are crucial for your health and the well-being of your baby.

Why Do Headaches Happen During Early Pregnancy?

The precise cause of headaches during early pregnancy is not always clear, but several factors play a role. Pregnancy introduces dramatic changes in hormone levels and blood volume, both of which can impact your brain’s blood vessels and pain pathways.

Hormonal Changes: Rapid fluctuations in hormones like estrogen affect neurotransmitter and blood vessel activity. These shifts can foster headaches or make you more susceptible to them.
Increased Blood Volume: The body increases blood production during pregnancy, which can put more pressure on blood vessels in the brain, contributing to tension headaches or migraines.
Fatigue and Stress: Pregnancy often causes both physical and emotional stress. High stress levels and lack of sleep can be potent headache triggers.
Eyestrain: Adjusting to new visual and physical realities, as well as spending extra time focused on screens, may lead to tension headaches.
Nasal Congestion/Sinus Issues: Nasal congestion is common in early pregnancy due to hormonal changes, making sinus headaches more frequent.
Changes in Blood Sugar: Skipping meals, not eating enough, or having low blood sugar can trigger headaches, particularly if morning sickness discourages regular meals.
Caffeine Withdrawal: If you cut back on coffee, tea, or soda, your body may react with withdrawal headaches until it adjusts.
Dehydration: Nausea and vomiting (common in early pregnancy) deplete body fluids, leading to headaches from dehydration.

Migraine Headaches in Pregnancy

Migraines are a specific form of headache that often manifest as intense, throbbing pain on one side of the head. They can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivities to light and sound. A small percentage of pregnant individuals may experience an aura prior to a migraine — this means seeing visual disturbances (like flashes of light) or feeling tingling sensations in the limbs.

Migraines are triggered by complex changes in nerve pathways, neurochemicals (like serotonin), and blood vessel dilation in the brain.
Women with a pre-pregnancy history of migraines may notice improvement, worsening, or no change in their headache pattern during pregnancy.

Are Headaches in Early Pregnancy Normal?

It is normal to get occasional headaches in early pregnancy. In most cases, these headaches pose no risk to your baby but can be uncomfortable or even distressing for you. Often, headaches improve as the pregnancy progresses, especially after the first trimester.

When Should You Worry?

While most headaches are harmless, some can signal underlying complications. One critical condition is preeclampsia, which usually appears after the 20th week of pregnancy but can occasionally develop earlier.

Preeclampsia Warning Signs:
- Severe persistent headache, often unresponsive to usual methods of relief
- Visual disturbances (blurred vision, flashing lights)
- Severe pain below the ribs
- Vomiting not related to usual morning sickness
- Sudden swelling of the face, hands, feet, or ankles

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your maternity unit, GP, or emergency services immediately to rule out preeclampsia or other urgent complications.

Common Types of Headaches in Pregnancy

Type	Symptoms	Triggers
Tension Headaches	Dull, overall pain or a tight band sensation across the forehead or scalp	Stress, fatigue, poor posture, eyestrain
Sinus Headaches	Pain/pressure around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead, often with congestion	Nasal congestion, allergies, or sinus infections common in early pregnancy
Migraines	Severe throbbing pain (often one-sided), nausea, vomiting, light/sound sensitivity, aura in some	Hormonal changes, lack of sleep, certain foods, dehydration, stress
Caffeine Withdrawal	Dull, persistent headache after stopping or reducing caffeine intake	Reduction/cessation of caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas)

Tracking and Understanding Your Headaches

Because the causes of headaches in pregnancy can be varied, it is helpful to keep a headache diary. This record can help you and your healthcare provider identify triggers, patterns, and the best management strategies.

What to Record in Your Headache Diary:
- Exact time and duration of the headache
- Location and severity of pain
- Associated symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, light/noise sensitivity)
- Food and drinks consumed in the previous 24 hours
- Recent environmental changes (travel, weather, unusual activities)
- Any attempted treatments and their effect

Safe Strategies for Headache Relief in Early Pregnancy

Finding safe ways to relieve headaches is particularly important in the first trimester, when many medications are not recommended due to potential harm to the developing fetus.

Lifestyle and Self-care Approaches

Maintain hydration by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
Eat balanced meals and snacks on a regular schedule to avoid low blood sugar.
Get adequate sleep and rest, and establish relaxing bedtime routines.
Identify and avoid known headache triggers, such as strong odors or certain foods.
Practice stress-reducing techniques (gentle exercise, yoga, meditation).
Use a cold compress or ice pack on your forehead to relieve tension.
Massage your neck, shoulders, or scalp to reduce muscle tightness.
Rest in a quiet, dark room when a headache strikes.
Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke and other strong scents.

Natural Remedies

Biofeedback & Relaxation: Learning biofeedback or relaxation exercises can help you tune in to your body’s stress signals and respond with calming techniques before a headache gets worse.
Aromatherapy (with caution): Some find mild, pregnancy-safe scents can help, but avoid strong fragrances that may trigger headaches.

Medications: What Is Safe?

Paracetamol (Acetaminophen): Considered the safest pain reliever for use in pregnancy, but take the lowest effective dose and for the shortest time possible. Always consult your healthcare provider before taking any medication.
Avoid: NSAIDs (like ibuprofen), aspirin, and codeine-containing medications, unless specifically advised by your doctor due to safety concerns for both you and your baby.
Anti-Migraine Medications: Most migraine-specific drugs are not recommended during pregnancy as they may increase risks of birth defects or other complications.

Always speak to your healthcare provider before taking any medicine during pregnancy — even those considered safe, as individual health circumstances may differ.

Diagnosing Pregnancy-Related Headaches

In most cases, your doctor can diagnose headache types based on a detailed history and the information in your headache diary. However, because headaches can, though rarely, signal something more serious (like preeclampsia), your provider may examine you for associated signs or run blood and urine tests if necessary.

Radiological tests such as CT scans are usually avoided in pregnancy due to radiation concerns, unless absolutely necessary.
Make sure to tell your doctor about all medications (including herbal remedies and supplements) you are taking.
Always mention any family history of migraine or significant neurological conditions, as this may influence diagnosis and treatment.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Contact your healthcare provider, midwife, or an emergency service immediately if you experience:

Sudden, severe, or persistent headache unrelieved by rest or paracetamol
Visual changes (blurred vision, flashing lights)
Severe pain below your ribs
Unexplained vomiting
Sudden pronounced swelling in the face, hands, feet, or ankles

These symptoms may indicate serious pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, which require urgent medical attention.

Preventing Headaches in Early Pregnancy

Stay Hydrated: Drink water throughout the day.
Eat Regular, Balanced Meals: Avoid long gaps between meals or snacks.
Manage Stress: Incorporate frequent breaks, deep breathing, and pregnancy-safe relaxation techniques.
Sleep Well: Aim for 79 hours of sleep and maintain a consistent sleep routine.
Identify and Avoid Triggers: Use your headache diary to spot and minimize exposure to known triggers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are headaches in early pregnancy normal?

Yes, headaches are a common symptom in early pregnancy due to hormonal and physical changes. Most are harmless and improve as the pregnancy progresses.

Can headaches harm my baby?

Typical headaches do not affect your baby. However, severe or unusual headaches can signal complications like preeclampsia, which need immediate medical attention.

What medication is safe for headaches during pregnancy?

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is generally considered safe, but always check with your doctor first, take the lowest effective dose, and use it for the fewest days possible. NSAIDs, aspirin, and codeine should be avoided unless prescribed by your doctor.

How can I manage headaches without medication?

Focus on staying hydrated, eating regular meals, getting sufficient rest, using ice packs, practicing relaxation techniques, and identifying and avoiding personal headache triggers.

When should I call my healthcare provider about a headache?

Contact your provider if you have a sudden, severe, or persistent headache, vision changes, severe pain under the ribs, unexplained vomiting, or sudden swelling of your hands, feet, or face.

Key Takeaways

Headaches in early pregnancy are common and usually not harmful.
Hormonal changes, fatigue, hunger, dehydration, and sinus issues are the main contributors.
Most simple headaches are manageable with self-care, lifestyle changes, and (if needed) limited paracetamol use.
Track recurring headaches with a diary to pinpoint and minimize triggers.
Seek urgent care if headaches are severe or arise alongside other warning signs such as swelling or vision changes.

Always keep open communication with your healthcare provider, and never hesitate to call if you are concerned about any symptoms during your pregnancy.

References

Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete