Many women who have never had migraines begin to experience them during their pregnancy. This is unfortunate because pregnancy is already filled with cravings, aches, and pains. However, one reason migraines may occur during this period is because your body is going through major hormonal changes as the baby grows and develops. Another factor is that women naturally experience migraines three times more often than men. Pregnancy just increases the risk.
Migraines can be debilitating and cause you to not be able to perform your daily routines. Most women do not have the luxury of being able to simply take a few days off to care for their migraines. Therefore, some may resort to taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. However, new information suggests they may be doing more harm than good.
Migraines and Mediation While Pregnant
Being aware of the risks involved with taking over-the-counter medication while pregnant is a good place to start. Scientists have shown that using drugs that contain acetaminophen while being pregnant can cause damage to the fetus. In fact, 65% of women turn to this type of medication to ease their pain while being pregnant. This puts your baby at risk to be born with congenital heart defects. Additional evidence shows a link between using acetaminophen and the onset of attention deficit disorder (ADD). This leaves women looking for an alternative way to relieve their pain. Does it exist?
Finding Natural Relief
A connection has been noted between migraines and a misalignment in the bones of the upper cervical spine. A misalignment here places the brainstem under stress, causing it to send improper signals to the brain. The misaligned bones can also act as a blockage to blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid flow leaving and coming to the brain. Any of these can increase your risk for migraines.
Here at Thrive Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Onalaska, Wisconsin, we use a gentle method that is very safe for pregnant women to help realign the neck bone. Cracking the spine and popping the neck is not required to get positive results. Many women and other migraine patients find a huge improvement in their migraines after only a few adjustments.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 608-783-0384