Most pregnant women may have felt tingling or numbness around the hands, fingers, back, buttocks, or feet. Although common, this condition often makes pregnant women wonder whether this frequent tingling is normal or not.
Tingling or numbness is one of the most common complaints of pregnant women when they wake up in the morning or sleep at night. Generally, this complaint is felt in the middle or towards the end of pregnancy, around the last 8 weeks.
Various Possible Causes of Frequent Numbness During Pregnancy
Basically, the causes of frequent tingling during pregnancy are changes in body shape, accumulation of water that causes swelling in the hands and feet, muscle tension, and increased uterine pressure and inhibits blood flow to some nerves.
Apart from natural changes, other factors can also contribute. For example, wearing old shoes that are too tight can cause numbness in your toes. Therefore, pregnant women are highly recommended to adjust shoes to the size of the feet during pregnancy, which usually enlarge due to swelling.
Although most complaints of tingling or numbness during pregnancy are normal and nothing to worry about, pregnant women need to be careful because sometimes this condition may also be caused by an illness.
The following are some diseases that can be characterized by tingling or numbness during pregnancy:
- An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), resulting in a buildup of fluid that presses on the nerves and triggers numbness
- Gestational diabetes
- Iron or vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- magnesium deficiency, zinc, or potassium
- Pinched nerves in the spine, lower back, neck, and arms
- Preeclampsia
Tips to Relieve Tingling or Numbness During Pregnancy
To help relieve the symptoms of tingling or death during pregnancy, pregnant women can try the following ways:
- Drink more water
- Gently massage the tingling area
- Doing stretch
- Vary your sleeping position or use a special pillow for pregnant women
- Warm up the body in cold weather, especially the hands and feet, by bathing or taking a warm bath
- Wearing assistive devices hand splint during sleep to keep the wrist from bending and blood flow smooth
- Regular light exercise, such as walking or swimming so that blood circulation runs smoothly
By applying the methods above, it is hoped that pregnant women will no longer be too bothered by the symptoms of tingling or numbness.
However, if the tingling does not improve or the tingling is accompanied by other symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, contractions, headache, or blurred vision, you should immediately consult a doctor for proper treatment.