Parenting is already a stressful job.
This stress can be significantly compounded by migraine pain.
Migraines make it difficult to balance chores and child-rearing.
But there are a few key things that can help moms manage.
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At-Home Relief
Your first instinct for migraine relief is probably to pop some kind of pain reliever. Excedrin Migraine (Amazon) combines acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. If you prefer a more natural solution, My Brain! (Amazon) uses herbs like feverfew and boswellia for relief.
Taking a magnesium supplement can prevent migraines from occurring over time. Magnesium blocks the signals in the brain that are responsible for producing pain. Many doctors will recommend chronic migraine sufferers take magnesium as a daily supplement. Magnesium citrate, like NOW Magnesium Citrate (Amazon), is easiest to absorb.
Other small ways a mother can manage the pain include taking a hot bath to reduce tension, drinking a lot of water to counteract dehydration, and finding quiet, dark places to take a much-needed rest.
Prepare Yourself
If you’re prone to migraines, it’s always best to plan ahead.
Make sure you have a bag packed with migraine-fighting essentials every time you leave the house. Include your medications, bottles of water, and sunglasses in this bag just in case you happen to develop a migraine while out running errands. Make sure you have an exit plan or someone you can call to pick you up if you can no longer drive.
Prepare Your Kids
The most helpful thing you can do for yourself is to prepare your kids in advance by encouraging independence. If your kids can take care of themselves, even for a short time, it’ll be much easier to focus on your own health. If you must keep the children entertained, try to find quiet activities that don’t rely too heavily on parent involvement, such as coloring or puzzles.
Take Time for Yourself
Suffering from chronic migraines on top of all the responsibilities of parenting can cause mood-swings and depression so it’s essential for mothers to reduce stress in their lives as much as possible. Insist on taking time for yourself and practicing self-care every single day. Something as simple as a cup of tea and fifteen minutes alone can help enormously.
Get Help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Every mother needs a support system, some mothers more than others.
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Ask friends or family to be on-call to takeover shuttling the kids to and from school, just in case. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the same friends and family for help in your daily life too. If you need someone to watch the kids so you can go somewhere quiet and rest, ask! If you need help with dinner or laundry or any other chore, call them up. You might be pleasantly surprised by the results.
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