Living Hands for
SPECIALTY EXPERTISE For Shoulders, Arms, and Hands
NEWSLETTER
Caring for Your Hands While Caring for Your Baby
It is no secret that a mother’s hands take quite the toll – from cradling, to babywipes, to bath time, to the inevitable, seemingly endlesscleaningyouhavetodothroughouttheday…yourhands end up going through a lot! Because of this, we’re sharing some tips for keepingyour hands happyand healthy, evenwhenyou’re busy making sure your baby is happy and healthy. Common Aches and Pains for Moms De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis This condition is also known as “Mommy Thumb” or “Mommy Wrist.” It is a painful swelling of tendons on the thumb-side of the wrist, which can cause pain when moving the thumb or wrist. It occurs from putting strain on the wrists and hands, which can be due to cradling, holding, and picking upyour little
one – because, let’s face it, that’s how new moms spend most of their time!This is a normal condition that manynewmother’s experience – in fact, upper extremity surgeon Dr. Michelle G. Carlson, MD, states that approximately 90% of people who develop De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis are new mothers. Fortunately, De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis can be treated and even avoided. According to Dr. Carlson, there are a couple ways to prevent the condition from occurring in the first place: ”Instead of picking your baby up under the arms, try to scoop him up by lifting under his bottom. Keep the palm of your hand up. If you’re nursing, be careful to use a pillow for support so that the full weight of baby’s head isn’t resting in your hand.”
If you notice pain, holding ice to the affected area or bracing the painful wrist can also help bring some relief.
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