Bad Headaches in early 2nd Trimester

[rebecca2]

It is been a while since I've been on these boards and I could use some advice...

Does anyone know if headaches at the beginning of the 2nd trimester have anything to do with whether you develop PE later in pregnancy? I'm 13w5d with baby #4 and for the past week I've had BAD headaches. Initially they were fairly mild, would go away with tylenol, and I thought they were related to sinuses and the weather getting cooler. However, they've gotten much worse and the location of the pain varies. Sometimes it is at the back of my head near my neck and then it will move behind my eyes. I haven't had any significant morning sickness with this pregnancy, but when I get these headaches I can't keep anything down, not even BP meds. (Thankfully my BP is fine.) The strange thing is I don't really feel nauseas, I just don't feel hungry. However, if I eat or even take a sip of water so I can take the labetalol or tylenol, I get sick. I remember having the same thing during my 1st pregnancy which ended w/ PE at 26 weeks and the loss of my daughter, so I'm terrified it is a sign of what is to come. I didn't have these headaches in my 2nd & 3rd pregnancy and they were PE free. Am I ready too much into this? Is it just one of those normal differences between pregnancies which has nothing to do with PE? FWIW, I'll see my OB tomorrow & will discuss it with him, but thought I'd ask here as well.

[angieb]

I'm not an expert, but I *think* they are *usually* concerned about headaches in relation to bp, as high bp can give someone headaches and be a symptom. I know it can also foreshadow a seizure/stroke, but I think most often, and especially early in the 2nd trimester, the main concern would be if your blood pressure was also elevated.

[sam10]

Headaches can be an annoying part of pregnancy and are mostly related to hormonal changes (especially during early pregnancy), infections (cold), migraines, allergies, or tension headache. However, they can also be a sign of PE, but usually not before 20 weeks gestation. But I doubt that a headache is a sign that you will develop PE, but you can definitely ask your doctor. When I asked mine, he told me that due to the different reasons for a headache, it cannot be used as a reliable indicator for PE.
How is your BP? As you are not mentioning it, I assume it is just fine?

The headache you are describing sounds a lot like mine. I just saw my doctor today (I am 29 weeks and well into the PE timeframe) and he believes it is sinus irritation of some sort or allergies. I have no other symptoms that could indicate PE or HELLP (BP good, labs are fine, urine is clear, no blurry vision). The best relief I get is from sinus rinse with saline solution, tylenol and claritin.

Let me know what your doc says tomorrow. I would be curios to hear.

[marilyn621]

I had some pretty nasty headaches early in my second trimester that sent me to the ER begging for relief. Fluids and painkillers did the trick. I did develop "the headache" and PE in this pregnancy but it wasn't diagnosed until 35 weeks as mild. I'm also a chronic but whenever I went in for headaches my BP was really low (which could have something to do with it as well.)