Carpal Tunnel?!?!

In the last three nights, I've been waking up to numbing, tingling forearms, hands, and fingers. I've heard at work that pregnant women experience carpal tunnel syndrome throughout their pregnancies. The first night I felt it, I thought I was just sleeping on my arm, but then it happened again and it hit me that what I was feeling was carpal tunnel! I wasn't expecting it at all!!

It wakes me up, but not because it hurts. It's this numbing sensation that is somewhat startling at first, but then I get my hands and arms moving and then it's fine. I do find that my wrists are sore throughout the day, so that has been a bit annoying. So I consulted with the midwife and she said the only thing I can really do is use these wrist wraps at night. These wraps are suppose to help with blood circulation, which will eliminate the tingling and numbing. I found this information on babycenter.com, which helps understand why pregnant women get carpal tunnel:

"What causes carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy?
The carpal tunnel is a bony canal formed by the wrist bones on three sides and a ligament that runs across the wrist on the other. The swelling and fluid retention that's so common during pregnancy can increase the pressure in this relatively narrow and inflexible space, compressing the median nerve that runs through it.

The median nerve gives sensation to the thumb and the index, middle, and half of the ring finger and is responsible for movement of a muscle at the base of the thumb. Pressure on this nerve is what causes the symptoms."

For some women, it comes later in pregnancy, but I was one of the lucky ones to get it a bit early on. That's alright though, I'm getting the braces and hopefully that should work. It should then go away after I deliver...hopefully.

Life has been busy these days, as we are preparing for various events, but it's been really good. I've been feeling really great, and doing what I can to remain healthy. Hope to post again early next week....