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.
