Mommy Thumb- What is it and How to Avoid It?

 Being a new mom means that you have to be very hands on and pragmatic with your baby. Picking, holding, playing, carrying and changing the baby involves a lot of hand and wrist movement which can lead to De Quervain’s tenosynovitis more commonly known as Mommy Thumb. Women who are in their 30s to 50s are more susceptible to this condition, as nearly half the people suffering from it are women, thus the name mommy thumb. Although anyone with repetitive movement and strain on this part can be at risk of this condition. New moms have so much on their plate already, like breastfeeding the baby, pumping, sourcing best lactation cookies, balancing work and mom life and a lot more that having this issue can be a serious hindrance in their daily routine and a real pain in the neck, I mean thumb.

What is Mommy Thumb?

Mommy thumb is a condition in which the mother (in most cases) experiences discomfort at the bony, bumpy part of the hand where the thumb meets the wrist. In early stages it can only be a slight uneasiness but when aggravated it can become inflamed even snap out of place. This basically happens due to the strangulation of tendons, which are the string that hold the bones and muscles together, on the thumb side of the hand. When these tendons are strained and inflamed due to constant pressure on them from the wrong angle, it can lead to severe pain and even losing sensation in that part of the hand. Mommy Thumb is also known as baby wrist and cradle thumb.

Common Causes of Mommy Thumb

Mommy thumb is basically a kind of repetitive strain injury (RSI), which is caused due to over usage of thumb muscles. An injury, a jerk or just over flexing of these muscles and tendons can cause tiny tears, these tears, if ignored can be very painful. Mommy thumb can be triggered not only by handling the baby, it can also be put into motion with repetitive movement like gardening, typing, painting, writing, playing tennis, lifting or carrying things at a wrong angle.

Nursing mothers can be quite vulnerable to it as they have to constantly position their breasts in order to nurse the baby. Having the best lactation cookies and significantly increasing milk supply, so a mother has to either nurse the baby or pump it, both of which can strain the thumb even more. New mothers are more prone to this condition 3-6 weeks after the arrival of their bundle of joy. In this time, the hormones and fluid imbalances that started with the pregnancy and swelling, over exertion can put additional pressure on muscles of the thumb. If you have a chronic joint condition then you’re even more vulnerable to mommy thumb.

Measures to Avoid or Lessen the Impact of Mommy Thumb

Prevention is better than cure for sure but in case of mummy thumb you won’t be able to predict if you’ll have it or not. You can’t avoid it or steer clear of it but you can surely adopt ways that will keep it at bay or may even heal if the tears are just minor and nothing too inflamed or strained.

1.      Try Different Lifting Positions

One of the best ways to prevent mummy thumb is to break the habit and give some break to the tendons. New mothers can try out different positions to lift, carry and hold their babies. Instead of lifting the baby in a position that puts pressure on the wrists and thumbs opt for scooping the baby from the bottom and cradling from the nape of the neck. Try to distribute the pressure on different parts of the body and don’t give in to the crying and screaming of the baby, take your time, make the best choice.

2.      Give your Wrist and thumb some Rest

I know you must be thinking that I have no experience of being a mother to a new born thus suggesting giving rest to the wrists. But trust me, speaking with experience, you need to take care of yourself otherwise you’ll become this unhappy person, no one wants to be around, not even yourself. Twist your wrists, flex them, go for manicures and massages, and feel good so that you’re able to bring the same energy home. If you are starting to feel discomfort in wrists then give in cold press with ice or frozen vegetables, it will reduce inflammation.

3.      Use a Splint

Using a splint is also a great option especially if you have started to feel the strain in your thumb down to your wrists. It helps immobilize the thumb and restricts its movement. Having a splint will also be a good reminder for the mother to not strain this area. A splint also helps in reducing the tearing and decreasing the inflammation.

Takeaway

If you want to know whether you have a mommy thumb or not, try the Finkelstein stretch. Mommy thumb is a common condition in new mothers but if you’re mindful of it then you might be able to duck it.

 

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