Headache after giving birth: what to know

Labour, feeding, sweating, and interrupted sleep can leave you short of fluids and rest. Muscle tension, changing hormones, skipped meals, or a viral illness can also cause head pain. If you had a spinal or epidural anaesthetic, a post-dural-puncture headache may become worse when sitting or standing and improve when lying down. Tell the maternity team about this pattern rather than trying to manage it alone.

A postpartum headache can also accompany high blood pressure after pregnancy. A headache does not by itself identify the cause, so its timing, position, severity, and associated symptoms matter.

Drink regularly, eat when able, rest with support, and record when the pain starts and what makes it better or worse. Use only pain relief approved for you by your maternity clinician or pharmacist, especially if breastfeeding or taking medicines. Contact your maternity unit or doctor the same day if the pain is new, persistent, or positional, so your blood pressure and neurological symptoms can be checked.

Seek emergency help for a sudden extreme headache, visual disturbance, confusion, seizure, weakness, trouble speaking, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or severe upper abdominal pain. Prompt assessment is also needed for a headache with a high blood pressure reading, fever and stiff neck, or repeated vomiting. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint or confused.

Ask whether your blood pressure needs checking, whether the headache could relate to an epidural or spinal anaesthetic, and which medicines are compatible with feeding your baby. Share the delivery date, anaesthetic details, pain position, blood pressure readings, and any visual or neurological changes.