Headache in Pregnancy

Headache Description

When did the headache start?

What are the pain characteristics of the headache?

What is the severity of the headache, from a scale of 0 to 10 (0=no pain, 10= worst pain of life)

How quickly to peak headache intensity?

What is the location of the headache?

Headache Frequency and Duration

How many days per week does the patient experience any form of headache? Headache duration?

How many days per week does the patient have a very severe headache? Headache duration?

If the headache is daily, how long has it been this way? (new daily persistent headache)

In the past 3 months has the patient missed days of work or other activities due to a severe headache?

In the past 3 months has the patient required visits to urgent care/ED for acute treatment? If so, what medications were most effective?

Pattern or precipitants identified?

Are there aggravating factors?

Are there relieving factors?

Features Associated with Common Benign Headaches

Headache History

Prior diagnosis of primary headache (migraine, tension, cluster, etc.)

If history of primary headache, how well controlled was headache prior to pregnancy? What was treatment regimen with regard to OTC and prescribed abortive/preventative agents?

Treatments

Acute Interventions tried (per American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist recommendations for use during pregnancy)

Non-pharmacologic interventions tried (biofeedback, acupuncture, massage, compresses)

Headache in Pregnancy

Headache Description

Headache Frequency and Duration

Features Associated with Common Benign Headaches

Headache History

Treatments

Screen for Secondary Headaches

Additional Screening Questions

Imaging