Pregnancy is the time where the woman’s body is at its peak of vulnerability, a pregnant woman will experience different kinds of discomfort that is relatively normal during that pregnancy assessments as it prepares the woman’s body for child labor and to also make sure that the baby is growing and developing at a healthy rate.
From nausea, headaches to pelvic and joint pain, there are a number of reasons why pregnancy should be considered delicate to the mother and the child.
Another condition that can be experienced by pregnant moms is the feeling of having numb fingers, numb fingers during pregnancy is pretty common and in this article, we will give every necessary information on the numbness of the fingers during pregnancy is.
What do you call the numbness in my fingers?
Carpal tunnel syndrome or CTS is a common condition during pregnancy wherein the woman experiences tingling sensations along with pain and numbness in her hands and arms.
Carpal tunnel syndrome or numbness of fingers is usually caused by the build-up of fluid called edema in the tissues inside the hand area, in turn, the build-up of fluid causes swelling which can make the hands in a state of numbness or tingling that may result to a weaker grip.
What are the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Although pregnancy is the number one factor that triggers Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it is possible for some pregnant women to experience it more than others and it can be due to your family’s genetic history or if you have neck and back problems before you were pregnant.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can also happen more likely to pregnant women who have significantly gained weight during their pregnancy period especially during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
A woman who has signed increased weight may be having twins or multiple children, although it is also a factor to consider if you are obese or overweight even before getting pregnant.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can also happen in people suffering from obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and other similar medical conditions to the conditions mentioned
What are the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include numbness, tingling, and burning, or sometimes itching in the palm of your hand and thumb, index and middle fingers.
Feeling like you have lost your fingers, losing your handgrip strength and sometimes in extreme cases very painful muscle cramps. In most severe cases, the loss of nerve function may require medical attention and supervision as it may unmanaged CTS may result in permanent nerve damage.
Are there complications that are associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
CTS is not a serious life-threatening condition and it does no harm to the baby’s growth and development, although it is generally unpleasant and uncomfortable experience to bear, the pain will just usually last for 2-3 months and it will subside after the labor, expect for it to be gone as soon as your fluctuating hormonal levels return to their normal state.
What is the diagnosis of carpal Tunnel Syndrome
There will be physical assessments and test to determine if you are really suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, some of the physical assessments that would include would be the doctor asking you to move your fingers individually, they may also ask you to tap your palm side located in your wrist of flex and stretch your wrist wistfully arms fully extended.
guide with the physical assessments, the medical physicians may also conduct another test called EMG-NCV which measures the nerve function
What are preventive measures of minimizing the pain of experiencing CTS?
There are no direct preventive measures to directly inhibit the pain and numbness unless you take any over the counter medicine which you should take with the doctor’s approval.
One of the most key aspects of having a healthy pregnancy is making sure that you are eating a healthy and nutrient-dense diet that keeps your body at an optimal rate, studies suggest that a healthy and balanced diet high in B-vitamins especially vitamin B6 and folate can help in promoting a good nerve transmission.
Try incorporating these B6 foods in your diet:
- Avocados
- Eggs
- Lean and low-fat meat
- Fortified milk
- Dark leafy greens
- Nuts and legumes
- Garlic
- Spirulina
If you aren’t keen on incorporating these foods into your diet, you can always consider taking your prenatal vitamins or a Vitamin B6 supplement alone, although it is necessary for you to consult the doctor first to take any precautions from taking supplements.
Always try your best to eat as healthy as possible, eating high amounts of fruits and vegetables will make the baby’s growth and development at an optimal rate and it also ensures that your body will be less likely to acquire any of the pregnancy conditions such as CTS.
Read also: Understanding nighttime nausea
It is also advisable for you to take some therapies that can target the pain in your body, you can take hydrotherapy sessions to ease the pain and soothe the ligaments of your muscles, you can also try acupuncture or massaging the specific parts where there is a pain.
It is also advised for you to ask your midwife for hand splints to be worn at night to stop your hands from curling and creating a painful grip.
If none of these things work for you, you can always visit the doctor to help take some Over the counter medicine that is safe to take.
Read also:
- All You Need To Know About Ear Popping During Pregnancy
- Surprising Facts About Facial Hair Growth During Pregnancy
- Having an Upset Stomach During Pregnancy: is it Something to Worry About?
