My hands and wrists hurt while nursing — what causes it?
⚡ Short answer: Hand and wrist pain while nursing most commonly comes from two sources: **De Quervain tenosynovitis** — inflammation of the tendons on the side of the thumb.
Anonymous
bir anne · Mom
Since I started nursing my hands and wrists hurt; what could cause this?
Maiyko AI ADVISOR
The real reply from the in-app AI advisor
Hand and wrist pain while nursing most commonly comes from two sources:
De Quervain tenosynovitis — inflammation of the tendons on the side of the thumb. Holding the baby while nursing keeps your thumb in the same position, and how you support baby's head can trigger it. Pain usually appears at the base of the thumb and on the side of the wrist; pushing your thumb into your fist and bending your wrist down (Finkelstein test) makes it worse.
Carpal tunnel syndrome — fluid buildup during pregnancy can continue after birth and pinch the nerve in your wrist. Pain is usually in the palm and thumb/index/middle fingers with numbness, worse at night.
Both are common in nursing mothers and usually temporary. Rest, warm-cold compresses, and changing nursing position (like nursing while lying down or using a pillow so baby's weight isn't on your arms) can help. If pain affects daily activities, doesn't improve with rest, or numbness is getting worse, seeing a physical therapist or orthopedic doctor would help.
⚕️ Health note: This answer is for general information only; it is not medical advice. Every baby is different — for decisions about your baby's health, consult your pediatrician.
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