‘I couldn't change his nappy’: New mothers' experiences of De Quervain's tendinosis and its impact on occupational performance

New mothers can develop a common upper limb condition called De Quervain's Stenosing Tendinosis (DQST), also known as 'mummy's thumb', which can make daily occupations difficult. This includes bathing, dressing, and helping their babies sleep. Fifteen first-time mothers with babies under 2 years old and DQST were interviewed and filled out a functional questionnaire. The results showed that DQST affected their daily occupations, such as caring for their babies, doing housework, self-care, leisure occupations, sleep, social interactions, and self-esteem. Many mothers said they did not receive any information about DQST before they developed it during pregnancy or in their baby's first year. Some were given treatment options like using a splint to rest their hand, but these were not always comfortable or practical due to their caregiving duties. The study highlighted that educating mothers on how to adjust their occupations during pregnancy and after birth could help prevent DQST. Treatment options should also consider their role as caregivers. This was the first study to look at how a common hand condition affects mothers' daily occupations. A limitation was that the study did not ask mothers for details about their marital status, culture, or economic background, which could have added to the understanding of the group's diversity.