Headaches, like nausea, are a common concern of pregnancy. You may experience headaches frequently or only occasionally while pregnant, but chances are you will experience them. Pregnancy headaches often start and stop suddenly, and come on without warning. They can throb, pound and feel like a rubber band squeezing around your head, or be migraine-like. Some actual migraine sufferers may find that their headaches get more frequent and severe during pregnancy, others find that their migraines become less intense or less frequent while they are pregnant. Some last a few minutes, some occur off and on all day. Researchers believe hormonal changes are the cause of these headaches, but it is likely that the tremendous emotional and physical changes that accompany pregnancy also contribute to headaches. After all, tension headaches often strike during times of stress and change.

Most headaches that come on in the first two trimesters of pregnancy are simply one more unpleasant side effect of being pregnant, and they usually subside or disappear by the end of the second trimester. Severe, persistent headaches (especially those accompanied by blurred vision) during the third trimester may be a sign of high blood pressure and should be reported to your doctor.

Fear of taking headache-relieving medications while pregnant is just another "headache" to live with. Sometimes, though, not being able to take drugs to alleviate pain can work to your advantage, as it forces you to explore other ways of relieving pain. There are many non-drug therapies you can try to prevent and alleviate pregnancy headaches.

Change positions slowly. Any movement that changes blood flow to your brain can cause a headache. Normally when you go from lying to sitting or sitting to standing your pulse and blood pressure quickly adjust to compensate for this change in gravity in order to pump enough blood to your brain. While pregnant your uterus seems to have "first dibs" on the blood supply so that the blood flow to your brain is momentarily reduced. As a result, you may feel dizzy, faint, or have a headache after jumping out of bed in the morning or rising from your easy chair at night. To help your baby-preoccupied cardiovascular system supply adequate blood to your brain, ease into position changes gradually.

Keep your blood sugar steady. Blood sugar drops trigger "hunger headaches" that can be prevented by frequent snacking on steady-energy foods, such as complex carbohydrates. Keep a purse-full of steady-energy snacks.

Search for fresh air. Stuffy, poorly ventilated, overheated, or pollution- filled rooms can cause sinus congestion and headaches. Avoid smoke-filled rooms. If you're attending a gathering in a crowded room, station yourself near a door so you can duck out frequently for some fresh air. In the winter months, when the heat is on, sit near a slightly opened window to counteract the drying effects of central heating. If you work in one of the newer, hermetically sealed office buildings, take your bathroom breaks near the lobby and step outside briefly for some outside air. If you cannot spend that much time on an elevator, consider buying an air ionizer. Many women find negatively charged ions vastly improve the air quality in their offices.

The best way to treat pregnancy headaches is to prevent them in the first place, yet even pregnant women who are calm, eat well, and breathe clean air still get headaches. Many women find that if their headaches are mild enough to be relieved by non-prescription medication, they can also find relief with non- medical, no-drug approaches. Try these easy-on-the-baby and easy-on-the-body self-helps for headaches.

1. A head massage. Lie on a comfortable surface and have your mate or friend massage the site of the pain in a circular motion, firmly enough that the skin moves over the skull. Try various positions, such as lying down with your mate kneeling behind your head or sitting up in a chair with the person massaging you standing above you. If frequent headaches are more than just a nuisance during your pregnancy, consult a massage therapist who is familiar with pressure points for temple and neck massage. Make a consultation appointment where you and your mate can learn how to use these massage techniques yourselves. (While you can try to do a head massage on yourself, it may not work; you can't fully relax if you're doing the work.)

2. A sinus flush. The hormones of pregnancy can increase sinus congestion, which in turn may be aggravated by poorly ventilated, overheated, or stuffy rooms, especially during the winter months. Try a facial steamer, available at beauty supply and department stores. To enjoy your facial steam bath, place the steamer on a table and lean forward, resting on your elbows while you place your face into or near the steam funnel for twenty minutes. Listening to music or a favorite TV show while flushing your sinuses helps the time pass so you won't be tempted to cut it short.

3. A clear mind and closed eyes. As migraine sufferers will tell you, the first line of treatment for headaches is lying down in a dark, quiet room. Try relaxation and visual image techniques that you may have learned in your childbirth class.

If you have exhausted all of the above preventive measures and home remedies, and still find headaches are a problem, consult your doctor about headache medications that are safe to take while pregnant. At this writing, occasional use of acetaminophen does appear to be safe during pregnancy, but continuous use of high doses does not. Popular migraine medications, especially those containing ergot, are not safe to take during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before taking any medications while pregnant. He or she can advise you on which you can take safely and which you can't.