| Approximately 30% of pregnant women will develop numbness in one or both
hands following the distribution of the median nerve. (index finger, middle
finger, medial surface of ring finger, with sparing of the lateral surface of
the ring finger and the little finger).
This is due to swelling and compression of the median nerve as it
passes through the "carpal tunnel" in the wrist.
The dominant hand is more frequently effected. It is usually worse in
the morning and improved in the evening. After delivery, the condition
goes away gradually.
 No treatment is necessary for this condition, so long as the motor
portion of the nerve is still functioning normally. When treatment is
necessary, splinting the wrist in a "cockup splint" will be helpful.
Injection of the carpal tunnel with steroids may also be done (after 24
weeks of pregnancy).
Rarely, surgery may be necessary to free up the median nerve,
although this is almost never required during pregnancy.
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