I don't even know what to call this. Stiff hands?

UberBiz

I remember this happening when I was pregnant with DS, but I have no idea what it is. My hands aren't swelling (I can still get my ring off/on as normal), or going numb (no tingling or anything), but at night I'll wake up and they are like, stiff. Not even really achy, but hard to bend when I open and close my hands. Not especially hard, but enough to be noticeable.

I'm trying to remember when this started, and how soon after that I went into labor with him... lol. There may be no correlation at all, but it got me thinking.

peggels24

Does it go away after you've been awake?  Maybe it's a blood flow thing?

WillCMyInk

I'm having some weird stuff happening with my left hand too! Mine is actually more the opposite problem though. While I'm sleeping it's like I'm clinching my fist really hard and then I wake up and when I straighten my fingers it feels better and if I clinch my fist again it hurts. It's only my left hand and mainly at night. I am experiencing some swelling, but not a ton.

becks2012

It might be the beginnings of pregnancy induced carpal tunnel. 

bustysinclare

I agree with the pregnancy induced carpel tunnel. I had that a bit with my first pregnancy - not so far this time. I thought at first I was sleepinh with my sizable belly resting on my hand/arm causing them to fall a asleep at first

kellyfo14

Could it be that you accidentally cut off circulation from the position you are sleeping in? I know you said they don't feel numb or tingling but i feel like hands act a little different than feet in this regard. This happens to me quite often. I always have to open and close both hands to get them feeling normal again.

UberBiz

It does go away after I wake up and am moving around. It could be a circulation thing, but I'm not sure about carpal tunnel. Doesn't that normally hurt? I can't really say that they HURT, it's more of a strange, tight feeling, mostly in my fingers and it doesn't extend to my wrist at all.

I just wish I could recall my last pregnancy's timeline better, I could have sworn it started happening shortly before I had him, but I could just be making things up.

vicviy87

I had it since 19 weeks. Numb hands, swelling (numbing) waking up with stuff and painful hands when I wake up. As you walk around and shake your hands, it will get better.

longcat07

i've had that and i've assumed it was due to swelling, since i'm not wearing rings any more. hm.  i didn't think of carpal tunnel.

becks2012

Carpal tunnel is a cumulative trauma thing.  It doesn't start off as ZOMG PAIN!  It can start as numbness, tingling, stiffness, the need to "shake it out," and then progresses to the ouch point.  It is really common for it to start at night, because people sleep with their wrists flexed, rather than in a straight position.  It also can hit the fingers first, frequently the thumb, index and middle fingers the worst.  Fun fact, usually not the pinkie.

It is caused by pressure on the nerves and tendons.  All of the extra fluid we pregnant ladies carry around is the culprit here. 

Seriously guys, if you are experiencing this stuff, go to your local drug store and get yourself  pair of cheap wrist braces, and wear them at night.  If you catch it at the beginning, you can avoid the ouch factor.  Also, (personal experience here) if you let it get bad, it won't necessarily go away right after delivery.  Picking up a week old baby with numb and painful wrists sucks.

ashlynstiff

I thought I was the only one!! This has been happening to me since 28 weeks and I am at 30 now. I take my wedding ring off at night because I thought it was causing the problem at first.. But then both my hands starting hurting bad in the morning it's real hard to make a fist and bend my fingers and it's painful. The only relief I get is when I run them under warm/hot water.

letsgox

UberBiz said:

It does go away after I wake up and am moving around. It could be a circulation thing, but I'm not sure about carpal tunnel. Doesn't that normally hurt? I can't really say that they HURT, it's more of a strange, tight feeling, mostly in my fingers and it doesn't extend to my wrist at all.

I just wish I could recall my last pregnancy's timeline better, I could have sworn it started happening shortly before I had him, but I could just be making things up.

It usually hurts, but everyone perceives pain differently. It is coupled with a predictable pattern of numbness (never on the outside of your ring finger or involving your pinky). Without the numbness I would say it's unlikely CTS.

Could your hands be cramping? It's not a terribly painful thing for me, but mine do it at work, especially when suturing. I do some exercises and it's better after awhile.

snowbaby1214

I thought I had carpal tunnel for a few months when I wasn't pregnant.  I had the light pain, constant pins and needles, the numbness and need to 'shake them awake'.  I even bought the braces to wear to bed at night.   It turns out that my bed was moved and I was curling my hands too much at night, being stuck between dh and the wall.  Once we switched sides and I had the freedom to sprawl in bed again, the pain and numbness went away.  

UberBiz

I'm thinking it might just be swelling or a circulation thing. It still doesn't hurt, no tingles, no numbness, just a stiffness in my fingers when I wake up, or sit still for too long without moving them.