Some women may experience discomfort while taking prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, including headaches. Mild headaches and, in some cases, migraines may be due to prenatal vitamins, but a migraine headache can also be the symptom of a vitamin overdose or a symptom of the pregnancy itself. See your physician if you develop headaches during the course of taking your prenatal vitamins.
Identification
Prenatal vitamins are multivitamins taken by pregnant or lactating women. These vitamins are designed to provide nourishment to both the mother and baby to prevent vitamin deficiencies or deformities during pregnancy. Like regular multivitamins, prenatal vitamins are taken once daily, although the level of certain vitamins and minerals may be higher than those in normal multivitamins.
Migraines
Migraine headaches are characterized by an intense throbbing felt on one side of the head. People may experience sensitivity to light, dizziness and nausea with their migraines, which often come on without warning. Prenatal vitamins can cause headaches as a side effect, but should not cause severe headaches. However, as prenatal vitamins are not regulated by the FDA, studies have not been conducted on why they cause headaches or on what type of headache they cause.
Considerations
If the prenatal vitamins you are taking cause you to develop headaches regularly, speak to your physician about changing the brand. Some prenatal vitamins may carry certain side effects that others do not. If your physician feels that you may not be able to take prenatal vitamins, he may direct you to take a regular multivitamin along with an iron or folic acid supplement. If you experience regular headaches before taking prenatal vitamins, speak to your physician because they may be due to the hormonal changes experienced in pregnancy.
Warnings
If you forget a dose and took more than one at a time, you may develop hypervitaminosis. Hypervitaminosis occurs when you take more than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, D, E or K. Taking too much of these vitamins can cause harm to your unborn child as well as causing you life-threatening effects. If you develop a severe migraine, a tingling feeling around your mouth, loss of appetite, stomach pains, severe back pain, pale skin or easy bruising, contact your physician immediately.
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