While most headaches in pregnancy are caused by tension or migraines, a small percentage are caused by life-threatening neurological conditions.
These include blood clots and a pressure build-up within the skull.
A UK expert has warned that headaches in pregnant women could be ‘masking’ serious underlying health conditions.
Kirsty Revell, a specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton, England says that 90 per cent of headaches experienced by mothers-to-be were the result of migraine or tension.
And while these usually improve during the last six months of pregnancy, the small percentage which are caused by potentially life-threatening neurological conditions are the third most common cause of death among pregnant women.
She said: ‘Headaches are common in life and some women find they suffer a lot during pregnancy, but most are benign, for example migraine or tension headaches, and will not harm mother or baby but will just be unpleasant.
‘However, some headache types can be more dangerous and an indication that something is seriously wrong and it is vital GPs, obstetricians and midwives are aware of the signs and symptoms associated with these conditions and know when to seek advice from a specialist.’
These include cerebral venous thrombosis – a blood clot in the sinuses of the brain – or pressure build-up in the skull, known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, which is more likely to occur in obese women of child-bearing age.
She also warns that women who experience migraines have a two-fold increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia.
Preeclampsia is a condition that typically starts after the 20th week of pregnancy and is related to increased blood pressure and protein in the mother’s urine and can lead to birth complications.
She adds:
‘While it is important not to cause unnecessary alarm or panic, women should be aware that if they suffer from continuous headaches during pregnancy or migraines that are very different their normal type, they should discuss it with their GP or midwife.
‘It is at that point we need to be confident health professionals consider all possible causes – including the rarer conditions we’ve highlighted – to ensure all women receive the correct advice, guidance and treatment.’
