A bad headache after a C-section

Possible explanations include dehydration, lack of sleep, migraine, raised blood pressure, or a headache related to spinal or epidural anaesthesia. The pattern of pain and any accompanying symptoms guide how quickly you need care.

A headache after a spinal or epidural may become much worse while sitting or standing and ease when lying flat. It can occur with neck stiffness, nausea, or sensitivity to light and may need review by the anaesthesia team.

Pre-eclampsia can present after birth with a severe headache, visual disturbance, pain beneath the ribs, nausea, sudden swelling, breathing difficulty, or raised blood pressure. A thunderclap headache or new neurological symptom can signal another emergency.

Contact your maternity unit or urgent medical service today for a severe, persistent, or unusual headache. Tell them when the birth occurred, whether you had spinal or epidural anaesthesia, whether posture changes the pain, and whether your blood pressure has been checked.

While arranging care, rest somewhere safe, drink fluids if you can, and avoid driving. Use only pain relief that your maternity clinician or pharmacist says is suitable after birth and compatible with any medicines and breastfeeding.

Call emergency services for a sudden explosive headache, seizure, fainting, confusion, weakness, facial droop, trouble speaking, loss of vision, chest pain, or difficulty breathing. Do not wait to see whether these symptoms settle.

Urgent maternity assessment is also needed for headache with blurred vision, flashing lights, pain under the ribs, vomiting, rapidly increasing swelling, high blood pressure, fever, or worsening neck stiffness.

Ask whether your blood pressure and urine need checking, whether the headache pattern suggests an anaesthesia-related cause, and which treatment is appropriate. If you are breastfeeding, confirm that each proposed medicine is suitable for you and your baby.