You're probably prepared for the stereotypical symptoms during pregnancy -- morning sickness, bloating and fatigue. But, you might notice sudden numbness in your fingertips when you're pregnant. Believe it or not, your pregnancy is causing this unexpected symptom. Fingertip numbness, while irksome, is not a serious problem during pregnancy.
Symptoms
Your fingers might feel like they are asleep. This numbness is related to edema, or swelling, which is a normal pregnancy symptom, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Tingling in the fingers might precede or follow the numbness. Your fingers might also ache or burn, and your wrists might feel numb as well as achy.
Cause
Numbness in your fingertips during pregnancy is caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. During pregnancy, you retain more fluid, and you might experience swelling in your hands. The water retention and swelling put pressure on the wrist and finger bones, compressing the nerve that runs through the wrist. This nerve is responsible for feeling in your fingers, so when it is compressed, you experience numbness.
Treatment
Pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome does not require treatment. Though the numbness can be annoying, just chalk it up as another symptom related to pregnancy. If, however, the numbness prevents you from performing daily activities or is painful, discuss treatment options with your obstetrician or midwife. Possible treatments include wearing a splint at night or putting hot and cold compresses on your hands and wrists during the day. Reducing the time you spend at the keyboard can help as well.
After Pregnancy
The good news is that your fingertip numbness will go away after pregnancy. Do not expect it to dissipate the day your baby is born, however. It can take weeks -- or even months -- for the water retention and swelling to go down after giving birth. As it does, the numbness you feel in your fingertips, along with any other carpal tunnel symptoms, will go away.
