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1. Apply a few drops of lavender oil, peppermint oil, or Tiger Balm to the temples; these have been shown to safely, and effec vely reduce headaches. 2. Many headaches are a result of neck and shoulder tension, so don't overlook the value of massage, a gentle osteopathic manipula on, or craniosacral therapy for headache preven on and relief. 3. Magnesium can help reduce a tension headache; take 400 – 800 mg/day of magnesium glycinate, or if cons pa on is also a problem, magnesium citrate in the same dosage. 4. Take 2 ginger capsules once or twice daily if you feel a headache coming on; it is a natural an -inflammatory herb that is considered safe in pregnancy. 5. Take a hot bath with 2 cups of Epsom salts, and 5-7 drops of lavender essen al oil – the combina on of magnesium in the Epsom salts, the aromatherapy from lavender, and hot water is deeply relaxing and can help relieve a headache. Addi onally, there are several herbs that are generally considered safe for use in pregnancy, including chamomile and lavender as teas or nctures for mild headaches, and cramp bark (use ncture, 1/2 tsp every 4 hours), which I use in combina on for more moderate headaches. For a really, painful, hard to get rid of headache, I have used Jamaican dogwood (15-20 drops, every 4 hours, up to 4 doses, and not for more than one day, on occasion). Though it is o en contraindicated in pregnancy, this is really, due to lack of studies, and in this small amount, used infrequently, may be a reasonable alterna ve to acetaminophen. I also combine it with cramp bark. If you have a sudden onset of a headache, a more severe headache than usual, any visual changes or upper abdominal pain with your headache, or if you have a history of high blood pressure, please see your midwife or physician promptly as these can be signs of more serious illness, like pregnancy induced hypertension or preeclampsia. If you have frequent headaches, ge ng to the root cause by making sure you are ge ng enough sleep, reducing excessive inflamma on with dietary and lifestyle changes, and making sure you are ge ng all your nutrients, including essen al fa y acids and protein, is key to op mal wellness and the best thing you can do for you and baby. You might also want to consider working with a func onal medicine, integra ve medicine, or naturopathic physician skilled in pregnancy care. Abby's Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 5| Page 57