Do you sometimes find yourself locking your door, huddled on the bed in complete darkness, battling mind-numbing pain and nausea – If this describes you then learn these 7 Things for Moms with Migraines to Know.
It sounds like you might get migraines.
But how do you explain your migraines to your children?
And how do you balance being a mom with a chronic illness?
Here are seven helpful ways for you to manage your migraines and family.
Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash
Table of Contents
Migraines Causes
The scientific community doesn’t yet fully understand the cause of migraines.
However, research suggests that genetics and environmental factors contribute to migraine headaches.
Common migraine triggers include:
- Hormonal changes before a period.
- Alcohol or caffeinated beverages.
- Too little or too much sleep.
- Sensory stimuli like bright lights or strong fragrances.
- Weather patterns or changes.
- Certain foods like processed meats or cheeses.
- Physical factors like intense exercise or sexual activity.
Your migraines could be made worse if you grind or clench your teeth during the night or day.
This tension puts excess stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and can be a further factor leading to migraines.
Migraine Symptoms
Women are three times more likely to get migraines than men.
Additionally, migraines typically begin in adolescence and peak during one’s 30s.
If you believe you’re getting a migraine, watch for these common symptoms:
- A headache that’s throbbing and pulsing on one side of your head.
- The pain will likely get worse with activity, sensory stimuli and will last for at least four hours to a few days.
- You may experience an aura that includes flashing lights or blind spots in your vision. This vision change can act as a warning sign that a migraine is approaching.
If you have any of these symptoms, but your doctor hasn’t yet diagnosed them as migraines, reach out to your primary care physician for further care.
Help Your Child Understand Your Migraines
Your child will notice when you’re not feeling well and need to take a break because of a migraine.
Explain to them why you need to be in a dark room or why they need to keep the TV volume low.
You can put it in terms your child will understand – make sure you convey you love them even if you can’t interact like you usually would.
Your child will learn to develop compassion and empathy.
Understand Your Limits
It’s okay that you have migraines.
Sometimes you’ll need to take a step back and not parent the way you’ll want to.
This can be a difficult reality to accept.
However, it’s a crucial truth for a mom with migraines to realize.
Give yourself a break and learn to embrace your new normal.
You can still be an amazing mother and need to care for yourself during a migraine attack.
Build a Migraine Toolkit
To make your life easier, ensure you have a kit of essentials on hand to help you fight back against a migraine.
Consider including the following:
- Ice pack
- Earplugs
- Eye mask
- Essential oils
- OTC medications
- Prescribed rescue medications
- Water
Store your kit in an easy-to-access area so you can grab it on the go.
Identify a Healthy Balance
Even if you didn’t have debilitating migraines, it’s essential to recognize you still couldn’t do it all.
As you live with migraines, you need to identify a healthy balance every day.
Try not to overwhelm or push yourself, as stress and physical exhaustion are common migraine triggers.
Make a schedule and isolate a few tasks to tackle as you prepare for your day.
Remember–you don’t need to do it all.
Reach out to your partner for help or your support network to lend a hand.
Prepare Meals in Advance
Making a weekly schedule with a few simple healthy meals will help take the pressure off.
Aim for recipes that make large portions so you can bank on leftovers.
If your kids don’t like leftovers freeze the extra food and use it next month.
Try simplifying food prep by using a crockpot.
Slow cooker recipes are an excellent solution for migraine days – start your food in the crockpot in the morning, and everything will be ready to eat by dinnertime.
As your kids get older, they can be more helpful in the kitchen, offering a hand to you or your partner on your more trying migraine days.
Use Delivery Services
Is there anything worse than shopping under the harsh glow of fluorescent lights when you have a migraine attack?
No, didn’t think so.
To avoid the chance of this ever happening again, do your shopping online and have your groceries delivered, or have them loaded directly in your car when your partner picks them up at the store.
Consider a subscription service if you know you have specific goods your family routinely uses, like diapers, wipes or formula.
Subscription services for essential goods save you money because you buy in bulk.
They also ensure you never run out of a necessary item.
Delegate Chores
A great way to make your life with migraines easier is to teach your children how to complete basic chores around the house and maintain and clean their rooms.
Another perk of sharing the burden of household duties is it teaches your children social responsibility at an early age and valuable skills like making a bed, keeping a space tidy or putting away their laundry.
Your child will take pride in keeping their space clean and contributing to the family chore list.
They’ll also like to see they’re helping you.
Get Support for Your Migraines
There’s no doubt, managing a family and migraines can be a challenge, but it’s possible!
Talk with your doctor to get additional help with your symptoms and communicate with your family to support your illness and remember these 7 Things for Moms with Migraines to Know.
