A couple of weeks ago, my left hand started to go numb from time to time. At first I thought my arm was falling asleep; then I realized that only the first three fingers were affected, meaning the problem was the nerve, not poor circulation.
A few minutes’ Googling, and I’d learned that carpal tunnel syndrome is common in the second half of pregnancy. Apparently, the slight swelling that accompanies the normal increase in blood volume can create the same hand and wrist problems that inflammation can.
I’ve never had this symptom before — swelling hasn’t been a problem for me in my two previous pregnancies, except for a day here or a week there at the height of summer. Still, I’m aware that my diet hasn’t been what it should, so I’ll take it as a wake-up call. I need to drink more water (she says as she sips her third cup of coffee). I have hardly been able to look at green leafy vegetables — time for a new strategy.
The hard part is just scheduling them in, given that I have a terrible aversion to salads. Maybe I need to buy a stack of boxes of frozen microwaveable broccoli, or something, and force myself to eat one every day.
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