Wrist pain from breastfeeding

[SueH17]

Hi,
I have a 3 month old and have started getting really bad wrist and thumb pain from supporting his neck and head when breast feeding and from lifting him. does anyone know whether a special support pillow would be any good for him at this age or whether it wouldn't provide enough support as he is getting much heavier now than when he was newborn.
Thanks
Sue xx

I'm no expert but it seems like it would really help. I use a theraline pillow - a giant sausage shaped bean bag - which I found much easier than a traditional pillow.

Also, at three months, your LO should be able to support her own head, so can you readjust how you hold her so that you use the crook of your arm to hold the weight, not your wrist?

Carpal tunnel syndrome? I got it because of bf.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I found this really useful web page which mentions that apparently at 3 months there is a hormone from breast feeding which causes this to happen. Also I have just started to get tingling down one leg - always the side which I'm feeding on and always when he is suckling! the tingling stops when he stops!

parents.berkeley.edu/advice/parents/tendonitis.html

I use pillows and cushions to support him when feeding and so wasn't sure whether a special pillow would help. Some are very expensive. I'll try adjusting how I hold him as advised.

Thanks
Sue xx

Sounds a little like De Quervains (sp?) Syndrome. Really common in new mothers. I had it about this time.

I struggled with a splint for ages then went to the GP who gave me a steroid injection there and then which fixed it after 48hrs resting it as much as possible.

Another one for de Quervain's - mine started at around the same time. GP referred me for hand therapy at local hospital, where they gave me splints with the option of a steroid injection if the splints weren't effective. (It got better with about 1 month of wearing splints 24/7.)

Do see your GP - I found that once I had the wrist/thumb pain it didn't go away until I had some intervention, despite changes in position when feeding etc.

Thanks for the advice
Hope your wrists are better now!

Sue
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