Baby Wrist
Given all the holding, cuddling, and cradling that babies require, it's no surprise that some mothers suffer from a condition sometimes called baby wrist. This repetitive stress injury is characterized by pain or tingling in the wrist and can cause long-term damage if not treated. A variation is pain around the thumb or fingers, which doctors used to think came from opening and closing safety pins while diapering, but now associate with lifting and carrying the baby. The pain often increases at night, when the accumulation of fluid increases the pressure on the nerves. Breastfeeding moms may be more vulnerable to this because nursing can cause water retention.
Baby wrist often begins with hormonal changes during pregnancy that cause internal swelling in the wrist. It is aggravated by holding the infant with a bent wrist, as well as by diapering, snapping little snaps, pushing a stroller, and lugging a baby carrier. And nursing mothers tend to make the condition worse by curling their hands under their full breasts when they're asleep.
You can head off the condition by stretching your wrists regularly and lifting light hand weights. Make sure you keep your wrists in a “neutral” position (straight, but relaxed), when holding your baby. Big mistakes are cupping your hand around your baby's head while nursing with your wrist at a 90-degree angle and pushing the stroller with your wrists bent. If you've already got a case of baby wrist, ice the area a few times a day and take ibuprofen to reduce inflammation. Wear a wrist brace designed for repetitive stress injuries whenever you can. This may only be when you sleep since you can't pick up your baby while wearing it. (You can get these elastic, metal, and Velcro contraptions at some drugstores.) If the pain persists, talk to your health care provider.
