Headaches & Migraines
Specialised pregnancy massage and myotherapy for headaches and migraines — addressing tension, posture, and the physical demands of pregnancy.
At Birthing Body AU, we provide pregnancy massage and women’s health myotherapy designed to relieve headaches and migraines during pregnancy — reducing muscle tension, addressing postural strain, and supporting your body through every trimester.
Located in Plenty and supporting women across South Morang, Diamond Creek, Doreen, Greensborough, Eltham, and surrounding areas, every session is tailored to your stage of pregnancy, symptoms, movement patterns, and individual needs.
Headaches and migraines can develop or worsen during pregnancy due to hormonal shifts, postural changes, sleep disruption, dehydration, neck and shoulder tension, and the increasing physical demands on the body. Treatment is designed to address the muscular and postural factors contributing to your symptoms, helping you feel more comfortable and supported.
Whether you are experiencing pelvic girdle pain, lower back pain, hip pain, round ligament pain, rib discomfort, sciatica, neck and shoulder tension, or general pregnancy-related aches and stiffness, treatment is designed to address the muscular and movement-related factors contributing to your symptoms while helping you feel more comfortable and supported throughout pregnancy.
Headaches & Migraines Treatment Plenty, Diamond Creek, South Morang, Eltham, Greensborough & Doreen
What Are Pregnancy Headaches & Migraines?
Headaches and migraines are among the most common complaints during pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuations, increased blood volume, postural changes, muscle tension, poor sleep, dehydration, and stress can all contribute to more frequent or intense head pain during pregnancy.
For some women, migraines that existed before pregnancy may change in frequency or severity during different trimesters. For others, tension headaches develop as the body adapts to the physical and hormonal demands of growing a baby.
While headaches are rarely a cause for concern on their own, persistent or severe head pain during pregnancy always warrants a conversation with your healthcare provider to rule out conditions such as pre-eclampsia.
Pregnancy headaches may feel like:
A dull, aching pressure across the forehead or temples
Throbbing or pulsing pain on one or both sides of the head
Tightness or tension extending through the neck and shoulders
Pain at the base of the skull or top of the neck
Visual disturbances before or during a migraine (aura)
Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
Nausea accompanying head pain
Tension headaches worsening toward the end of the day
Headaches triggered by certain positions or prolonged sitting
Reduced tolerance for screens, bright light, or noise
Types of Pregnancy Headaches & Migraines
-
Tension Headaches
The most common type during pregnancy. Characterised by a steady ache or pressure around the head, often linked to neck and shoulder muscle tension, postural strain, stress, or fatigue
-
Hormonal Migraines
Fluctuating oestrogen levels, particularly during the first trimester, can trigger or intensify migraines. Some women find relief as hormones stabilise; others experience increased frequency.
-
Cervicogenic Headaches
Headaches originating from the neck and upper cervical spine. Postural changes during pregnancy, breast growth, and altered movement can increase tension in these structures, referring pain into the head.
-
Dehydration Headaches
Increased fluid demands during pregnancy mean that even mild dehydration can trigger headaches. These often present as a dull, diffuse ache that improves with adequate hydration and rest.
-
Sleep-Related Headaches
Sleep disruption, difficulty finding a comfortable position, and increased muscle tension from poor sleep quality can all contribute to morning or overnight headaches as pregnancy progresses.
-
Postural & Sinus Headaches
Changes in circulation, increased nasal congestion, and postural adaptations can cause pressure and pain around the sinus areas, particularly through the forehead, cheeks, and bridge of the nose.
-
Stress & Fatigue Headaches
The physical and emotional demands of pregnancy, combined with reduced sleep and increased mental load, can contribute to tension and fatigue-related head pain throughout the day.
-
Upper Back & Neck
Muscle tightness through the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and suboccipital muscles can refer pain directly into the head. Addressing these areas is often key to longer-lasting headache relief.
How Myotherapy & Massage Can Help Headaches & Migraines
Myotherapy and pregnancy massage can help relieve pregnancy-related headaches and migraines by reducing muscular tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back — areas that commonly contribute to head pain during pregnancy.
Headaches during pregnancy are often influenced by postural changes, hormonal shifts, altered sleep, dehydration, upper-body muscle overload, and the physical demands placed on the cervical spine as the body adapts. Treatment focuses on addressing these contributing factors while supporting your overall comfort.
At Birthing Body AU, sessions are tailored to your symptoms, stage of pregnancy, lifestyle, and movement patterns. Depending on your needs, treatment may help:
Reduce muscular tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back
Relieve trigger points that refer pain into the head
Improve posture and reduce postural load on the cervical spine
Support better sleep quality and reduce tension-related fatigue
Ease suboccipital tightness contributing to headache onset
Improve circulation and promote relaxation of the nervous system
Reduce the frequency and intensity of tension headaches
Support migraine management alongside medical care
Improve comfort during daily activities, screen time, and feeding preparation
Help you feel more relaxed, restored, and supported in your pregnancy
Treatment may include a combination of:
Trigger point therapy
Soft tissue release
Dry needling (where appropriate)
Cupping
Myofascial release
Joint mobilisation
Pain education
Mobility and stretching techniques
Whether you're experiencing tension headaches, cervicogenic pain, hormonal migraines, or sleep-related head pain, treatment is designed to support better mobility, reduce discomfort, and help you feel more comfortable throughout your pregnancy.
About Birthing Body AU
Welcome to Birthing Body, we support women through every stage of motherhood and beyond — from pregnancy to postpartum and throughout womanhood.
With a focus on compassionate, evidence-based myotherapy, each session is designed to restore balance, relieve tension, and empower women to understand and connect with their bodies.
Rooted in warmth, education, and care, Birthing Body is a space where women feel supported, seen, and strong.
Hannah Lynch
Myotherapist & Founder
Hi, I’m Hannah — a women’s health Myotherapist, remedial massage therapist, mum of two, and the founder of Birthing Body AU. I’m deeply passionate about supporting women through Pregnancy Massage, Pregnancy Myotherapy, birth preparation, C-Section Scar Therapy, postpartum recovery, and women’s health care at every stage of life.
My own journey into motherhood changed everything. It gave me a much deeper understanding of how much women carry physically, mentally, and emotionally — especially while navigating pregnancy, recovery, parenting, work, and the ongoing demands of everyday life. I experienced firsthand how often women are expected to simply “push through” discomfort, tension, exhaustion, Back Pain, Pelvic Girdle Pain, and the constant changes happening within their bodies.
But I believe you deserve more than just coping.
That’s why my work is centred on creating a calm, supportive space where you feel heard, cared for, and understood. Whether you’re seeking support for Pregnancy Pelvic Pain, Sciatica Pain, muscle tension, postural strain, birth recovery, or general movement and wellbeing, every treatment is tailored to your body, your symptoms, and what you need support with on the day.
Using a combination of myotherapy, remedial massage, soft tissue therapy, pregnancy massage, and movement-focused care, my goal is to help reduce pain, improve movement, and support you in feeling more comfortable and connected to your body again.
At Birthing Body AU, care is about more than simply treating symptoms — it’s about supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum, recovery, movement, and everyday life with a gentle, evidence-informed, and holistic approach.
What Sets Birthing Body Apart
At Birthing Body, you’re not just another appointment — you’re a woman moving through one of the most transformative seasons of your life. Our care is grounded in understanding, connection, and truly listening to what your body needs, so you feel supported every step of the way.
Personalised Care That Adapts to You
Every session is shaped around how you’re feeling on the day — your body, your baby, and your experience always come first.
Truly Women-Centred Support
With a deep focus on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, you’re supported by someone who understands the physical and emotional changes of motherhood.
Comfort, Safety & Space to Exhale
From the way you’re positioned to the pace of treatment, everything is designed to help you feel safe, held, and able to fully relax.
Support Beyond the Treatment Room
You’ll leave with simple, practical guidance to help you feel more comfortable, confident, and connected to your body between sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Headaches
-
Headaches commonly increase during pregnancy due to hormonal fluctuations, changes in blood volume and circulation, increased muscle tension through the neck and upper back from postural adaptations, sleep disruption, dehydration, and the overall physical and emotional demands of pregnancy. Each woman's experience is different, and the contributing factors can shift across trimesters.
-
Pregnancy massage is generally considered safe for most women when performed by a qualified practitioner experienced in pregnancy care. Treatment is adapted to your stage of pregnancy, comfort levels, and individual circumstances. If you have a high-risk pregnancy or any specific concerns, always discuss treatment with your healthcare provider first.
-
Myotherapy can address contributing factors such as neck and shoulder muscle tension, postural strain, and trigger points that refer pain into the head. While myotherapy does not treat migraines medically, many women find that reducing these muscular contributors helps decrease the frequency or intensity of tension-related and cervicogenic headaches, and may support migraine management alongside advice from their healthcare provider.
-
You should seek urgent medical advice if you experience a sudden severe headache unlike any you've had before, headaches accompanied by visual disturbances, swelling, high blood pressure, abdominal pain, or headaches that do not resolve. These may be signs of pre-eclampsia or other conditions that require immediate medical attention. Pregnancy massage and myotherapy complement, but do not replace, medical care.
-
No referral is required to book myotherapy or massage treatment at Birthing Body AU.
-
The ideal frequency depends on the type and severity of your headaches, your stage of pregnancy, lifestyle factors, and your individual goals. Some women benefit from regular sessions throughout pregnancy, while others find occasional treatment helpful during periods of increased tension or stress. Your practitioner will discuss a plan tailored to your needs.
-
Yes. Reducing muscular tension, improving overall comfort, and supporting relaxation through massage can have a positive effect on sleep quality during pregnancy. Your practitioner can also offer positioning and stretching advice to help reduce overnight tension that may be contributing to morning headaches.
-
Yes. Muscle tension through the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and suboccipital muscles can directly refer pain into the head and are a common contributor to pregnancy-related headaches. Postural changes during pregnancy, breast growth, altered sleeping positions, and increased physical load can all contribute to upper body tension that presents as head pain.
Book An Appointment
Booking Notice
Women’s health myotherapy sessions are designed for women who are not currently pregnant or in the early postpartum period. If you are pregnant or have recently given birth, please book a pregnancy or postpartum-specific appointment, as these treatments are tailored to safely support your body during those stages.
If you’re unsure which option is right for you, feel free to get in touch — we’re here to help guide you.