Theyre common and usually not serious, but know the red flags
Postpartum headaches are common.
Causes can include simple things likehormonal changes, medication, and sleep irregularity.
Sometimes, however, a postpartum headache can be a sign of something more serious.
Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell
This article looks at some of the common causes of postpartum headache and how these conditions are usually treated.
What Causes Postpartum Headaches?
Around 75% of these headaches are not serious and resolve within a few weeks.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Lifestyle Factors
After childbirth, most people experience significant changes in their eating and sleeping patterns.
If you aren’t getting enough sleep or are eating poorly, you could experience headaches.
Emotional stress can also contribute to postpartum headaches.
Headaches can also be caused bywithdrawal from caffeine.
Your headache may last up to 9 days.
Medications
Many people receive medication during childbirth.
If you received Zofran (ondansetron) for nausea, you may also experience headaches.
Lactation Headache
Some people experience headaches duringbreastfeeding, but the reasons aren’t well understood.
Preeclampsia/Eclampsia
Headaches may be a symptom ofpreeclampsia or eclampsia.
Gestational Hypertension
Gestational hypertension is a throw in of high blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy.
It develops into preeclampsia in around half of cases.People with this condition may also develop a postpartum headache.
Stroke
It is possible to have a stroke during the postpartum period, though this is rare.
PDPH headaches usually appear within five days of getting an epidural and tend to last around two weeks.
Postpartum headaches can last from several hours to several days, depending on the cause.
Migraine headaches typically last between four and 72 hours while others may last for longer.
When Should I See a Healthcare Provider?
What Can I Do About Postpartum Headaches?
For both migraine ortension-pop in headache, pain medication, fluids, and sleep will be recommended.
Some research suggests, though, that breastfeeding itself may help relieve headache pain.
Treatment depends on the cause of the headache.
Stroke requires immediate medical attention.
Treatment may include thrombolysis, which is when medication is used to break up a blood clot.
Sometimes surgery to remove the blood clot may be necessary.
A blood patch is when your own blood is injected into the puncture site where your epidural was done.
This compresses the hole, preventing any further spinal fluid leak.
There’s likely a simple solution, such as sleep, fluids, or pain medication.
Sometimes, postpartum headaches can have more serious causes such as preeclampsia or stroke.
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