What Causes Numbness During Pregnancy And Ways To Deal With It

You may experience a tingling sensation or numbness during pregnancy, which is also described as a ‘pins-and-needles’ sensation. It usually affects the hands, fingers, feet, or legs. Further, the stretching of your belly as your pregnancy progresses can sometimes cause numbness in that region too. Most pregnant women experience these symptoms at some point during their pregnancy.

Read this post to learn more about numbness during pregnancy, including whether it is normal, its symptoms, the possible causes, how to treat and manage it, how to prevent it, and whether numbness is an early sign of pregnancy.

Is Numbness Normal In Pregnancy?

Numbness is usually normal, as the uterus grows and presses against the nerves supplying the legs. You may also experience tingling in your hands and fingers, especially after you wake up in the morning. These sensations are likely to go away after delivery (1).

If you experience other symptoms, such as abdominal contractions, pain, bleeding, blurry vision, or swelling, along with numbness, consult your doctor.

Symptoms Of Numbness During Pregnancy

In addition to numbness in your fingers, hands, legs, and feet, you are likely to experience other symptoms, such as:

• Tickling, burning, itching, and crawling sensation under the skin
• Radiating pain
• Confusion
• Paralysis
• Dizziness
• Slurred speech
• Rash
• Loss of bladder or bowel control (2)

These symptoms may keep you awake at night. They usually occur in the middle or end of your pregnancy, along with weight gain and water retention.

Possible Causes Of Numbness and Tingling In Pregnancy

The common causes of numbness or tingling sensation include:

1. Hormonal changes, especially an increase in the levels of hormone, such as relaxin, stretches the ligaments with growing pregnancy, may shift your center of gravity and affect your posture. This could lead to nerve compression (or pinching), resulting in pain and burning sensation around the thighs, legs, back, and buttocks (3).

Image: IStock

2. Bodily changes, Growth of the uterus could put pressure on the muscles, nerves, and ligaments, causing numbness and tingling sensations (1).

3. Water retention that occurs in the second and third trimesters could cause swelling of hands and feet (4). TAlso called edema, this swelling may contribute to numbness in the extremities and may put pressure or cause pain in the surrounding area (5).

4. Numbness in hands and fingers may develop due to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) that occurs when pressure is built upon the median nerve of the wrist due to water retention. It is one of the common complications in pregnancy, and one study reports its frequency as high as 62%. You may experience symptoms such as:

• Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle finger, or radial half of the hand
• Dysesthetic wrist pain (pain due to burning sensation)
• Loss of grip strength and dexterity (difficulty grasping objects)
• Radiating pain in forearm and shoulder

These symptoms are likely to be worse at night and aggravate during forceful activity and change in wrist position (6).

Numbness in the legs (paresthesia), back, and rear could be caused due to two conditions – sciatica and meralgia paresthetica.

Be watchful

In severe cases, carpal tunnel syndrome may cause decreased finger dexterity or weak grip strength. In addition, it may lead to difficulties in doing tasks involving your finger (18).

5. Sciatica, which is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve, affects around 30% of pregnant women (7). It may occur from weight gain and water retention that put extra pressure over the spine and sciatic nerve. Along with the numbness and tingling sensations, you may experience other symptoms, such as pain, burning, and muscle weakness in your leg, lower back, buttocks, and hips (8).

Be watchful

Sciatica nerve pain may cause poor bladder control and pain during coughing and sneezing (19).

6. Meralgia paresthetica occurs from the compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) that supplies sensation to the lateral aspect (front and side) of the thigh. It is likely to cause numbness, tingling, or burning sensation in the thigh. The symptoms may be confined to one leg and could intensify with standing or walking (9).

Numbness and tingling could also be symptoms of certain pregnancy-related conditions. Therefore, check with your doctor to figure out what exactly is causing numbness.

7. Iron-deficiency anemia, affecting 36.5% of pregnant women globally according to WHO, can lead to restless leg syndrome, which is a neurological disorder where you may suffer from the irresistible urge to move your legs. You will experience tingling or a crawling sensation in the legs (10) (11).

8. Vitamin B12 deficiency might result in nerve damage or neuropathy that could cause numbness or tingling of fingers and toes, which in most circumstances is temporary and can be treated. Other symptoms include muscle weakness, memory loss, impaired balance, and behavioral changes (12).

9. Pre-eclampsia leads to the swelling of legs, hands, face, and sometimes the entire body. It could be a potential cause for numbness, and if combined with headache, visual changes, breathing difficulty, nausea, or vomiting, it needs medical attention (13).

Image: IStock

10. Gestational diabetes may cause pain, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet. It is accompanied by frequent urination, fatigue, blurry vision, frequent hunger, and excessive thirst and may be associated with gestational hypertension It could raise the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life, and therefore needs proper management (14).

How To Deal With Pregnancy Numbness?

These remedies may help manage numbness or tingling in hands, fingers, legs, back, or rear during pregnancy.

• Soaking your hands in warm water or using a hot compress may ease numbness.

Image: Shutterstock

• Do not rest on your hands while sleeping as it could intensify the numbness and pain.
• Check with your doctor about using a wrist brace. You may use it, especially while sleeping, to keep your wrist in a neutral position.
• Stretch your hands and wrists while doing any activity continuously. Repetitive motions such as shaking or rubbing could relieve tingling and pain (15).

Vicki, a mother of two boys, offers practical advice on dealing with numbness based on her own experiences. She explains, “You might alleviate numbness in your wrist area by doing simple stretches. These stretches may help release trapped air and restore sensation in your wrist and hand (i).”

• Sleepy freely to the side that is not affected by any numbness or pain.
• Ice compress may help reduce swelling that could otherwise cause numbness.
• Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and massage therapy could relieve pain associated with numbness.
• Do not stand for extended periods as it could aggravate the numbness or tingling sensation in the legs and toes.
• You may sleep to one side with both the knees drawn up and a pillow in between the knees. This may reduce the chance of numbness.

Image: IStock

• While sitting, you may slightly flex your knees so that they are at the level of hips or higher than them (7).
• Use a walker or cane to move around if you find difficulty balancing your body.
• Check with your doctor and try mild exercises that could strengthen your muscles (16).

Treatment For Numbness In Pregnancy

Treatment for numbness or tingling sensation depends on its cause. Your doctor might suggest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines to treat the pain associated with numbness (17).

Can You Prevent Numbness?

You may not be able to prevent numbness but can reduce its chances by making some changes to your diet and lifestyle.

• Include a healthy and balanced diet to gain healthy pregnancy weight. Cut down on salt, sugar, and fats, and drink enough water. Take the necessary supplements by checking with your doctor.

Image: Shutterstock

• Stay away from alcohol as the toxins in it may lead to nerve damage and cause numbness.
• Minimize the time spent on activities such as typing, knitting, or sewing, especially if you are at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Get a supportive maternity bra that may take off the weight from your breastbone and rib cage that may otherwise apply pressure on the median nerve.
• A correct posture is important while sitting, standing, or sleeping.
• Use well-fitting, non-skid shoes that have soft soles.

Is Numbness A Sign Of Early Pregnancy?

Numbness is not likely to be a sign of pregnancy unless it is caused by carpal tunnel syndrome (common in pregnancy). It occurs when there is water buildup in the tissues of the wrist, which may squeeze the median nerve running down to hands and fingers. This could, therefore, cause numbness and a tingling sensation (6).

Infographic: Conditions That Increase The Risk Of Pregnancy Numbness

Besides the known causes, certain common and uncommon conditions in pregnancy can cause numbness. So give this infographic a read to understand the different risk factors for numbness during pregnancy.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Gain insights about the causes, practical solutions, expert tips and exercises that might help you deal with numbness during pregnancy.

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Dr. Saurabh PhadnisMRCOG

Dr. Saurabh Phadnis is a consultant gynecologist and gynecological oncological surgeon at The Royal London Hospital (Barts Health NHS Trust), London. He did his general gynecology training in East England and subspecialty training in gynecological oncology at Barts Gynaecological Cancer Centre. In addition, he is an accredited trainer with the BSCCP. With over four years of experience, he specializes in...more

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). She has been into health and...more

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children. Then she worked as a nutrition faculty and clinical nutrition coach in...more

Aneesha AmonzMSc

Aneesha holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, she has worked on different research projects in the field of Food Sciences. In addition, she has an internship experience in Oil India Limited as an R&D project trainee. As a writer at MomJunction, Aneesha ensures...more