When it comes to motherhood, there are a whole host of unexpected ailments that can arise. From various complications during and after birth to postpartum depression and mommy wrist, motherhood is not for the weak.
But there is one ailment that is fairly common amongst mothers but not often talked about. Earlier this month, Ashley Iaconetti—best known for her role as a The Bachelor contestant—opened up the pain she has started to experience ever since becoming a mother.
What Is ‘Mommy Wrist?’ Former ‘The Bachelor’ Star Shares How Motherhood Left Her in Unusual Pain
The pain is in her wrist. And while once a joke, Ashley admits the pain is not funny anymore.
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“A week ago, I thought my mommy’s wrist was kind of funny… and it’s not really a joke anymore,” the new mom said on her Instagram Story. “My wrists freaking hurt. It happens from the repetitive movements like picking up the baby and how you hold their bottle.”
Medically known as de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, in her Instagram post, Ashley called it Mommy Wrist. As the Mayo Clinic revealed, de Quervain’s tenosynovitis “is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist.”
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis can be the result of “repetitive hand or wrist movement — such as working in the garden, playing golf or racket sports, or lifting your baby.” As Ashley continued in her post, she was so shocked by just how many moms deal with this type of wrist pain.
“I know it’s common, but I’m sure the majority of moms don’t have it, or there would be more talk about it. My mom had it. She even got stretch marks on her wrists from the strain when we were babies.”
She then asked other moms out there also experiencing pain for any advice on how to get some relief from mommy wrist. After all, as she admits, her baby boy is only going to get heavier.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some symptoms of mommy wrist can include “pain near the base of your thumb, swelling near the base of your thumb, difficulty moving your thumb and wrist when you’re doing something that involves grasping or pinching, and a ‘sticking’ or ‘stop-and-go’ sensation in your thumb when moving it.” It’s important to see a doctor if you still have pain after you’ve already attempted to stop using your thumb, icing it, and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen.
The condition is most common in women.
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