Stabilizes the wrist and thumb while allowing gripping motion
Mommy thumb and carpal tunnel syndrome are common wrist conditions appearing during pregnancy and postpartum. Repeatedly picking up a baby or toddler can lead to wrist and hand strain.
Bauerfeind’s ManuTrain wrist braces and ManuLoc wrist splints relieve pain and stabilize the wrist while allowing gripping motion, so you can care for your bundle of joy.
Bauerfeind medical hand products are eligible for reimbursement through most FSA and HSA accounts.* Try our products risk-free with a 60-day money-back guarantee!
Why does my wrist hurt during pregnancy or after giving birth?
What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?
Swelling in your hands during pregnancy and postpartum, combined with frequent lifting or caring for a baby or infant, can compress the median nerve in your hand and trigger carpal tunnel syndrome. You might feel a tingling sensation, burning pain or numbness in your fingers and thumb. Hand weakness and frequently dropping items might be a sign of carpal tunnel as well.
What is mommy thumb?
Similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, another condition affecting the base of the thumb and wrist can develop by picking a baby or toddler up several times a day. Mommy’s thumb or de Quervain’s tenosynovitis can cause pain, inflammation and swelling in the thumb tendons on the side of the wrist. Symptoms are worse when you lift, grip or twist your wrist. It often appears in new parents when their baby is four to six weeks old. It can affect people of all ages and genders.
How to diagnose mommy thumb and carpal tunnel syndrome?
Your healthcare provider may ask you to perform the Finkelstein test to help diagnose de Quervain's tenosynovitis, also called mommy thumb. When performing the Finkelstein test, you’ll bend the fingers of your palm over your thumb. If bending your wrist toward your pinky finger causes pain on the thumb side of your wrist, you likely have de Quervain's.
After a general examination, your provider might perform proactive maneuvers to aid in the clinical evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome, such as bending the wrists (Phalen’s test) or tapping on the nerve to trigger symptoms (Durkan’s test).
Five easy tips to relieve mommy thumb or carpal tunnel pain?
- Apply heat to ease pain or ice to reduce swelling: Rest your hand on a pillow above your shoulder while sitting to help decrease swelling
- Adjust how you lift your baby or toddler: Instead of lifting your baby under the shoulders, try gently squeezing their rib cage while lifting or use one hand under the head and the other under the bottom
- Use a pillow to support your baby while breastfeeding that helps to keep your wrists in a straight position
- Wear a Bauerfeind splint such as the ManuTrain or ManuLoc to support and immobilize your wrist without impeding the gripping motion
- Once the pain subsides, strengthen your wrist and thumb with exercises recommended by your physical therapist or healthcare provider
Best Braces for Carpal Tunnel
Bauerfeind’s ManuLoc or ManuTrain stabilizes the wrist in a neutral (straight) position without impeding gripping motion. Both braces can be worn at night. The ManuTrain features a two-part strap system that can be adjusted for the stabilization needed as the healing progresses.
Best Braces for Mommy Thumb
Bauerfeind’s ManuLoc or ManuLoc Rhizo wrist braces stabilize the wrist and thumb to let the tendon heal while allowing a normal gripping movement. The ManuLoc Rhizo features a thumb spica splint for additional stabilization of the thumb.
If you experience sudden swelling of your hands accompanied by nausea, vision changes, severe headache, abdominal pain and shortness of breath, seek medical attention immediately as this could be a sign of a rare postpartum preeclampsia.
