Women's Headache Care

Chronic headaches aren’t on anyone’s wish list. Add pregnancy to the mix and it becomes even more challenging.

If you have chronic headache pain, our team, led by Drs. Eric Kung and Olivia Begasse De Dhaem, will create a treatment approach that works for you, all while keeping your baby safe.

Pregnancy causes many changes in a woman’s body. The surge in hormones and an increase in blood volume that occurs during the first trimester can contribute to headaches while pregnant. Other causes of headaches in pregnancy can include:

• Stress
• Poor posture
• Changes in vision
• Lack of sleep
• Low blood sugar
• Dehydration
• Caffeine withdrawal

The best way to manage headaches is to address the symptoms before you become pregnant. However, if you're pregnant and dealing with headaches, our neurologists who specialize in chronic headaches and migraines will work with you and your doctor to manage your pain.

Our evaluation process involves a thorough review to determine if your pain is a symptom of a more serious condition—such as high blood pressure or diabetes—for which the Women’s Specialty Center will arrange treatment with other Stamford Health specialists. If not, our team will develop a plan that may include non-medical interventions such as improving your posture, additional rest and relaxation, exercise, and better nutrition.

Medical treatments that are safe during pregnancy include a variety of traditional and alternative techniques, such as:

• Nerve-block injections
• A thin tube, or catheter, inserted into the nasal passage to target the specific area of pain
• Acupuncture, which uses hair-thin needles to stimulate pressure points

The Women’s Specialty Center at Stamford Health has the knowledge, experience and techniques to solve complicated headache cases.