Why am I having tingling and numbness in my hands during pregnancy?
These sensations are most likely caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. Although you probably associate this condition with people whose jobs require repetitive hand movements (such as data processors, computer programmers, and assembly-line workers), it's also more prevalent in pregnant women.
Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, pain, or a dull ache in the fingers, hand, or wrist. These symptoms tend to come and go and are often worse at night. Occasionally, the discomfort may even extend to the forearm and upper arm. In severe or chronic cases, your hand may feel clumsy or weak.
Symptoms usually affect both hands and can appear at any time, but they're more likely to begin or worsen in the second half of pregnancy when women tend to retain more fluid. The symptoms usually go away gradually after you give birth, as the swelling from pregnancy subsides.
What causes carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy?
The carpal tunnel is a bony canal formed by the wrist bones on three sides and a ligament that runs across the wrist on the other. The fluid retention and swelling that's so common during pregnancy can increase the pressure in this relatively narrow and inflexible space, compressing the median nerve that runs through it.
The median nerve gives sensation to the thumb and the index, middle, and half of the ring finger and is responsible for movement of a muscle at the base of the thumb. Pressure on this nerve causes the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
What can I do to relieve the pain?
Try to figure out what activities tend to cause or aggravate the problem for you, and avoid those activities as much as you can. Sometimes you can make changes to protect your hands. For example, if you're working at a computer, adjust the height of your chair so your wrists aren't bent downward as you type. See if using a wrist or hand brace or an ergonomic keyboard lessens your symptoms. And be sure to take short breaks to move your arms and stretch your hands.
If your symptoms bother you at night, try stabilizing your wrist in a neutral position (not bent) with a splint or brace. A neutral position allows the carpal tunnel to be slightly wider. Avoid sleeping on your hands. Shift your sleeping position and try propping up your arm with a pillow or two when you feel the twinges. If you wake up with pain, try shaking your hands until the pain or numbness goes away.
Practicing yoga can increase hand strength and may help relieve your symptoms.