If you live with migraines and have dreams of starting or growing a family, you’re not alone—and you’re certainly not without hope. At Novera: Headache Center, we work with many women navigating the intersections of headaches and motherhood. From family planning to pregnancy to the postpartum stage, we’re here to tell you this: it’s absolutely possible to build the family you dream of while managing your migraines.
Let’s walk through each chapter of the motherhood journey and how migraines can influence it—along with empowering ways to move forward.
Family Planning: The Emotional and Physical Roadblocks
The Good News
First and foremost: migraines do not impact your fertility directly. If your migraines are not rooted in an underlying condition, you can take comfort in knowing your ability to conceive remains intact.
The Challenges
However, migraines can still make the road to motherhood feel complicated. Many women report strain on relationships, difficulty with certain fertility treatments (which may aggravate migraines due to hormonal shifts), and concern about the cost of raising children while managing a chronic condition. There’s also the fear—will I be able to care for a child if my migraines are debilitating?
The Encouragement
Instead of letting these concerns stop you, we encourage a mindset shift: approach motherhood with curiosity and a problem-solving lens. Work with healthcare providers to plan ahead, consider medication alternatives, and seek treatments that target the root cause of your migraines, like the non-medication approach we provide at Novera to treat the source of your pain. We’ve seen many women walk through our doors afraid to start a family—and leave feeling confident and empowered to take that step.
Pregnancy: A Mixed Bag of Experiences
Hormonal Relief—for Many
For a significant number of women, pregnancy brings migraine relief. As hormones stabilize, particularly after the first trimester, many patients report fewer or less intense migraines. One woman even shared that she felt her best during pregnancy—and joked her family encouraged her to “just keep having kids” because she was thriving.
But Not for Everyone
Still, pregnancy can be a time of heightened physical stress. Nausea, dehydration, changing postures, and fatigue—especially in the first trimester—can all increase migraine risk. And for some women, pregnancy might bring on headaches for the first time.
What You Can Do
Stay hydrated, maintain steady blood sugar levels, prioritize rest, exercise when you are able and, most importantly, listen to your body. Natural, drug-free treatments—like those offered at Novera—are safe during pregnancy and can help address the root tension causing your pain.
Postpartum and Parenting: The Realities and the Rewards
Let’s be honest—kids are amazing, but they do naturally bring stress that can trigger migraines. From sleepless nights and loud noises to awkward nursing postures and the physical strain of constant caregiving, parenting can challenge your nervous system.
Simple Strategies That Help
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Switch sides when carrying your child to avoid repetitive strain.
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Use a nursing pillow to support your neck and shoulders.
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Squat or kneel instead of bending over at the waist when caring for kids on their level.
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Involve your kids in your self-care—stretch together, take walks, or make physical therapy exercises a game.
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Support your posture with daily habits that reduce tension.
The Long-Term Picture
You’re not just managing your own health—you’re setting your child up for success too. Encouraging breastfeeding (when possible) and addressing issues like tongue ties early on can even help reduce future migraine risks in your child.
Final Thoughts: Migraines Don’t Have to Define Your Motherhood Journey
At every step—from deciding to have kids, to pregnancy, to raising them—we want you to know there are solutions, and you don’t have to do it alone. Treatments that address the root causes of migraines, paired with thoughtful lifestyle adjustments, make it possible not just to survive motherhood, but to truly enjoy it.
So if you’re sitting with fear—wondering if having children is “too much” with migraines—know this: you are stronger than you think, and support is available. We’ve walked this road with many women before you, and we’d be honored to help you do the same.
Ready to take the next step? Book a discovery visit with us (virtually or in person at our Parker or Colorado Springs locations), listen to our migraine specialists chat about this topic, and let’s find your path forward.
