Raise your hand Mamma, especially a new mom, if you are holding your baby in arms, maybe breastfeeding and scrolling through your smartphone. If you do, have you experienced any pain in the wrist or a twitch in the thumb?
Are you feeling any numbness, tingling pain in thumb, wrist or arm? Consult a doctor before ignoring it.
My story:
Like any other new mom, I used to spend a lot of time holding my Penguin. We had sailed fairly through numerous episodes of marathon feeds. Feed-pee-poop-feed cycles were our day. In between all these daily sagas, two weeks after my baby was born I noticed a pain in my left wrist while breastfeeding. It was not severe neither for too long, only a few seconds. And I did the mistake of ignoring those few painful seconds. It took me a few days to realize that something was wrong with my wrist. Every time I would pick the baby up, or position to breastfeed or adjust his head in breastfeeding position for a good latch, it hurt. I would feel a sharp pain starting from the base of the thumb to arms. I was diagnosed with, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome of a new mother. A.K.A the Mommy Thumb.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can sometimes appear during pregnancy or postpartum. It is a condition brought on by increased pressure on the median nerve at the wrist. In effect, it is a pinched nerve at the wrist. Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, and pain in the arm, hand, and fingers. There is a space in the wrist called the carpal tunnel where the median nerve and nine tendons pass from the forearm into the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when pressure builds up from swelling in this tunnel and puts pressure on the nerve. When the pressure from the swelling becomes great enough to disturb the way the nerve works, numbness, tingling, and pain may be felt in the hand and fingers. (Source)
When I got aware of the reason behind my painful condition, initially I was worried. But the proper treatment, exercise, and conscious wrist position bailed me out.
Recovery
I met an orthopedic who suggested medication and physiotherapy. Hereby I am sharing a few tips and tricks which helped me out.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects. While lifting the baby, try to minimize the use of the thumb.
- Wear thumb splints. I used to wear them all the time except sleeping or unavoidable instances.
- I used to take ice massage in the painful area. Avoid taking warm compress, it enhances to pain. Learned from the mistake.
- Try a different breastfeeding position or use feeding pillows if needed. The aim is to reduce pressure on the thumb.
- Get help. Moms often tend to multitask while they do suffer from pain similar to this. Ask for help or hire help till you get better.
Exercise
- Shake it out.
Shaking up hands are good warm-ups as well as gives quick relief.
- Fist it
Another warm-up is to make a fist and release it.
Extend both the arms in front and make a fist.
Hold it for 15 – 30 seconds and release it. Repeat 5 – 10 times.
- Wrist rotation
This is a basic one. Extend both arms in your front and make fists.
Now you need to rotate both wrists clockwise and anti-clockwise without straining the nerves few rounds.
- Stretch Armstrong
Extend one arm in front of you with your palm facing down.
Point your hand at the floor by bending your wrists.
Avoid turning your arm.
Apply pressure gently with your other hand until you feel a moderate stretch.
Hold this position for 30 seconds.
Then switch hand and repeat.
- Thumb touch
Touch the tip of each finger to tip of thumb making an O- shape.
Repeat a few rounds.
Few mothers might get a similar pain later when the baby has grown heavier and bigger. Medically it’s known as De Quervain’s syndrome, A.K.A “The Mommy Thumb”.
Though this syndrome is called the Mommy Thumb, it might occur to anyone who uses smartphones frequently.
Were you aware of the “Mummy Thumb?” Do share your story in the comment below.
Disclaimer: I am not a physiotherapist or doctor. Here, I am sharing my experience and in no matter, it can be taken as a piece of medical advice.
Take care dear! an informative post! #Viddhreads #Myfriendalexa
Thanks for reading.
I got it too a little after my bub turned one yo. Mine was on the milder side and didn;t need a splinter as such, Thankfully I read and did the postural corrections and some exercises. So far so good! #surreads #myfriendalexa #blogchatter
Stay healthy Surbhi. Thanks for reading.
A detailed informative post on Carpal tunnel syndrome Pragnya! It’s very common that Mommies ignore these small things, which can impact their health badly at a later stage. Useful tips to be shared.
Glad you found this useful.
Never knew about the Mommy Thumb! Thanks for sharing indepth and first hand information about it.
Thanks for stopping by,
Informative post for new moms!
Thanks for stopping by,
I think i experience something very similar and choose to ignore.. thanks for sharing this, I need to get it checked soon
Take care Anisha! Thanks for reading.
I’m sure this will be helpful for many parents. Hope it’s all good now 🙂
Thanks for reading!
I was not aware of this syndrome. Thankfully, didn’t face anything like that during my pregnancy or new mommy days. However, this is a must read post for everyone.
Thanks for reading!
I have never heard of the condition called mommy thumb. Informative post for new moms to be careful.
Thanks for reading!
Great Work dear.. Very useful information for every mums…
Thank you for reading!
You have compiled an informative bulletin for all the moms out there. Great work.
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for letting me know about this. I knew this would occur duee to prolonged usage of mobile.
S
#sindhureads #myfriendalexa
Thanks for reading.
I had this. And that resulted in shoulder bursitis. Very painful experience. After lots of physiotherapy and exercising, Im better.
I know about shoulder bursitis, it is extremely painful. Hope you recovered well. Thanks for reading.
even i am facing this pain this will be useful for tysm for sharing…
#simireads
#MyFriendAlexa
Hope you recover well. Do check with your doctor.Thanks for reading!
This is the first time I am hearing about this condition called ‘Mommy’s Thumb’, though I have seen frequent computer users experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome. Thank you for this post.
#DeepTiesReads #MyFriendAlexa
Things that few new mom goes through. Thanks for reading!
One of my relative suffered with Carpel Tunnel syndrome. Till then i too didnt know about this.Very informative post for new moms.
Thank you for reading!
I am a mother of two but luckily didn’t face this problem. I had heard about Carpal tunnel syndrome. thanks for sharing in detail.
Thank you for reading!
Think I’m inches away from this. Thanks for reminding me to get it checked!
Please do consult with your doctor soon.
This is so informative post much needed to be aware off
Thank you for reading!
Nicely written, should be helpful to those who suffer from this problem.
Thanks for reading!
Very helpful post for the new moms.
Thank you for reading!
Reading through your post I realized that I have been facing something similar since a week, I am already doing the exercises you have recommended until I see a specialist
Take care Pradnya. Consult a doctor soon.
I’m a 35 year mummy and 5 year old granny with three grandchildren but have never experienced this pain. I did have a frozen shoulder when my little girl was little but that was it. And my little one was quite a heavy weight too…..
Thank you for reading!
I myself faced this pain during pregnancy. Though it wasn’t severe and didn’t require a treatment. Thankfully it subsided post delivery.
Glad you escaped it. Thank you for reading!
Thanks for writing in detail about this syndrome. Will be mindful if it strikes any of family n friend. The exercises u have mentioned are simple n doable.
Thanks for reading!
I didn’t know about such a thing called mommy thumb. This post will help to spread awareness about it.
https://www.rohankachalia.com/2018/09/payback-part-1/
Thank you for reading!
Great information shared by you. I had Tennis Elbow and physiotherapy was the answer!
Tennis elbow is painful too. Ouch! Thank you for reading!
I’m not a mommy but my sis-in-law gave birth recently and going through all sorts of physical-and-mental exhaustion. Thanks for this informative article. Would show her. She might find some help here.
Hope this helps your s-i-l. Motherhood in early days is exhausting. Hope she recovers well.
Thank you 🙂
I didn’t know about the mommythumb. An informative post.
Thank you for reading!
Very informtaive post and realatable too. I had exeperienced this three years back so can relate to it very much. The pain is intolerable at times, thankfully I feel much better now. #vartikasdiaryreading #myfriendalexa
Hope you never suffer from that pain again. Thank you for reading!
Thanks dear, I hope and pray so too for you and me both. I remember my situation when I relocated to another country in such a bad state and managed things on my own. I dread it now. #vartikasdiaryreading #myfriendalexa
This is really an informative post. Physiotherapy is best remedy. I can understand the kind of pain you are experiencing
Ms Arora #msarorasays
Thankfully I recovered well. But there is sheer lack of awareness about this. Thank you for your kind words.
Luckily I didn’t get Mommythumb when I was a new Mom. BUT I recently had a bout of carpal tunnel syndrome and boy! is it painful. The exercises you have recommended are spot on.
Thank you. Hope it helps more people with this or similar condition
Didn’t know about mommy thumb! Glad to have stumbled upon this on your blog. Hope new mothers take care of themselves and avoid this syndrome.
I hope this helps to many new moms. Thank you for your kind words.
I had this pain too when my baby was a couple of weeks old. It was doubly scary for me because I had already had a wrist injury and surgery a few years before pregnancy. Thankfully by wearing a splint, applying a pain reliever and doing some rotations, the pain subsided on its own. Your tips will surely help a lot of new moms
Pleased to know that you recovered well Mahek. Thanks for reading!
Informative post for New moms especially first timers. Thanks for sharing.
#mannreads
Thanks for reading!
Had surely heard about this syndrome but then just learned the seriousness of it. I am sure the post would be very helpful for many others.
Thanks for reading!
Such pains are ignored because new Moms have many things to do. A useful post to guide new Moms regarding Carpal Tunnel disorder.
Agree a new mom barely survive those sleeping patterns and new medical conditions are scary. Thanks for reading!
i didnt have this mommy thumb but i suffered from the tail bone pain for first few weeks after delivery. first time in life realised there was actually a tail bone!
I remember my sister had similar pain post delivery. Thanks for reading!
Yes, carpal tunnel syndrome should never be ignored.
Precaution is always better than cure. Thanks for reading!
I have heard about Carpal Tunnel disorders for those who use the mouse on a workstation. This was really new information for me. And a very useful one at that. thanks for sharing this. Will keep it in mind for future occurrences amongst family and friends.
Thanks for reading!
This was informative. I had faced similar issues but ignored it since the pain was sort of tolerable. Sharing it to let others know how to deal with it.
New moms have lots in their plates with newborns and this medical issue is neglected behind. Thanks for sharing.
I never knew much about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, just had read during my Biotech course. Being a new mum is challenging and this is one side a new mum needs to take care of. Thanks for this informative post as we all are browsing these days, while feeding or carrying or even on a pillion. There needs to be a harsh stand on “excessive” use of smartphones.
#Myfriendalexa #mommyinmereads
Glad you found it informative.
One of my friends mentioned the same issue but I didn’t know the impact until I read this article.
Glad you found it helpful.
I did have this pain but thankfully it wasn’t that bad and I did rotation of my wrists.It was all good there after. As new Mommies it isn’t always that we keep a close eye on what goes on with us, which shouldn’t be the case though. A very informative blog post.