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Postpartum Headaches:
- Occurs in up to 40% of woman during the first week after delivery.
- Though thoughts of Sheehan's syndrome (pituitary infarction), and SAH might come to mind the most common causes are due to migranes and tension headcaches.
- About 5% are spinal (postdural) headaches due to a persistant CSF leak from spinal anesthesia or a complication of their epidural catheters.
- Rare causes include embolic stroke, carotid and vertebral artery dissections, SAH, Central Venous Sinus Thrombosis and Sheehan syndrome.
- Most headaches can be treated the same as any other person.
- Make sure you inquire about breast feeding and ensure the medications you are giving will not be excreted into the breast milk.
- If your patient has signs of hypopituitarism an MRI scan will be needed to make the diagnosis of Sheehan syndrome.