Help - Tips for lifting baby with De Quervain syndrome (mummy’s wrist)

[Caipulli]

Hi
I had de Quervain syndrome in my left wrist that started about four months post partum. Physio didn’t work so I had a steroid injection followed by brace which worked wonders and I was pain free. My baby is now 11 months and we moved her from the co sleeping bed into her cot one month ago. The pain has started to come back in both wrists and I’m so scared it’ll get worse. I know the steroid injections are a last resort and can cause lasting damage to the tendon if done wrongly/too often.

I’d like to know if anyone has advice for lifting a standing baby from a cot without using the L shaped hand/thumb position under the baby’s armpits.

Everything I’ve read online says to lift the baby by sliding your forearm under the baby but this doesn’t work when she is standing up. Also difficult when she’s in the car seat.

Any advice greatly welcome, thank you

I used to hook my arm under his bum and make sure his arms were holding my neck and pick him up like that. Should be feasible with an 11 month old

Agh sorry I have no advice. I developed it in my right wrist when my DS was very little - he’s currently 2 and it twinges more than ever. The wrist brace was the best for taking some of the impact as some lifting and shifting was inevitable. I put my wrist under his armpits now and one wrist between his legs but as you say it’s not doable in certain positions.

I try to get him to kneel then pick him up from behind. I cosleep so to make it easier and make DH pick him up out of the cot. We both work so it seems fair enough.

All my wrist problems turned out to be shoulder problems. Nothing they did to my wrists helped, but dry needling in my shoulders and a couple of very firm massages from the physio fixed it almost straight away. I have to be very careful of rotating pickups and tension when I'm breastfeeding.

Hello! I work in musculoskeletal health with a focus on hands ☺️

with the lifting aspect, you could try turning the baby to face away and sliding one hand, or if you can reach down that far a forearm, under the baby’s bum like a little seat, and put your other hand on their front to steady them to lift out of the cot.

you may have been told already, but de Quervain is known as a “self limiting” condition; although a pain in the arse usually resolves within 12-18 months. Keep avoiding aggravating actions as much as possible, use your splint intermittently to help you also! Have you tried any anti-inflammatory gel? Might be worth a go if you haven’t.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for all the advice everyone :)
I do try to use my arms rather than wrists when possible but, as someone said, it’s not always possible in certain positions.
Cosleeping was great as I would just roll her into my front and pick her up that way but she’s in her own room now and we’re not going back!
I think I need to start wearing the brace preventatively when at home over the weekend for example when I’m picking her up much more compared to when she’s at nursery during the week. Plus ibuprofen gel and ice packs when it flares up…
Good to know it usually resolves by itself.
And I will ask my physio about my shoulders, I do have a lot of tension there!

Floorbed in her room maybe? We moved our DD into one at 12 months and it's brilliant.

This might be helpful perhaps? It's officially approved for use with Besafe car seats, and I'd probably be happy on that basis to use it with other brands as long as the fabric wasn't bunching under the straps anywhere.

https://www.besafe.com/en/accessories/travel--home-to-car-transfer/izi-transfer/

Oh apologies - I have just reread the OP and seen your baby is too big for the product. Still, perhaps it would be useful if you have another baby in future.