Six weeks before i found out i was pregnant with my daughter Charlise i had my right wrist operated on to correct the Carpel Tunnel Syndrome i had developed as a result of working years as a chef and using knives.  OMG i am so lucky i had it done

as the pain i experienced later on in my pregnancy with my left hand was awful - i would have hated to have had to deal with both hands.  Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is where the muscle that goes across your wrist is enlargened or you have swelling that forces it to push down on your nerves.  This causes weakness in your hands, numbness and tingling.  It can get that severe that is causes cramping right up your arm through to your elbow.

It tends to be more present at night when you are sleeping (or trying to LOL) and have not moved it for long periods of time.  It becomes very prevalent later on in alot of pregnancies as a result of the water retention mothers to be can experience.  Thankfully though when it only occurs in this instance it disappears as soon as you give birth and your swelling dissolves.

Unfortunately there are not too many solutions to relieve the discomfort either and you may find that it will wake you often at night when you are trying to sleep.  I tried a magnetic brace and that helped slightly.  I had heard conflicting stories of raising or lowering your hand below your heart helped - well i tried both and nothing worked.  The main thing that helped was sleeping sitting upright with my hands just resting across my tummy - not such a comfortable position when you are heavily pregnant and swollen!!!

I hope this has helped inform other mothers and to allay any concerns i can gladly tell you that my wrist no longer bothers me at all - until i fall pregnant again LOL