What causes headaches after cesarean section?

We all know that when women are giving birth, if some indicators are not met, they have to undergo a caesarean section. Caesarean section is also an operation, so after a caesarean section, a woman’s body will become extremely weak and the body will experience a series of postoperative phenomena. Some women will feel a headache after a caesarean section. What’s going on? Below I will introduce to you

What causes headaches after cesarean section?

1. Hormonal changes. During pregnancy, a woman's hormone levels increase dramatically, but drop sharply after delivery. This roller coaster-like change makes it difficult for new mothers to adapt and causes headaches.

2. Surgery. If a new mother chooses to have a cesarean section, she will need regional (i.e. half-body) anesthesia, in which anesthetic drugs are injected into the body through a spinal needle. If the dura mater is ruptured during pregnancy and cerebrospinal fluid leaks out, it will cause headaches. This phenomenon is more likely to occur in young new mothers. Generally speaking, the more severe the cerebrospinal fluid leakage and the larger the puncture hole, the more severe the headache. However, postpartum headaches caused by this reason are not common.

3. Blood deficiency. Blood is the material basis of human life activities and provides nutrition to organs and tissues throughout the body. New mothers will bleed heavily during childbirth, which can easily lead to insufficient qi and blood. If the brain does not receive sufficient blood supply, it will cause headaches, accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, sallow complexion, palpitations, and insomnia.

4. Blood stasis. After giving birth, new mothers cannot discharge blood stasis normally due to the retention of lochia, which in turn blocks the blood flow to the brain's veins. This poor blood flow can cause headaches. If this is the reason, the new mother will have a splitting or stabbing headache, and may also have abdominal pain in the lower abdomen.