Headaches are a common complaint during pregnancy. Headaches during pregnancy are thought to be caused by hormones, though they could also be connected to stress, fatigue and dehydration. Pregnancy headaches are most common during the first trimester, especially during the first few weeks when hormone levels are rapidly increasing. Most women find the headaches have cleared up by the second trimester.

Headaches during pregnancy are not unsafe for your baby, but can be annoying for you. Here are some tips for coping with headaches during pregnancy:

• Get some rest – headaches can be caused by tiredness, so listen to your body and get some rest. You need more rest during pregnancy as your body works overtime growing a baby.
• Have a glass of water – your body needs extra water during pregnancy, so you should be drinking eight glasses of water each day. Headaches can be caused by dehydration, so have a glass of water if you can feel a headache coming on.
• Eat healthily – fatty, processed and sugary foods can cause headaches. Reduce your reliance on these foods, and instead focus your efforts on eating fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Eating a balanced diet is very important during pregnancy.
• Avoid caffeine – in the short term, cutting out caffeine could cause you headaches, but within a week or two, you should be free from these headaches. Consuming too much caffeine can cause headaches, so try to reduce the amount you consume.
• Exercise – exercise is really important during pregnancy. Taking regular exercise can reduce a whole host of pregnancy symptoms, and help you to de-stress. If you feel a headache coming on, try taking a short walk outside and see if the exercise and fresh air help.
• Relax – stress isn’t good for you, and it’s not great for the baby, so spend some time relaxing each day. Try having a soak in the bath, or spend a few minutes meditating, at the end of each day to unwind.
• Medication – ibuprofen and aspirin are not safe to take during pregnancy. Speak to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to find out which headache medications are suitable for pregnant women.

When to call a doctor

If you experience visual disturbances or have a high temperature, contact your doctor. If the headaches don’t ease up, speak to your healthcare provider for advice.

How do you cope with headaches during pregnancy?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

A worry-free pregnancy, is there really such a thing? Is it possible to embark on this new and daunting chapter of life without so much as a niggle of concern? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean you can’t greatly reduce your worrying. If you find yourself lying awake at night worrying about pregnancy, birth and parenting, then you might benefit from son of the following tips:

1. Exercise every day – 30 minutes of light exercise each day can do wonders for your stress levels. Walking, swimming, yoga and pilates are all recommended exercises for pregnancy. As well as reducing stress levels, regular exercise can help you to get a better night’s sleep.
2. Eat a healthy, balanced diet – instead of lying awake at night worrying about the soda you drank at lunch, have a water next time. Don’t feel guilty for snacking on junk food – simply replace these snacks with healthy alternatives in the future. Processed foods often have high levels of sugar and salt, and this can affect your moods and general health.
3. Take your vitamins – you’ll save yourself a lot of worry if you take a daily prenatal vitamin. These specially formulated vitamins are filled with the nutrients your developing baby needs. They don’t replace a healthy diet, and you’ll still need to make sure you’re eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, but they are advised for all pregnant women.
4. Relax – it’s really important to add in some relaxation time to your daily routine. If you are busy during the day, rushing around trying to get things finished, it can be hard to switch off at night. Try having a relaxing soak in the bath, or a massage before bed to help you unwind. Meditation and yoga are great for calming down and allowing yourself to fully relax.
5. Be honest with yourself – it’s ok to worry, but be honest with yourself. What are you really worried about? Why are you feeling so worried about it? Could it be caused by deeper emotions? Or could exhaustion be playing a part in it?
6. Stop searching online forums – if you’re worried about the pregnancy, the worst thing you can do is check random internet forums. By all means, search trusted sources online, and educate yourself with the information. But don’t take the information you read on unmoderated forums too seriously.
7. Talk to your partner – your partner may be sharing a lot of your worries and concerns. The best thing to do is to be honest about your feelings, and allow him to do the same. Talk about your worries, and find ways to help each other cope.
8. Talk to some mothers – women have been growing, birthing and looking after babies for generations. Whatever you’re worried about, other mothers have worried about before you. If you have any mum friends you can trust – be it your mum, best friend or a friend from work – talk to them about your concerns. They’ll be able to reassure you with their own experiences.
9. Ask a professional – one of your healthcare provider’s roles is to make sure you are not feeling stressed. Your healthcare provider will be able to offer you advice and support to help you overcome your concerns.

What are you worrying about during pregnancy, and how are you coping with it?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Looking after a baby can be exhausting work. It’s a fulltime job that requires you to be awake, alert and patient at pretty much all times. Your baby is amazing, beautiful and perfect, but he’s also probably demanding, frustrating and, dare you think it, selfish too. All your baby cares about are his own needs. He wants to be fed now, he wants his diaper changing now and he wants a cuddle this very minute. He doesn’t care that you’re in the shower or asleep (or both, if it’s been a particularly bad night).

It’s not uncommon to feel a little lost during your first year of motherhood. After all, when was the last time you got to do something just for you? You spend all of your time rushing around to make sure everyone else is ok and barely spare a second thought to your own well being.

Your well being is the most important

To take the best possible care of your baby, you need to take care of yourself first. It’s like on a plane how you have to fit your own oxygen mask first. If you can’t breathe, you won’t have the energy or ability to help your baby breathe. Not that your parenting is like a plane crash, but the same theory applies here. How can you look after another’s well being and health when your own stores are depleted?

‘Me time’ isn’t selfish, and it’s certainly not something you should feel guilty about. It plays an important role in allowing you to be the best parent you can be, so don’t be afraid to demand some time to yourself every now and again. Make sure that you and your partner are each able to enjoy some regular ‘me time’ to allow you to relax, recharge and regroup.

‘Me time’ inspiration

The great thing about ‘me time’ is that even a little bit will go a long way. You don’t need a week abroad by yourself to unwind (though, actually, that would be nice), even just an hour or so will do the trick. The key is to have a little patch of time that is all yours, free from interruptions and stress, to do with as you please. And no, the weekly shop doesn’t count. Neither does a trip to the dentist. You deserve some high quality ‘me time’.

Even something as simple as a bath (with the door locked, luxury!) all by yourself, with a good book and some relaxing music could leave you feeling loads better. If you can, treat yourself to a massage or beauty treatment at your favorite salon. Maybe a shopping trip would lighten your mood? Or signing up for an evening class to learn a new skill or throw yourself into a new hobby? Even just a short solitary walk after dinner could be enough to help you de-stress and prepare you for another day of parenting.

What are your go to ‘me time’ activities?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.