Paresthesia during pregnancy: what is it 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 expectant mothers experience 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 frequent.

Some pregnant people experience tingling sensations in different parts of the body, but especially in the legs. Typically, these symptoms occur suddenly, in the middle of the night, and for no apparent reason. The tingling sensation may be accompanied by burning and loss of sensation.

Paresthesia and its symptoms are more common and frequent in the last months of pregnancy. In this article we will expose the most frequent causes of paresthesia during pregnancy.

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What is paresthesia in pregnancy?

Paresthesia in pregnancy refers to the numbness and tingling sensation accompanied by lack of mobility that is normally experienced in the lower part of the body during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, numbness throughout the body is common. Do not worry too much about these sensations. Pregnant people experience symptoms such as numbness in the 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.

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Causes of paresthesia in pregnancy

Normally, the origin of paresthesia is associated with hormonal and body changes, although in some cases it may be of neuralgic origin, due to pinching of a nerve that communicates with the lower part of the body. In less common cases, finger numbness is due to stress on the joints. Some pregnant women have been known to experience numbness in the tongue after eating certain foods, or after making a sudden jerky movement of the neck.

As we can 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 frequent causes of paresthesia during pregnancy.

1. hormonal changes

In addition to changes in 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 that it produces, also implies other bodily changes - not so beneficial - affecting posture and center of gravity. These modifications mean that some nerves can be pinched, causing shooting pain and tingling in different parts of the body, including the legs.

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2. bodily changes

As pregnancy progresses, important bodily changes are experienced. The uterus is the place where the baby grows, and logically increases in weight and volume as the pregnancy progresses. The large, heavy uterus puts increasing pressure on nearby ligaments, muscles, nerves, and organs, thus contributing to the sensation of numbness and tingling in the lower limbs.

From the second trimester of pregnancy, it is common for the 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 developing fetus and to compensate for future maternal blood loss that occurs during delivery. The increase in blood volume, the increase in vascular permeability, in addition to respiratory distress, cause fluid retention responsible for the swelling of the extremities.

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3. sciatica

Sciatica is the most common cause of paresthesia of the lower limbs., which usually appears during the third trimester of pregnancy.

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body, it originates in the lower back, leaves spinal cord, and branches through the buttocks and the back of the leg to the toes.

Sciatica is caused by compression of part of the sciatic nerve. The affected person describes pain that spreads along the course of the nerve. There are different causes for 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 usually only occurs in the case of pregnancy, numbness and tingling in the lower part of the body. But for some it can be debilitating and affect the way they go about their daily lives.

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4. meralgia paresthetica

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 exerted on the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, a nerve that runs down the front and side of the thigh. The lateral femoral nerve (NFCL) is responsible for providing sensation to the skin that covers the thigh.

Pinching of this nerve produces a tingling sensation, numbness, and a burning pain on the outside of the thigh as the main symptoms. Also, punctures can be felt in the quadriceps and the pain can spread to the knee.

5. Carpal tunnel syndrome

Paresthesia can sometimes affect the hands and fingers in pregnant people, especially as the pregnancy progresses and there is more and more excess fluid. In some pregnant people, this excess fluid puts pressure on the median nerve of 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. Associated causes of 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 often being the most affected. Symptoms include: burning sensation in the hands, wrists and arms, difficulty holding things, pain in the hand, wrist and fingers. The hands and fingers can also swell.

Paresthesia symptoms include pins and needles in the upper limbs, as if the pins pricked the 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 the numbness and tingling sensations experienced during pregnancy are usually not serious, they can sometimes be symptoms of an underlying disease. That's why, it is important to consult with the doctor any sensation or abnormal change that is experienced during the gestation 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 lead to numbness and tingling in the hands, as well as general muscle weakness, difficulty walking, memory problems, and even depression.

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6.2. preeclampsia

Numbness or tingling during pregnancy can be a symptom of pre-eclampsia, a very serious condition. that occurs during pregnancy, which affects blood pressure and can affect the blood supply of the placenta. Due to increased blood pressure, pre-eclampsia can cause significant swelling of the body and could lead to the more common symptoms of paresthesia.

Preeclampsia also has many signs: vision loss, severe headaches, vomiting, decreased urine output, 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,Symptoms 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 new or relatively unusual symptoms that occur. 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 changes. 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 product of hormonal and bodily alterations that affect posture or blood volume, it can also be the result 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 these cases, it is not considered serious and can be treated with massage, changes in sleeping positions, or an analgesic to relieve pain. However, sometimes paresthesia can present as a symptom of a more serious condition affecting pregnancy, such as anemia, gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, so it is important to consult a specialist for any unusual symptoms that occur during pregnancy. pregnancy.