Numb arms or legs? Blame Hormones
Some women experience numb arms or legs during the second half of pregnancy [1]. Most often, the hormone relaxin is to blame. Pregnant women produce additional relaxin, which makes muscles and ligaments more elastic to make room for baby. With a change in your normal center of gravity due to your growing belly [2], nerves can get pinched, causing shooting pain, tingling, and numbness in the arms, legs, and buttocks. Also around the third trimester of pregnancy, edema often occurs, which can also press on the nerves and provoke numbness [3]. The remedy? Have your partner give you a gentle massage and try using a body pillow to find a more comfortable sleeping position.
When do you need to see a doctor? If you experience other symptoms in addition to numbness including headache, blurred vision, vaginal bleeding, nausea or seizures, see your doctor immediately [4].
