Thumb and wrist pain after having a baby

New mothers can get painful thumbs and wrists. This condition is called de Quervain's tenosynovitis, mother's wrist or baby wrist.

It is caused by:

• hormonal changes in pregnancy
• increased pressure on wrist tendons when lifting and holding your baby

Some women also get thumb and wrist pain during pregnancy.

Symptoms

You might have baby wrist if you feel:

• pain when you move your thumb or wrist - this can travel up the arm
• pain when you tuck your thumb in and make a fist
• swelling and tenderness on the thumb side of your wrist
• a catching or snapping feeling when you move your thumb

Treatment

You can often ease the pain yourself with:

• ice
• massage
• stretching exercises
• painkillers such as paracetamol
• a rigid wrist splint

If the pain is not easing, contact your GP or a physiotherapist.

How you can avoid making the pain worse

There are things you can do to stop the pain getting worse.

For example, try to:

• change how you move your hand and wrist until symptoms begin to ease
• scoop your baby up with your sore hand under their bottom - this may be easier than lifting them under the arms
• use pillows or cushions to support your arms while breastfeeding, so there's less pressure on your hands
• try a nursing pillow to lift your baby closer
• keep your wrist rigid to avoid irritating your wrist and thumb
• avoid wrist movements, such as opening a tight lid on a jar
• avoid using your thumb to grip objects

Wrist pain

Massage

Massage the area of muscle at the base of your thumb. Massaging this muscle can help you naturally hold your thumb further away from your palm.

Stretching exercises

Put your hand on a table, palm facing down. Use your other hand to gently move your thumb upwards and away from the table for 10 to 15 seconds. Bring your thumb down slowly. Repeat 5 times every 2 hours.

Rest the side of your hand on a table, with the little finger at the bottom. Use your other hand to move your thumb away from your fingers. Bring your thumb back down slowly. Repeat 5 to 10 times every 2 hours.

More support

Contact a physiotherapist if the pain does not ease after a couple of weeks.