NSAID use early in pregnancy is also linked with increased risk of miscarriage, and the risk is higher for women with a lower BMI, according to a 2018 study.Ī safety warning issued by the U.S. NSAIDs include medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen.Ī study from 2017 found that women who took NSAIDs and opioid pain medicines during early pregnancy were more likely to have babies with certain birth defects compared with women who took acetaminophen. To cut through any confusion about when they’re safe and when they’re not, Starling suggests that pregnant women avoid them altogether. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) should be avoided at certain times during a pregnancy. NSAIDs and Opioids May Increase the Risk for Birth Defects or Miscarriage I will always talk to my patients about family planning and reassure them that I will be there to support them through that journey, and that we’ll come up with an alternative plan that will be safe,” she says. “There are certain medications that are safe to use in the setting of pregnancy, and those that are not. It might sound scary to taper off a medication that has been working for you, says Starling. If we’re deciding to discontinue a medication because someone is planning on getting pregnant, then we will typically reduce it slowly over time,” she says. “When we’re starting new medication, we usually start at a very low dose, and we increase slowly over time. The key to migraine management leading up to and during pregnancy is consistency any changes that are made need to be made slowly, says Starling. RELATED: How to Choose Birth Control When You Have Migraine The Right Way to Change Migraine Medication for Pregnancy Safety If a patient is planning on getting pregnant or if that is a possibility, there are many medication options that are still available to use, adds Starling. “We’ll talk about what different contraceptive options need to be in place so that we can prevent pregnancy in that situation,” she says. “I always discuss the importance of family planning when prescribing any medication that isn’t safe to take during pregnancy to make sure the patient is aware that the medication could be harmful to take during pregnancy or when breastfeeding,” says Starling. Unplanned pregnancies can raise risks for mother and child, the CDC notes, through factors like medications a woman might be taking at time of conception or the important role of prenatal nutrition. “A large percentage of pregnancies are unexpected or unplanned, and the majority of our patients at the headache clinic are women of childbearing potential,” says Starling.Ībout half of all pregnancies are unplanned, according to data monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Why You Should Discuss Medication Safety Before Pregnancy Here’s what you should know about planning a pregnancy when you have migraine. Understanding how migraine may impact your pregnancy and baby and what your options are for managing migraine during your pregnancy can help you decide what the right choice is for you. “It’s just a matter of talking to your healthcare provider about it and making sure they feel comfortable using different treatment options, whether it be for the prevention of migraine or for migraine attacks themselves.” “The good news is we do have treatment options that can be effective during pregnancy,” Starling says. Having a healthcare provider, whether that’s a neurologist, headache specialist, or primary care doctor, who can collaborate with your obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) is an important first step, Dr. The survey of 607 women with migraine found that the most common reasons women cited for avoiding pregnancy were fears that migraine symptoms would worsen during pregnancy, that having migraine would make their pregnancy difficult, and that migraine medication would affect their child’s development.īut according to Amaal Starling, MD, a neurologist and migraine specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, although it’s natural to be worried, having a successful pregnancy and delivery while living with the disease of migraine is totally doable. Nearly 1 in 5 women with migraine avoids pregnancy because of her disease, according to a study from 2020. Study Shows Fears About Pregnancy With Migraine Are Common Concerns about the pregnancy, the health of the baby, and the additional daily stressors of living with a debilitating disease can lead many women to question if having a baby is the right choice - now or ever. Your career path, relationship status, financial health, and long-term goals all factor into the equation.įor women living with migraine, the decision can be even more complex. Choosing if and when you want to have children is one of life’s biggest decisions.
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