Pain on the thumb side of your wrist when you pick up your baby can be a sign of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, a condition affecting the tendons that move your thumb. Lifting, gripping and holding your wrist in an awkward position can make these tendons painful.
De Quervain’s is particularly familiar among parents caring for young babies, but it is not the only possible explanation. Where the pain sits, whether your fingers tingle and whether you have had an injury all help guide the diagnosis.
Changing how you lift and support your baby may reduce discomfort. Persistent pain, difficulty holding your baby securely or symptoms following an injury deserve assessment.
Lifting can aggravate the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist, especially when your thumb is spread wide and your wrist is bent.
Two thumb tendons pass through a small tunnel at the wrist. With De Quervain’s, thickening around this tunnel restricts their movement. Tasks that previously felt effortless can then become painful, including lifting your baby from the cot, fastening clothing or picking up a kettle. NHS information on De Quervain’s.
The condition is sometimes called “mummy thumb” or “mother’s wrist”. However, the reason new mothers are particularly susceptible is not fully understood. Hormonal changes after pregnancy and repeated baby care activities may contribute, but neither should be presented as the established explanation for every case. British Society for Surgery of the Hand.
The typical pattern is pain and tenderness on the thumb side of the wrist that becomes worse with thumb movement, gripping or lifting.
You may notice:
These symptoms can suggest De Quervain’s, but they do not confirm it. Berkshire Healthcare’s symptom guidance.
Yes. Several hand and wrist conditions can make baby care uncomfortable.
What you notice
Another possibility a clinician may consider
Tingling or numbness, particularly in the thumb, index and middle fingers, often worse at night
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Pain centred on the thumb’s base joint, particularly with pinching and gripping
Base of thumb arthritis
Pain beginning after a fall or sudden injury, with swelling or bruising
A sprain or fracture
These patterns are clues, not a way to diagnose yourself. The NHS advises assessment for persistent wrist pain and urgent advice if a fracture is suspected. NHS wrist pain guidance.
A clinician usually diagnoses De Quervain’s by asking about your symptoms and examining your wrist and thumb. Ultrasound may help when the diagnosis is uncertain; it is not automatically necessary for every patient. De Quervain’s assessment at iiS Health.
Aim to reduce the strain on your thumb and wrist while keeping your baby securely supported. Complete rest is rarely practical for a parent, so small changes to repeated tasks matter.
Try to share the tasks that repeatedly trigger pain when help is available. If changing your grip makes your baby feel less secure, stop and ask a hand therapist to demonstrate an alternative suited to you.
A cold pack wrapped in a cloth may also ease discomfort. Apply it for around 10–15 minutes, check your skin and stop if it causes numbness or increased pain. Do not apply ice directly to the skin or use it over an area with reduced sensation. Dorset NHS self-care advice.
Treatment may include activity changes, a suitable splint, pain relief, hand therapy or a steroid injection. Surgery is generally considered when non-surgical treatment has not provided enough relief.
A thumb-spica splint supports both the wrist and thumb. A wrist-only support may leave the painful thumb tendons moving too freely.
A hand therapist can help choose the support, advise when to wear it and adjust your daily activities. Wear schedules vary according to symptoms and other treatment. If a splint is worn for longer periods, follow advice about removing it for hygiene and appropriate movement. Dorset NHS splint guidance.
Exercises should be matched to your symptoms. Gentle movement and gradually introduced strengthening may help, but an exercise that repeatedly makes the pain worse needs adjustment. Berkshire Healthcare’s exercise advice.
Paracetamol can generally be taken while breastfeeding. Ibuprofen is also an option when an anti-inflammatory medicine is appropriate, but check with a pharmacist or clinician about your health, other medicines and the product you intend to use.
Tell them if your baby was premature or had jaundice, as this can affect medicine advice. Follow the instructions on the packet and check combination products separately. NHS guidance on breastfeeding and medicines.
A corticosteroid injection around the affected tendon sheath can reduce symptoms and may be discussed early when pain substantially interferes with daily life.
A 2023 systematic review supported considering an injection followed by three to four weeks of thumb-spica immobilisation. The additional functional benefit of splinting compared with injection alone was statistically significant but small, so the findings do not mean every parent needs an identical treatment plan. Review in JAMA Network Open.
Possible injection effects include temporary soreness and occasional changes to skin colour or thickness. Discuss the specific medicine, risks and breastfeeding considerations before treatment. British Society for Surgery of the Hand treatment guidance.
De Quervain’s release widens the tight tunnel so the tendons have more room to move. iiS Health describes this as a day-case procedure, usually performed under local anaesthetic.
Surgery carries risks, including infection, scar sensitivity, stiffness and irritation or injury to nearby sensory nerves. Recovery also requires planning around lifting and childcare. Your surgeon should explain the restrictions that apply to your operation. De Quervain’s treatment at iiS Health.
There is no single recovery timetable. Some mild cases of De Quervain’s improve within a few weeks, while others take considerably longer. Symptoms may be harder to settle when the same painful movements remain part of every day.
Improvement should show up in practical ways: a more comfortable feed, less pain when dressing or greater ease holding everyday objects. If pain keeps returning or your hand function is deteriorating, seek advice rather than waiting for a particular postpartum milestone.
Arrange an assessment if pain affects normal activities, keeps returning or has not improved after two weeks of self-care. Seek help sooner if you cannot comfortably and securely manage your baby.
Contact NHS 111 for urgent advice if you have severe pain, cannot move your wrist or hold objects, lose feeling in your hand, notice a change in wrist shape or colour, or have a very painful, hot or red lump. Pain accompanied by feeling unwell or shivery also needs urgent advice. NHS guidance on when to seek help.
If wrist pain is disrupting feeding, lifting or everyday hand use, iiS Health offers specialist assessment at The Cheshire Hand Clinic in Warrington. Care includes non-surgical options, hand therapy and surgery where appropriate, with on-site imaging available when clinically needed.
Contact iiS Health to arrange an assessment and discuss a treatment plan that takes your childcare responsibilities into account.
Yes. De Quervain’s can affect people who have not been pregnant, including parents and carers who regularly lift children. Pregnancy is not required for the condition to develop. Repeated gripping or lifting may aggravate symptoms, but an assessment is still needed to establish what is causing the pain. NHS information for parents and carers.
Yes, symptoms can affect both wrists. NHS guidance notes that new mothers and childcare providers may experience problems in both hands. Tell your clinician about each side, including differences in pain, swelling or sensation, because bilateral symptoms do not automatically mean both wrists have the same diagnosis. Midlands Partnership NHS guidance.
Wrist pain alone is not a reason to stop breastfeeding. Adjusting how you support your arms and baby may make feeding more comfortable. Ask your midwife, health visitor or feeding specialist for positioning help if needed, and tell any clinician prescribing treatment that you are breastfeeding. NHS feeding-position advice.
Often, yes, but the clinician should check the particular steroid and dose. LactMed states that local triamcinolone injections for tendon conditions are not expected to harm breastfed infants. Temporary reductions in milk supply have been reported, including after a wrist injection. Discuss your feeding situation and any existing supply concerns beforehand. LactMed guidance on triamcinolone.
No. Forcing a painful stretch is not a reliable treatment. Exercises should build gradually and be adjusted if symptoms worsen. A physiotherapist or hand therapist can help you choose movements and strengthening exercises appropriate to your symptoms, rather than repeatedly pushing into the position that hurts. Berkshire Healthcare’s rehabilitation advice.
A wrist brace may provide some support, but De Quervain’s usually needs a splint that also controls thumb movement. Ask for advice about a thumb-spica splint and its fit. Explain that you need to lift and feed a baby so the wearing plan accounts for those tasks. NHS guidance on thumb and wrist splinting.
Your surgeon should give you individual lifting advice before the operation. Being able to move your fingers or perform light tasks does not necessarily mean you are ready to lift a baby. Arrange help with cot transfers, bathing and carrying, and ask specifically when you can resume those activities safely.
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