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

Short answer

Treat a new severe headache after giving birth as urgent. Call your maternity triage/postnatal ward/community midwife line now, and call 999 if it’s sudden “worst ever” or comes with vision changes, weakness/numbness, confusion, fainting, seizure, chest pain, or severe breathlessness.

Do not do these things

  • Do not “wait and see” if this headache is new, severe, or rapidly worsening.
  • Do not drive yourself to hospital if the pain is severe, you feel faint, or you have any neurological symptoms (ask someone else, or use 999 if needed).
  • Do not take extra doses of painkillers above the label dose to “push through” symptoms.
  • Do not assume it’s “just tiredness” if you also have blurred vision/flashing lights, swelling, severe nausea/vomiting, or upper abdominal (under-rib) pain.
  • If possible, don’t stay alone caring for the baby if you feel faint, confused, very unwell, or at risk of collapsing. If you are alone, put the baby somewhere safe (cot/Moses basket), sit or lie down, and call for help.

What to do now

  1. Make the urgent contact now (choose the highest urgency that fits):
    • Call 999 if the headache is sudden and extreme (“worst ever”), or you have vision changes, weakness/numbness, slurred speech, confusion, severe drowsiness, collapse, seizure, new severe shortness of breath, or chest pain.
    • Otherwise, call your maternity triage / postnatal ward / labour ward (many provide advice by phone, often 24/7). If you can’t get through quickly, call NHS 111 or go to A&E.
  2. If you have a home blood pressure monitor, take one reading now (seated and resting if you can) and write it down. Do not delay seeking help if you can’t take it.
  3. Say these details clearly (it helps them triage you safely):
    • How long since birth (hours/days/weeks)
    • Sudden onset vs building, and whether it’s getting worse
    • Any vision changes, swelling (face/hands), upper abdominal/under-rib pain, nausea/vomiting, shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, weakness/numbness, speech problems, fever, or neck stiffness
    • Any history of high blood pressure in pregnancy or pre-eclampsia, or current BP medication
    • Whether you had an epidural or spinal, and whether the headache is worse sitting/standing and better lying flat
  4. Make the next hour safer:
    • Ask an adult you trust to be with you and help with the baby.
    • If you feel faint or “not right,” lie on your side and keep your phone in reach.
    • If you’re being assessed in person, take (or photograph) your discharge paperwork, any BP readings, and a list of medicines taken today.
  5. If the headache followed an epidural/spinal and improves when you lie flat: still treat it as urgent. Call your maternity unit and say “possible post-spinal/epidural headache” so they can involve the right team.
  6. If symptoms escalate while you’re waiting/deciding (vision changes, weakness, confusion, severe breathlessness, chest pain, collapse, seizure): call 999 immediately, even if you’ve already called somewhere else.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out the cause right now.
  • You do not need to decide about investigations, complaints, or longer-term plans today.
  • You do not need to keep searching online for reassurance—your priority is getting assessed.
  • You do not need to make feeding decisions right now; mention breastfeeding/pumping/formula when you speak to the clinician.

Important reassurance

A severe new headache after birth is a common-enough reason to contact maternity services urgently, and you will not be wasting anyone’s time. Getting checked promptly is the safer choice because some serious postpartum problems can start with “just a headache.”

Scope note

This is first-steps guidance for the next minutes to hours. After assessment, you may be given a monitoring plan, treatment, and follow-up through maternity services or your GP.

Important note

This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. If you think you or someone else is in immediate danger or you have severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, call 999.

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