problem with wrists/hands

My DD is demand fed, which is going great - the only thing is, I'm getting pains in my hands/wrists, mainly in the bit between my thumb and forefinger, and then going down from there to my wrist - I know its the way I hold DD and attach her while feeding. It started about 4 weeks ago, but generally being worse at night than during the day, and to start with would only be painful when feeding, and as the feed progressed, the pain would lessen. However, its becoming more of an issue, and the area is hurting when i'm doing other things now. I've been to the docs this week and he reackons its 'tenosonovitis" (i think thats it, but can't read the docs writing :lol:) He's recommened physio, which I'll organise, but if it gets much worse, I may need ultrasound treatment and a cortisol injection, and if that doesn't help he has said that it may mean giving up bf, as i may end up doing permanent damage! which i really don't want and he understands that.

Anyway, does anyone have any advice? or has had the same experience? I am thinkng about seeing a lactation consultant to see if i can get some tips on a different way to attach.

TIA

Hi,

It sounds like breastfeeding is going so well. I am sure that you can find a few variation that make it easier on your hands. I'm wondering how you do hold your baby to feed. I am wondering if it is the *cross cradle hold* where you hold your breast with the hand on the same side, and hold your baby, supporting him between the shoulder blades. This can be a great way to get a baby onto the breast, offering stability and some control in the early days, but can get a bit hard over the long haul. Most mothers feed their baby in the "cradle hold" - over time and history, that seems to be the easiest and most comfortable position in the long run. It can take a bit of practice, but definately worth mastering! When your baby is on well, in the cross cradle position, just let go of your breast, and slide your arm under baby's head. When your baby is firmly supported on your fore-arm, remove the hand from behind his shoulders, lean back and snuggle him in. This also gives you a free hand to feed *yourself*. Also, it is worth practicing feeding lying down.
An LC is a great investment. Are you a member of the Australian Breastfeeding Association yet? It's a great group. There you will see mothers holding their babies in lots of different ways

Warm Regards
Barb

Hi SammyRo,

I have the same pain in my thumb and shoots down the inside of my wrist as if I have been prodded with a hot poker. The Osteopath I saw advised it was Tendonitis (sp) and the only way to relieve the pain was to rest my hands completely. Not going to happen at the time DS was 6wks old. I find first thing in the morning to be worse or late at night as I am not doing as much lifting or feeding and the tendon has time to cool down making it that bit stiffer.
I was more prone to getting the condition as I carried alot of fluid in my pregnancy and then once DS was born I went straight into bf. The problem I found was that I held my breast as otherwise DS wouldn't latch on properly and would keep my thumb very stiff and rigid putting pressure on my tendon. I had to teach myself to relax when bf as I was concentrating so intently on bf that I wouldn't relax my hand. I found laying DS on a pillow at the right height and releasing my breast once he was latched on I was able to relax my hand.
For other reasons and nothing to do with my wrists DS is now on formula, but the pain is still there and raises it's ugly head when I least expect it and the pain is excruciating. I also find the bone on the inside of my wrist is sometimes very sore to touch. I use the tight pressure bandages on the bad days so that I don't move my thumb as far back to relieve some of the pressure. Some days are better than others and depends on how much I have held DS, how much housework or how much cooking (chopping) I have done.

Sorry I have rambled on a bit but just wanted to let you know you are not on your own and if you find something that works then please let me know.
Hansie

I found the ultrasound treatment from the physio very helpful with this problem.
So was feeding lying down, and sometimes expressing so that someone else could do the feeding. Ibuprofen is safe to use while breastfeeding, and helped with the swelling and pain.

It has become easier in the last couple of months as bub is less floppy and easier to handle.
I lie him partly across my lap, almost like he is sitting beside me - that way my arms don't take any weight.

If you are in Victoria, write to the arthritis foundation for a copy of "juggling sore joints and babies" - heaps of useful tips.

Stopping feeding won't help you that much - you still have a lot of baby handling to do. The huge help is that in the next month or so you shouldn't have to support her head anywhere near as much, and the strain on your wrists decreases lots - I have much less wrist pain from my 6.5 kg 4 month old compared to when he was a 3kg newbie.

I had similar wrist pain a few months ago. It got so bad a couldn't hold anything with my hand. I used a wrist brace and also used a 'my breastfriend' feeding pillow to give my wrist a break while I was feeding. It healed on its on (took about 2 months from memory), but I had to be very mindful to rest it where I could.

Goodluck, hope it clears up for you soon.

i got this with my 3rd child.. tendonitis.. I was given anti inflammitries to take and that fixed the problem..

I now have carpal tunnel in both hands but have opted to just leave it alone..

Hi Sammy

Was really interested to read your post.

I b/f my daughter but had major attachment problems which went on and on and on until week 14. I went to the physio and asked if people complained about sore wrists to which he told me this can be a big problem. As they got worse I went regularly but did not find that this would help. Well it would relieve the pain for a little while but then it would come back. It is so hard to describe it but often it felt like I was getting electric jolts in my wrists/arms. Turning a door handle, opening a jar, wiping when having been to the loo etc would hurt and sometimes I would look at DD in her cot and think I don't want to pick you up. It was like a tendon so something would sometimes snap. It would often wake me up in the night too - like it gets cold or something and they would snap again. I would wear a brace.

I recently went (had waited 5 months) to the Dr who sent me for an ultrasound. It showed tendonitis and I have now been referred to a specialist. Like you I may get a cortisone injection. I had to cancel my appt last week and have yet to make another. Strange thing is that the past 4 days they have felt much better - not counting my chickens yet but really hope it has gone away as it has been so frustrating.

Keep me posted with what happens. Unless you have experienced tendonitis it is difficult for people to relate.

I found going to my chiro on a regular basis really helped keep my neck and back (and therefore arms etc) in good shape. I also fed with 1000 pillows around me...

OMG Isoooo know what you're talking about. It started for me when DS was about 2 weeks old - I was feeding him using the footy hold at the time plus he grew very quickly and the extra use in addition to the rapid weight gain meant the tendonitis didn't have time to heal. I had no problems with any of my joints during pregnancy and no swelling, so it just came out of no where. I still have the problem mainly in my right hand althought the left still aches from time to time. My physio is making a mint out of me as I'm still seeing her for ultrasound and exercises every month or so and of course the private cover ran out rather quickly as at the start I had to see her about twice a week.

It helps even now to wear an elastic brace thing she made for me - the ones available commercially restrict all movement through the thumbs and of course that just isn't possible when you're dealing with a baby who needs lots of contact and attention. I also take nurofen as advised by my gp who helped me weigh up the benefit vs risk to baby stuff. He first put me on Brufen which is just a stronger more expensive version requiring a prescription.

Other things that have helped me reduce the use and discomfort are... frozen veges, hubby doing lots of the cooking, one pot meals in dishes that fit in my dishwasher, doing all my daily errands in one outing so I don't have to lift DS in and out of the car so much (early on that is what really killed) and now we're no solids I use the tinned stuff when I'm having a tough time with my hands... usually a few days after mashing veges or trying to peel fresh fruit or veg myself... most embarrassing thing is the DH has to cut my meat for me if we go out for dinner (rarely) or to friends or family for bbq etc

I also borrowed a jolly jumper from a friend as DS loves bouncing and that was killing my hands too - you know holding him on my knees while he stood there and bounced, and believe me he could have done it all day.

The good news is that you can learn to manage it, and eventually as bub gets bigger and more mobile the workload reduces a bit.:dance: As some of the others have suggested, feeding lying down would have been good too, although I've never actually managed that one. Instead I got help to make sure he was positioned properly in cradle hold and now he almost serves himself!:rolleyes:

Don't let anyone tell you switching to a bottle would fix it... as my physio said, it just changes what your hands are doing... holding baby AND a bottle... and I find it's holding/picking up the narrower/smaller things that hurts most these days.

GL and I hope it gets better for you soon.

I haven't read the other replies, but just wanted to chime in. I found the recommended holding techniques reall really uncomfortable. My midwife would say "Hold her neck like this, flatten yor nipple with the other hand like that with your hand twisted this way then straighten your back - perfect. Now, relax!" - lol - impossible.
I found it easiest to feed while lying down. In fact, I rarely feed in any other position. That might help you with your pain, too.
If not, go to see your GP. You might have an infection, like tendonitis.
All the best!

Saša

HIya all,
thanks for teh advice and support - its good to know I'm not the only one! I saw an LC yesterday and she helped me attach better - she explained that I didn't need to be doing the attachment method they show you in hospital now bubs is older, and I'm trying to use the cradle hold as much as possible once she is on to take the wegiht and pressure off those joints, so that will hopefully save my hands. My biggest worry has been that if I bf Alyssa for a year like i want, that i would screw my hands up for the next ones and not be able to bf at all. But hopefully, if I'm conscious of my hands, it might get better on its on. The doc's also referred to me to the physio dept at the womens and childrens hospital - I was thinking that hopefully they would have seen this before because they deal with women postnattally, so they will hopefully have some good strategies to cope to.

Thanks again

oh im sorry to hear that, i think your on the right track withs seeing a lactation consultant they could have some great tips for you. Whilst i have never had this happen My sister has and was told its the way she lifts her sons. Are you able to express the milk and maybe feed bubs that way? I remember seeing the discomfort mys ister was in she just persisted. I suggest when ever possible dont use that hand or over stress that part dont put weight on it if possible. I do really hope you can keep with feeding bubs Breast milk but dont be disheartened if you need to stop "mom needs to look after her self first" to look after bubs properly :hug: Good luck!