Headache after cesarean section: Causes and solutions

Headache after caesarean section is a common condition, but few of us know the true cause of this condition to have an effective remedy.

Today, the number of women giving birth by cesarean section is constantly increasing for many different reasons such as medical problems, the fear of giving birth, often choosing a favorable date and time to welcome the baby ... Caesarean section is a major surgery and after giving birth you can experience many complications, one of which is headache after cesarean section. Please join aFamilyToday Health to continue to share the following to understand more about this situation.

Caesarean section is a surgical method of removing the fetus through an incision in the abdomen instead of a normal vaginal delivery. The entire caesarean section takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Before the surgery, the mother will be anesthetized or injected with spinal anesthesia. With spinal anesthesia, you will remain awake during the procedure so you will be able to see and hold your baby as soon as the baby is born. The consequence of this anesthesia, however, is often constant headaches after giving birth. In addition, the stress in the process of caring for the newborn can also increase the headache of pregnant women.

What causes headaches after caesarean section?

The main cause of headache for many women after cesarean section is spinal anesthesia in the lumbar region. During this process, the doctor injects an anesthetic directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. The injection goes through multiple membranes and can cause cerebrospinal fluid to leak through the perforation of the dura. As a result, the blood vessels in the anesthetic injection area dilate, increasing the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid, causing headache phenomenon. On the other hand, not only does pregnant women have headaches, but they may also experience spinal and neck pain.

Not all women with cesarean section with spinal anesthesia experience this symptom, the prevalence is usually about 1%. In addition to anesthesia, women with headaches can also be due to iron deficiency anemia , muscle tension, hormone changes after giving birth, sudden changes in blood pressure, sleep not deep ...

Pre-eclampsia in pregnancy is also the cause of headache for women after cesarean section. This occurs when a high level of protein in the urine is accompanied by high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Headache symptoms after cesarean section

Identifying these headaches is not difficult because you will easily feel them when they appear. However, you will not have a headache right after giving birth, but maybe after a few days, you will have to "experience" this pain. The headaches will start from mild pain, then gradually increase in severity and turn into intense pain:

A few days to weeks after giving birth, you should feel pain in the back of your head. The pain gradually spread to the shoulder and neck area.

Post-cesarean headaches are characterized by mild stinging or constant pain that tends to get worse when you walk or suddenly stand up, sit down in an upright position.

In addition, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting may also occur.

If your headache gets worse and worse with many other unusual symptoms, this could be a sign that your spine has been severely punctured, leading to serious complications. If this happens, you need to see a doctor right away.

Tell mom how to reduce headache after cesarean section

Headache after cesarean section is a common phenomenon in postpartum women. Here are some tips to try to relieve the pain:

1. Rest in a quiet space

As noted in many postpartum women, lying down will significantly reduce headaches. Therefore, when a headache appears, women should lie down on the bed to rest, limit the light in the room.

2. Drink water

Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will help women after cesarean section to relax their mind and limit headaches. After giving birth, if you drink enough water, your body will also produce more milk to feed your baby.

3. Apply a hot compress

This is an effective measure that provides headache relief that many mothers share when suffering a headache after cesarean section. Using a hot pack applied directly to the temples and neck area can help you get rid of a headache quickly.

4. Reasonable nutrition

After birth, a woman's diet needs special attention. A nutritious diet will help replenish the energy lost during childbirth and breastfeeding. Postpartum women are often advised to eat several meals a day, which include healthy foods high in vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, calcium, and many other essential nutrients.

5. Take pain relievers

When using conventional ways to relieve pain but not effective, women can go to the doctor to be examined to determine the exact cause and use the medicine as directed.

The doctor will prescribe a number of drugs that women after giving birth can take even though they are breastfeeding. Women absolutely do not arbitrarily use the drug to avoid having unwanted side effects and affecting the quality of breast milk. This is because many drugs can pass into breast milk, affecting the baby.

In case of a headache after a cesarean section accompanied by some complications, the doctor will conduct an examination of the perforation of the spine caused by the injection site to promptly intervene if necessary.

Headache after cesarean delivery is a relatively common problem. Even though it makes you feel uncomfortable, don't worry, it should go away in about a week. If you find yourself having unusual symptoms or a lot of other concerns, see your doctor for answers.