Could this be yet another side effect of pregnancy- stiff joints??

[Haylstones]

I'm 33+ weeks and my hands are really stiff. My finger joints/ knuckles are sore, feel like they need to crack all the time [bleurgh] and stretching and bending them hurts. It's not excruciating but definitely uncomfortable- if I wake up during the night they almost feel numb. My hands are slightly swollen but not ballooned. As far as I can tell it's not limiting the movement at all, it's more of a PITA than anything else! No other joints are affected, although I've always had problems with my knees and back ache, which hasn't worsened recently.

BUMP

no real knowledge i'm afraid, but i'm only 16 weeks and have the same numbness at night and some joint stiffness in hands-didn't have last time. hope somee else can help

Thanks. I didn't have this first time either so it has taken me by surprise! I have been googling and I think it seems quite commona nd is due to fluid retention but this wouldn't explain why it is worse in the mornings as this is when I'm least swollen!

Hi

I have sore joints in my hands/fingers and have had since a few weeks (am 37 weeks). I had made the link with fluid retention without googling (find googling dangerous ), but I find that whereas my feet go back to their normal size during the night, my hands are most swollen in the morning (ie my ring is tightest). I seem to sleep on them and/or clench fists in my sleep. I find holding them under running water helps.

Hi. I posted something similar a few days ago, and someone suggested that it is down to hormones relaxing your ligaments in preparation for birth, putting extra pressure on joints. Not sure about why it is worse in the mornings; mine lasts all day

I am 36 weeks and have the same problem although I had put it down to spending too much time on the nintendo DS!

yup i had that with both my dds its horrid. Dont know what it is though.

Thanks all, am reassured!

Agree, try a long soak in the bath or get a massage. Some places do special Pregnancy ones. Or even just get a pedicure/foot massage. After the baby is born be careful lifting as it takes a while for ligaments to return to normal. So sadly this means no vacuuming, heavy housework, hanging washing on the line, standing and ironing for a long time. Oh what a pity!

Enjoy your last few weeks - not long till you can hold your little one.

Always a positive side, eh! Dh is already doing most of that stuff anyway because I have back problems and was told by my physio not to but even more reason not to!

SPD is something quite common in pregnancy I had it from 3 months but that just affected my back and hips not sure if it can affect the hands as well? Also Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is common, I had that too, which is pins and needles in your fingers and numbness in fingers as well, again, not sure if it affects joints!

my fingers are really swollen too. I'm 37 weeks. I can't get my rings off my finger - could it be dangerous? have heard stories of rings having to be sorn off! Any tips for getting the rings off (just can't squeeze them over my knuckles)have tried the usual soap and butter - but now they just feel redder and more sore.

inmadrid - run your hands under cold tap for ages and make them really cold - then get hot water on the rings for a few seconds - metal will absorb heat faster than your hands - will heat up and expand a little - then with something like olive oil should come off - good luck

I had painful finger joints at end of last pregnancy - and it lasted for a few months after too - did go eventually though

Def sounds like carpal tunnel in our hands/wrists ... not sure what the general stiffness is called but I had both .. topped off with spd. Mine took quite a long time to go after I had my ds as well I am afraid. The physio I saw for spd told me that you should try not to sleep with your wrists bent as apparently loads of people bend their wrists and tuck their hands in. That was the only advice she could give short of putting splints on them!

Hi I am new on here and am looking for a bit of advice. Took Oscar to be weighed last week and was told that his weight had slowed down a bit and he had dropped from the 75th to the 50th centile so was told to increase his feeds to 6oz(which I had started to do that day anyway as he started to wake in the night again) He has just turned 3 months now. But since increasing his feeds he occasionaly has the 6oz but generally only seems to want 5oz but yesterday and today he seems to want even less and gets down to the last 2oz and just chews the teat and wrestles with me. So I just give up. He then cries like he is still hungry so try again with the bottle but he still just chews the teat. I did wonder if he was teething as he his constantly chewing his hands but does not seem to be in pain. Can any mums out there advise me what to do for the best. I am worried that his weight is going to drop even further (he is, I think, a healthy weight. He weight was 8lb 12oz when he was born and he is now 13lb 9oz) Thanks xxx

See.... you can tell I am new at this... posted a new thread in response to your thread. Sorry for that. Will try again. xx

joint stiffness in the fingers is usually to do with fluid retention - I have started to get it a bit at night/mornings at 36 weeks. I had it much earlier with dd. Try holding your hand up in the air - it might bring some temporary relief.

I have asked many of my friends and doctors why this was was happening to my hands, as although they are not apearing to be too swollen the stiffness/tightness/soreness of them has been really bothering me as i've been told it's not pregnancy related as far as anyone knows (even mw said so.) It is really bad at night also, but so is the circulation in my legs (i'm 40+3 but it's been going on for quite a few weeks.) I'm hoping this stops as soon as baby comes as it is really uncomfortable. xx