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Expert Q&A:
Why do I get headaches now that I'm 17 weeks pregnant?

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Elaine Zwelling
Answered by Elaine Zwelling R.N., Ph.D., L.C.C.E., F.A.C.C.E.
Elaine Zwelling, R.N., Ph.D., has been involved in maternal-newborn health care for 40 years. She has a bachelor's degree in nursing from Capital University and a master's degree in nursing and a Ph.D. in Family Relations and Human Development from Ohio State University. Dr. Zwelling brings to the Pampers Parenting Network her experience of helping expectant parents enjoy their pregnancy, plan and create a positive birth experience, and learn about parenting their newborn baby. She is certified by Lamaze International as a childbirth educator, is a Fellow in the American College of Childbirth Educators, and has taught childbirth classes for 25 years. Dr. Zwelling was the director and faculty for the Lamaze International Childbirth Educator Certification Program of Florida; in that role she prepared many nurses to become childbirth educators.

Dr. Zwelling was a Professor of Maternal-Newborn Nursing for 23 years at both Capital University and Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. At these institutions she taught undergraduate and graduate students and conducted research. For eight years she was a Senior Consultant with Phillips &; Fenwick, a women's health consulting firm in Santa Cruz, California, specializing in helping hospitals implement family-centered maternity care. Currently Dr. Zwelling is a Perinatal Nurse Consultant with the Hill-Rom Company. In this position, she provides comprehensive support and consultation to hospital maternity units to create quality care environments equipped with the appropriate equipment for labor and birth and provides clinical education for nursing staff.

Dr. Zwelling is the co-author of a maternal-newborn nursing textbook, Maternal-Newborn Nursing: Theory and Practice, and has published many professional journal articles related to maternal-newborn health care, family-centered maternity care, and childbirth education. Dr. Zwelling is a recognized speaker at professional conferences and teaches continuing education seminars for childbirth educators and perinatal nurses throughout the country.

Dr. Zwelling resides in Sarasota, Florida, and has a grown son, lovely daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.

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Question


I am 17 weeks into my pregnancy and have been getting headaches when I go outside for walks. Am I more sensitive to the sun? Also, when I do not get enough sleep, the headache stays with me all throughout the day. Are headaches normal during pregnancy

Answer


Although I'm sure you're finding them annoying, I can reassure you that headaches are not unusual during pregnancy. The number and frequency are a result of the hormonal changes in your body when you're pregnant. Some women have fewer headaches when they're pregnant; others have more. The most common headaches are caused by tension. Your head feels tight, almost as if you had a tight band around it. Being pregnant can make you tense because of all the changes in your life, emotional concerns, or physical stress. Avoid stressful situations whenever you can and don't place unrealistic expectations on yourself, your partner, or your pregnancy. If the sun seems to trigger your headaches, stay out of it as much as possible. Avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and most other medications. If you must take something, take an aspirin substitute. Better yet, learn relaxation and massage techniques, or sit down, put your feet up, and have a cup of tea. And try to get plenty of sleep.

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Member comments
Headaches and pregnancy
I am now 12 weeks exactly, and a few days ago I started getting a light headache then of course went..

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