Paresthesia During Pregnancy: What It Is And What Are Its Causes
Pregnancy or gestation is the period from the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus until the moment of delivery. This is accompanied by a whole series of physical and biological changes in the body that allow the development of the fetus. Sometimes, mothers-to-be suffer from a series of somewhat unexpected and quite annoying conditions, especially towards the end of the second trimester and the beginning of the third. The appearance of spots, swelling associated with fluid retention, heartburn and stomach problems are common.
Some pregnant people experience tingling sensations in different parts of the body, but especially in the legs. Normally, these symptoms appear suddenly, in the middle of the night and for no apparent reason. The tingling sensation may be accompanied by burning and loss of sensation.
Paraesthesia and its symptoms are more common and frequent in the last months of pregnancy In this article we will explain the most common causes of paresthesia during pregnancy.
Paresthesia in pregnancy refers to numbness and tingling sensation accompanied by lack of mobility normally experienced in the lower part of the body during pregnancy
During pregnancy, numbness throughout the body is common. You don’t have to worry too much about these sensations. Pregnant people experience symptoms such as numbness in their legs, usually after waking up from a nap or in the morning, they may also feel pain in their joints and arms when they have been in the same position for a while or after lifting an object. heavy.
There are different common causes of pregnancy that cause numbness in the legs and a tingling sensation in the last months of fetal development.
Causes of paresthesia in pregnancy
Normally, the origin of paresthesia is associated with hormonal and bodily changes , although in some cases it may be of neuralgic origin, due to the pinching of a nerve that communicates with the lower part of the body. In less common cases, numbness in the fingers is due to stress on the joints. Some pregnant women are known to experience numbness in their tongue after eating certain foods, or after making a sudden, sudden movement of the neck.
As we see, paresthesia in pregnancy has certain symptoms; commonly numbness and tingling sensation accompanied by lack of mobility, but the origin of the condition can vary. Let’s see in detail what are the most common causes of paresthesia during pregnancy.
In addition to changes in the so-called female sex hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, pregnancy affects the levels of other hormones As pregnancy progresses, the body secretes more relaxin. This hormone enables the stretching of the ligaments, necessary during pregnancy and childbirth.
But the high levels of relaxin and the loosening of the ligaments it produces also imply other body changes – not so beneficial – affecting posture and the center of gravity. These modifications mean that some nerves can be pinched, causing stabbing pain and tingling in different parts of the body, including the legs.
2. Body changes
As pregnancy progresses, important bodily changes are experienced. The uterus is the place where the baby grows, and logically it increases in weight and volume as pregnancy progresses. The large, heavy uterus puts increasing pressure on ligaments, muscles, nerves and nearby organs thus contributing to the sensation of numbness and tingling in the lower limbs.
Starting in the second trimester of pregnancy, it is common for hands and feet to swell. Pregnant people increase their blood volume by more than 40%, compared to non-pregnant people. This increase is necessary to meet the needs of the gestating fetus and to compensate for future maternal blood loss that occurs during childbirth. The increase in blood volume, increased vascular permeability, in addition to respiratory difficulty, cause fluid retention responsible for swelling of the extremities.
3. Sciatica
Sciatica is the most common cause of lower limb paresthesia which usually appears during the third trimester of pregnancy.
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body, originating in the lower back, leaving the spinal cord, and branching through the buttocks and the back of the leg toward the toes.
Sciatica is caused by compression of part of the sciatic nerve The affected person describes pain that extends along the path of the nerve. There are different causes of sciatica, in the case of pregnancy its origin is the pinching of the sciatic nerve, due to the increase in volume and weight of the uterus.
Sciatica only usually causes numbness and tingling in the lower part of the body during pregnancy. But for some it can be debilitating and affect the development of daily life.
Sciatic nerve impingement and its symptoms are quite common in pregnant people. A less common condition that also occurs as a result of a pinched nerve is meralgia paresthetica. This condition appears as a result of pressure placed on the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve , a nerve that runs through the front and side of the thigh. The lateral femoral nerve (CLNF) is responsible for providing sensation to the skin that covers the thigh.
Pinching this nerve produces a tingling sensation, numbness and burning pain on the outside of the thigh as the main symptoms. Also, you may feel punctures in the quadriceps and the pain may extend to the knee.
5. Carpal tunnel syndrome
Paraesthesia can sometimes affect the hands and fingers in pregnant people, especially as pregnancy progresses and there is more and more excess fluid. In some pregnant people, this excess fluid puts pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, causing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is quite common during pregnancy; four out of ten pregnant people are diagnosed with this syndrome Causes associated with carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy include fluid retention, weight gain, and hormonal changes. Most cases are detected during the later stages of pregnancy, but if you have had carpal tunnel syndrome, before or in other pregnancies, your symptoms may occur earlier.
Most people experience symptoms in one or both hands, with the hand we use most frequently being the most affected. Symptoms include: burning sensation in hands, wrists and arms, difficulty holding things, pain in the hand, wrist and fingers. Hands and fingers may also swell.
Symptoms of paresthesia include pins and needles in the upper extremities , as if pins prick fingers and hands. Also, the thumbs, index and middle fingers can become numb, as can the shoulders, neck and arms.
6. Other causes
Although paresthesia and sensations of numbness and tingling experienced during pregnancy are not usually serious, they can sometimes be symptoms of an underlying illness. That’s why, It is important to consult with your doctor about any abnormal sensations or changes experienced during the pregnancy period The following are some of the dangerous complications during pregnancy that include paresthesia among their symptoms.
6.1. Anemia
During pregnancy, anemia due to iron deficiency can cause tingling or a numb feeling in the legs, known as “restless legs syndrome.”
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause nerve damage which can cause numbness and tingling in the hands, as well as general muscle weakness, difficulty walking, memory problems, and even depression.
Related article: “18 foods rich in iron that cannot be missing from your diet”
Numbness or a tingling sensation during pregnancy may be a symptom of preeclampsia, a very serious condition that occurs during pregnancy, which affects blood pressure and can affect the blood supply to the placenta. Due to increased blood pressure, Preeclampsia can cause significant swelling of the body and could lead to the most common symptoms of paresthesia
Preeclampsia also presents numerous signs: loss of vision, severe headaches, vomiting, decreased urine production, abdominal pain, nausea and even seizures. If you experience numbness or tingling accompanied by any of these symptoms, it is important to contact a doctor immediately.
6.3. Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes can sometimes cause tingling and numbness in the hands and feet. If the pregnant person has already been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, lSymptoms of paresthesia may indicate that the disease is not being adequately controlled Therefore, it is important to report tingling and numbness, as well as any other new or relatively strange symptoms experienced during pregnancy, because it could be relevant to diagnosing and managing gestational diabetes or other underlying conditions.
Conclusion
Pregnant people experience many changes necessary to allow the development of the fetus; sometimes these normal changes in the body can produce other unexpected alterations. This is the case of paresthesia, the sensation of numbness and tingling that occurs in different parts of the body, usually the lower area. Although it normally occurs as a result of hormonal and body alterations that affect posture or blood volume, it can also be the consequence of pinching or pressure exerted on a nerve that communicates with the lower part of the body, as in the case of sciatica.
In all of these cases, it is not considered serious and can be treated with massage, changes in sleeping positions, or an analgesic to relieve the pain. However, sometimes paresthesia can occur as a symptom of a more serious condition that affects pregnancy, such as anemia, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, so it is important to consult with a specialist about any strange symptoms that occur. present during pregnancy.
