to be in tears over my swollen hands?

[LittleLightbulb]

36 weeks pregnant. My whole body is fine apart from my hands which swell to stupid size every day. My fingers are actually painful and not really bendable. I've been to see midwife and definitely don't have pre-eclampsia (thankfully). My hands are so swollen however that I don't feel safe to drive properly and all the joints in my fingers hurt.

AIBU to want to just cut the bloody things off? Will they go back to normal? So ready for this baby...

It does honestly go within a few days of birth OP. It is the biggest relief ever. The only downside is having to pee even more post birth as you lose all the extra fluid 😂

Also if no one has bought you one yet, buy a £1 kids swim ring to sit on. Tesco ones are indestructible 😂 ours is still inflated 17m later!!

I had this - it wasn't carpal tunnel, it was just fluid-related swelling. It immediately improved after the birth, but did take a few weeks to go completely. I have no advice to offer, but lots and lots of sympathy. It was horrible.

When resting try to get your hands above your heart ie lie on sofa with arms propped up. Can help with water retention. Might not feel like it but honestly not long now, hang in there x

Oh yes any pregnancy safe peppermint foot cream might be soothing on your hands too.

I have arthritis in most joints so have a plethora of options for swelling.

Are you waking up with your hands looking like claws? If so then the physio I was seeing at the time recommended a big wad of cotton wool put into the palm and taped.

Ice, cold water, ice packs can also be effective.

My hands and feet swelled badly near the end of my pregnancy. It was a warm summer which didn't help. I found a massage really helped it feel better at least.
Book yourself in for a nice mani / pedi including massage. Will be a lovely treat even if it only relieves it for an hour or so.

Definitely try to elevate you hands while you are sleeping and try and keep them straight in line with your arms, it reduces the compression on the nerves

@LittleLightbulb you can get hand/wrist splints (midwife will be able to advise) to sleep in which will hopefully help greatly. I had carpal tunnel in my first pregnancy and very swollen ankles - by the end of the day I looked like professor Klump mid transformation! It's truly miserable. Hopefully your midwife will be able to advise further

YANBU. For me the very worst thing about pregnancy was my hideously swollen feet and ankles. At least it's a temporary thing :)

Hi OP I’ve got the same! It started at 32 weeks and I’m at 37 weeks now. It’s a complete pain in the ass but it does start to feel better the more you move them around. I’ve found having hands in water helps (something to do with the pressure?). I was told it’s possibly due to your boobs getting heavier and pushing on nerves causing the swelling but I don’t know whether it’s true. Docs told me there’s nothing can be done but that it usually goes fairly soon after birth. I tried tying cabbage leaves around my hands as suggested on one website but it was bollocks and I just looked like a bit of a tit 😂 My feet are also super swollen (especially the left bizarrely!) DH finds it hilarious 🤨
I hope you feel better soon OP - I’m told categorically that it WILL pass!!! XX