Many women experience numbness or tingling, mainly in the hands or feet, during their pregnancy. Hand tingling could be symptomatic of carpal tunnel syndrome.
What causes it?
Although the symptoms of both sciatica and carpal tunnel include tingling, many women who do not have these conditions will experience numbness, or a pins-and-needles feeling in their hands or feet. This is due to swelling caused by an increase in the amount of blood circulated, which can then apply pressure to nerves and result in the numbness.
Tips?
Staying active will help keep your circulation strong, which could reduce the swelling that presses against the affected nerves. You should also make sure with your healthcare provider that the tingling isn’t an indicator of a more serious syndrome if the feeling has a very rapid and intense onset.
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Sources
- F Hytten. “Blood volume changes in normal pregnancy.” Clinics in Haemotology. 14(3):601-12. Web. Oct-85.
- “Carpal tunnel syndrome fact sheet.” Womenshealth.gov. Office on Women’s Health, U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 7/16/2012. Web.
