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What to do if…
you develop a new severe headache shortly after giving birth

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Treat a new severe headache after giving birth as urgent. Call your maternity triage, postnatal ward, labour ward, or community midwife line now, and call 999 if it came on suddenly and is extremely painful, or if you have vision changes, weakness, numbness, confusion, collapse, seizure, chest pain, or severe breathlessness.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait to see if a new, severe, or rapidly worsening headache settles by itself.
  • Do not drive yourself to hospital if the pain is severe, you feel faint, or you have any neurological symptoms.
  • Do not take extra doses of painkillers above the label dose.
  • Do not assume it is only tiredness if you also have blurred vision, flashing lights, swelling of your face or hands, severe nausea or vomiting, or pain below your ribs.
  • Do not stay alone caring for the baby if you feel faint, confused, very unwell, or at risk of collapsing. Put the baby somewhere safe, such as a cot or Moses basket, then sit or lie down and call for help.

What to do now

  1. Choose the safest urgent contact:
    • Call 999 now if the headache came on suddenly and is extremely painful, or you have vision loss, blurred or double vision, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, confusion, severe drowsiness, collapse, seizure, new severe shortness of breath, or chest pain.
    • If those 999 symptoms are not present, call the maternity triage, postnatal ward, labour ward, or community midwife number you were given when you left hospital.
    • If you cannot get through to maternity services quickly, call NHS 111 for urgent advice or go to A&E.
  2. If you have a home blood pressure monitor, take one reading now while seated and resting if you can, then write it down. Do not delay calling for help if you cannot take it.
  3. Tell the clinician these details clearly:
    • how long it has been since birth, in hours, days, or weeks
    • whether the headache started suddenly or built up, and whether it is getting worse
    • whether you have blurred vision, flashing lights, swelling of your face or hands, pain below your ribs, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, weakness, numbness, speech problems, fever, or neck stiffness
    • whether you had high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, or blood pressure medicine during pregnancy or after birth
    • whether you had an epidural or spinal, and whether the headache is worse sitting or standing and better lying flat
  4. Make the next hour safer:
    • Ask another adult to stay with you and help with the baby.
    • If you feel faint, very unwell, or not right, sit or lie down somewhere safe and keep your phone in reach.
    • If you are going to be assessed in person, take or photograph your discharge paperwork, blood pressure readings, and a list of medicines taken today.
  5. If the headache followed an epidural or spinal and improves when you lie flat, still treat it as urgent. Call your maternity unit and say you may have a headache after an epidural or spinal so they can involve the right team.
  6. If symptoms escalate while you are waiting, call 999 immediately, even if you have already spoken to another service.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out the cause right now.
  • You do not need to decide about investigations, complaints, birth reflections, or longer-term plans today.
  • You do not need to keep searching online for reassurance.
  • You do not need to make feeding decisions right now; just mention breastfeeding, expressing, or formula when you speak to the clinician.

Important reassurance

It is appropriate to ask for urgent help for a new severe headache after birth. Some serious postnatal problems can begin with a headache, and getting checked promptly is the safer choice.

Scope note

This is first-steps guidance for the next minutes to hours. After assessment, later decisions may need help from maternity services, an anaesthetist, your GP, or another specialist.

Important note

This guide is general information only and is not medical or professional advice. If you think you or someone else is in immediate danger, or symptoms are severe or rapidly worsening, call 999.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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