Left Arm Hurts/going to Sleep While Pregnant. Happened to Anyone Else?

Updated on June 11, 2013
K.H. asks from Fernley, NV
9 answers

Hey all. I'm exactly 25 weeks pregnant, 28 and in excellent health. So 3 different times now in the last week my left harm has gone to sleep suddenly and hurt at the same time. The first time it happened I was sitting down watching baseball and it went to sleep and when feeling returned my arm was weak for a good 30 minutes. The 2nd and 3rd times it was just a brief numbing 30seconds to 2 minutes. I was walking slowly both times. I get exercise-just walking and a bit of swimming now ad eat fairly healthily. I placed a call to my OB but they don't open for another almost 1 1/2 hours. I am a little freaked out.(ok alot). My last appointment(10 days ago) my bp had gone up 25 points, it was around 105/55-60 and it was at 138/115 and I am a little swollen but other that that I feel great-just sleepy, so normal I guess! Anyone have this happen, and what was it? Thanks guys.

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M.L.

answers from Cleveland on

I had pre eclampsia with my first and the swelling was the warning sign, i wish i had packed a bag to take to that apppointment because they sent me straight to the hospital. i was mad because i was still working at the time and had things to do, lol.

the numbing i had with my second 18 months apart in age, and it was from carrying a toddler around on my left hip and supporting his weight with my wrist. taht was bad but a an elastic cuff thing like a splint helped.

goodluck

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E.T.

answers from Albuquerque on

I'm not a doctor... but with blood pressure that high, being swollen, and having your arm go to sleep, I'd be calling Labor & Delivery at the hospital to see if they could check you out sooner than your OB. There's probably nothing wrong - but that's enough warning signs for Pre-Exclampsia that it's better to waste a few hours getting checked out than stressing at home.

6 moms found this helpful
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S.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

When you say 'pain' and pregnant, there are so many different kinds of pain. For me I had pain after sleeping on my left side, so much so that I couldn't even lift my arm to reach and close the car door. I was referred to physical therapy and given some exercises and sleeping positions to help with the pain. I was told that while we are pregnant there is a hormone that causes our joints to loosen, in helping our bodies get ready for the baby's delivery. However, what you appear to be describing sounds more like your arm falling asleep. Good luck and hope you and your doctor can resolve this.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.I.

answers from San Diego on

I would recommend going to your ob when they open. Its probably nothing serious but always best to not take a chance.I had full eclampsia but ignored all symptoms,I was clueless. My swelling was severe if I had to be on my feet for a bit I would get cankles, you could poke my legs for a few seconds and leave a dent. I read some swelling after long periods on feet was normal. Never realized how serious it was till my doctor found out. Long story short at 7 months and 2 weeks they did emergency csection. I ended up having 2 types of heart failure in the following days. I'm only telling you my story because it is good to tell your doctor about any symptoms even if they seem minor or relative. Had I spoke up and told mine all those little symptoms I wouldn't have had the heart failure. Plus peace of mind is the best. You are doing everything right!

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S.T.

answers from New York on

Call your doc jsut to bes ure everything's good. When did you see him/her last? I would think your blood pressure would need closer monitoring - but then I'm not a medical professional.

Baby is probably sitting on and pressing against your vena cava or aorta. Your aorta brings oxygen rich blood into the lower part of your body and the vena cava bring ovygen depleted blood back up through your heart & lungs to pick up oxygen. Try sleeping on your left side if possible and stuff a pillow under your belly, another between your knees and another under your upper arm.

My legs & ankles puffed up with my first child and had similar numbness and "sleeping" arms. I had carpal tunnel with her and didn't feel the tips of the fingers on my right hand for months. Within an hour of giving birth my hand and ankles were back to normal! (and had none of this with my second child!)

None of what you're dealing with is outside of normal - but I would keep a close eye on your blood pressure. Mine was always perfect until the last week or two - but it never got higher than 130/90.

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J.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had similar pain and numbness in both arms and was diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel (sp?) that went away as soon as I delivered. That may be as simple as it is but it is quite painful and wakes you up out of sleep at night :(

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A.T.

answers from San Diego on

I had the same issue! Of course a doc needs to diagnose you and, sounds like you're probably visiting your doc as soon as you can. I'm not a doc however here is what happened to me.

I had numbing and tingling in my left arm for parts of both my entire pregnancies, which then turned into shortness of breath and chest pain. This almost always happened to me while lying down - so usually in the middle of the night. The only other times it happened, when not at night, I realized later was after eating something like fast food. I had extensive tests done to check my heart, ekg, etc. even wore a holster to monitor my heart at night. My bp was normal up until delivery where it was higher (but only with my 1st delivery). However, keep in mind high bp usually isn't associated with any symptoms as far as I know - I don't think you feel pain/tingling usually.

Anyway, after all the testing, it turned out to be a very bad case of acid reflux. With very bad reflux cases, the symptoms feel like a full on heart attack. We later discovered that the prenatals were causing severe acid build up in my stomach (and anything I ate that was acidic - coffee/tea/juice/fast food, and as far as the vitamins - even anything enriched, like enriched cereal which has added vitamins, and enriched bread ALL affected me. needless to say I really had to trim down my diet, and cut out a lot of things, even the prenatals -- again, not saying this is what you need to do, but this is what it was for me. I even tried kids chewable vitamins, and liquid vitamins - everything gave me bad reflux and this is the way it manifested in me. I could take the vitamins, only if I took prescribed rantidine (kinda like prescription tums), but I really didn't want to be taking that daily just to take the vitamin, so I just tried my best to eat super healthy. My kids turned out healthy thank God. Anyway, it made sense that it was only at night in my case, b/c the acid would seep up my esophagus and cause the reflux - and severe reflux actually can feel like a full on heart attack - we even called 911 in 1 case b/c I seriously felt like I was having a heart attack and couldn't breath - but yet my vitals were normal when paramedics arrived. Anyway, that's what did it for me. Of course, not saying to cut out the prenatals, which I had to do, but I would cut out all enriched/processed foods. I had to eat organic only, esp. pasta/breads. Avoid juice which is super acidic, and coffee/tea. Sounds weird, but it did the trick for me. And this even continued after my pregnancies, and I'm only now - 5 years later...somewhat back to normal. I would discuss the possibility of reflux issues with your doctor. Good luck!

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D..

answers from Miami on

I'm a little worried after reading your post. I think you need to go to the doc to rule out a mini-stroke. At the very least, which would be a ton better, you need to see a chiropractor in case you have a pinched nerve.

Please get to your ob/gyn and ask him or her to have someone evaluate you. Let us know how you are!

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

An appointment w/your doctor is in order, IMO.

I had the same swelling as you describe and I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. Don't mean to alarm you. Me and my baby were both fine, FYI.

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