Migraines/Accupuncture during pregnancy
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mommyrunning
Posts: 495 Member
Hi everyone. I hope everyone doesn't mind my random questions. I just figure if I have the question someone else might too and we can all learn from each other.
My question is had anyone tried acupuncture and/or does anyone here have experience with migraines during pregnancy?
Background: I am 11 weeks pregnant. I have a history of migraines but haven't had any for a while so I am not on medication currently and last week they came back with a vengeance. At first I tried to just get through it but it's getting worse and happening almost daily. I don't even like to take regular meds like Tylenol but have taken it when it gets really bad. It doesn't eliminate the headache but takes the edge off. I've also tried relaxing, increasing water intake, stretching, hot showers, massage, naps, and drinking caffeine. Yesterday I called my midwife (they have OBs in office too) and they called back and said they could prescribe relpax or we could try acupuncture and massage therapy. I am not comfortable taking relpax and have had bad experiences with migraine meds including one that led to a 3 day migraine and having to be put to sleep in the ER. So I am interested in trying acupuncture instead.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
My question is had anyone tried acupuncture and/or does anyone here have experience with migraines during pregnancy?
Background: I am 11 weeks pregnant. I have a history of migraines but haven't had any for a while so I am not on medication currently and last week they came back with a vengeance. At first I tried to just get through it but it's getting worse and happening almost daily. I don't even like to take regular meds like Tylenol but have taken it when it gets really bad. It doesn't eliminate the headache but takes the edge off. I've also tried relaxing, increasing water intake, stretching, hot showers, massage, naps, and drinking caffeine. Yesterday I called my midwife (they have OBs in office too) and they called back and said they could prescribe relpax or we could try acupuncture and massage therapy. I am not comfortable taking relpax and have had bad experiences with migraine meds including one that led to a 3 day migraine and having to be put to sleep in the ER. So I am interested in trying acupuncture instead.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
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Replies
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I have never tried acupuncture, but I have a few close friends who swear by it. One of them has been doing it throughout her pregnancy (she is 30 weeks now) and it has helped her with back and other pain.
Make sure that your acupuncturist knows you are pregnant and that she has experience with pregnancy acupuncture. You don't want someone who doesn't. I've also heard preg massage is great.0 -
So I wanted to share my experience. The person I saw has 20+ years as a nurse midwife and 10 years doing acupuncture. I was nervous but the needles weren't bad at all. They are thinner than sewing needles and I barely felt them. I was skeptical but figured it's worth a try. It was a relaxing experience much like getting a massage. At one point I felt a wave of calm come over me which surprised me. When I left I felt a reduction in my headache but it came back later that day. However, in the 3 days following my session I've noticed a reduction in the intensity of my headaches and even had one day without a headache. (I've been getting them daily). So I don't know if it's a placebo effect but it did seem helpful.0
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I'm glad you had a positive experience with the acupuncturist. I wanted to weigh in with my acupuncture experiences. I actually started seeing one when I was having trouble getting pregnant and the doctor's all wanted to put me on more hormones (when being on birth control is what I feel messed up my fertility in the first place)! So anyway, after 8 months of TTC, it took 2-3 months of acupuncture treatments and I was pregnant!
Since I've been pregnant, I've gone to the acupuncturist for various concerns- back pain in the first trimester, and now more recently, carpal tunnel. Back pain is completely gone and has been for months, and I'd say the carpal tunnel is about 50% improved after about a month of treatment.
All that to say, I'm a big fan of acupuncture during pregnancy- skilled practitioners can help with everything from morning sickness to turning a breech baby! Plus, like another poster said, it's actually very relaxing.0 -
Thanks for the feedback. Sadly my headaches are coming back but she said that would happen and I would need to come back. How many sessions before your back pain went away?0
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I did probably 3 sessions for my back. For my carpal tunnel, I've done about 4 sessions, but still need to go back for more treatment to keep it manageable. I think it's just different for everyone, and depending on what's the problem.0
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I tried acupuncture during pregnancy but it wasn't for migraines.
It really helped with the aches and pains though.0 -
So a few days after accupuncture I was seeing a reduction on my headaches but it costs about $50 per visit which can get expensive. So I tried to analyze what had changed (other than being pregnant :>) I looked at my food diary and realized that around the same time my headaches started my protein had dropped because I was trying to fight nausea with carbs and neglecting my protein. I've been better at getting more protein and the headaches have almost gone away.0
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I have a problem with migraines too. When I am not pregnant i usually take excedrin migraine to take it away but when I am pregnant I cant do that. What has worked for me is to go see a chiropractor who realigned my neck and the headaches went away. This treatment usually last for a few months so every now and then i go back to my chiropractor to get my migraines back in check.0
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I have a problem with migraines too. When I am not pregnant i usually take excedrin migraine to take it away but when I am pregnant I cant do that. What has worked for me is to go see a chiropractor who realigned my neck and the headaches went away. This treatment usually last for a few months so every now and then i go back to my chiropractor to get my migraines back in check.
Good tip. I was seeing a chiropractor last year while I was still in the military and it did help. I need to find a new one now.0 -
I know someone on here recommended chiropracter but i would be EXTREMEMLY carefu getting chiropracter work done while pregnant not all chirporacters are created equal and not all chiropracters have experience working on pregnant women!
I am a long time migraine sufferer and the migraines defintely came full force in my first trimester with hormones raging. The ony thing that worked for me was to take at least 600 mg Tyelenol and drink a cup of coffee , stick a cold pack (or frozen vegetables) on base of my neck and stick me feet in as hot a water as you can handle
(For those that are going to say coffee has caffeine I am aware and this was actually told to me to do for my migraines by my OBGYN, not enought caffeine in 1 cup coffee to cause issues as it is well under the 200 mg daily recommendation) the caffeine in the coffee will help open your blood vessels and the temperature differentail will help get the blood moving to oxygentate and help with the migraine pain.0 -
I know someone on here recommended chiropracter but i would be EXTREMEMLY carefu getting chiropracter work done while pregnant not all chirporacters are created equal and not all chiropracters have experience working on pregnant women!
I am a long time migraine sufferer and the migraines defintely came full force in my first trimester with hormones raging. The ony thing that worked for me was to take at least 600 mg Tyelenol and drink a cup of coffee , stick a cold pack (or frozen vegetables) on base of my neck and stick me feet in as hot a water as you can handle
(For those that are going to say coffee has caffeine I am aware and this was actually told to me to do for my migraines by my OBGYN, not enought caffeine in 1 cup coffee to cause issues as it is well under the 200 mg daily recommendation) the caffeine in the coffee will help open your blood vessels and the temperature differentail will help get the blood moving to oxygentate and help with the migraine pain.
Good tips. You are correct to be careful with chiropractors. My midwife office already has a relationship with chiropractors & other specialists so that helps narrow down the search a bit. And yes you are correct caffeine is allowed. Even chocolate has some caffeine.
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