Severe headache and vomiting in pregnancy: what to know

Morning sickness, migraine, infection, heat, or missed fluids can produce both symptoms. Vomiting can quickly reduce hydration, making the headache stronger and causing dizziness or dark urine. A severe headache may also be associated with high blood pressure, especially later in pregnancy, and visual changes or pain under the ribs add concern. Symptoms alone cannot identify the cause.

Call your maternity team or an urgent medical service today. Take small sips of water or oral rehydration fluid and try bland food only if it stays down. Rest in a cool, dim room and record vomiting episodes, urine changes, headache onset, vision symptoms, and any blood-pressure reading. Do not take a new medicine, including an anti-sickness or pain medicine, without pregnancy-specific advice.

Go to emergency care if you cannot keep fluids down, pass very little urine, faint, become confused, have a seizure, develop severe visual changes, weakness, chest pain, breathlessness, fever with a stiff neck, vaginal bleeding, or severe abdominal pain. A sudden extreme headache also warrants immediate care.

Could dehydration or blood pressure be contributing? Do I need urine, blood-pressure, or blood tests? Which anti-sickness and pain medicines are suitable at my stage of pregnancy? What should I do if vomiting returns?