Stomach & Back Pain, any advice?

[Roseblossom2]

Hello all,

I'm 18w2d pregnant and for the last few days I have had horrible aching paints in my upper stomach/ribs area as if I've done hundreds of situps, the ache won't shift no matter position I am in.

On top of this I am having the same aches and pains in my back.

I'm not sure what to do as It's making me miserable :(

Did anyone else have this at this point? any advice?

I had a bath last night which eased it, but as soon as I got out of the bath it was back to the same aches again.

[Roseblossom2]

Must just be me. Nevermind, I'll have a word with MW

[soundsystem]

I have this too! Spoke to midwife and she said she didn't really know, as pain is normally in lower back. Found that particularly helpful! She suggested not sitting or standing for too long, and baths/showers. And paracetamol.

Things I've found helpful:

Lying down and stretching (not always practical)
Sitting on an exercise ball rather than a chair.
Putting my arms above my head (past caring that I look like an idiot in public!)
Co-codamol (trying to limit this to when it's really bad)
Cold packs - the gel ones you can put in the freezer.
Hot showers - as you say only helped while I was actually in the shower, but even 10 minutes of not being in pain was good!

To be honest, haven't found anything foolproof :(

Let me know if your midwife suggests anything that works for you, and hope you feel better x

[Roseblossom2]

Thanks for the advice, I'll try them all except the painkillers - If I can't cope now I won't cope later lol

[sara87]

awww...hey thats perfectly normal..i told my dr. when i had baaad rib pain started 12 week onwards. she said the baby needs space and so everything is being pushed upwards. hate to say this bit it will get worse with time. what eases it for me is lying on one side, stretching my arms, n yes don't slouch and analgesic cream if it gets bad at night especially. use max pillows as many as make you comfortable..
hopefully it will get better as your body adjusts. hang in there..

[tomanyanimals]

I have had it and been referred for physio as I had spd in last pregnancy and she sort of said if it helps it helps if not other than painkillers your abit stuck so helpful but not helpful sorry may be worth mentioning that though?

[GeorgiexXx]

For back pain my midwife recommended non-medicated heat packs from the pharmacy. They're quite expensive and so I also have a small lavender bean bag that I put in the microwave and heat up. I use it in the car and at work.

[Roseblossom2]

thanks guys! IT's hard with having an office job as I'm sat down most of the day, I stand at my desk sometimes but just isn't practical. By the time I get home all I want to do is have a bath then lie on the floor! lol.

[ShadowsShadowsEverywhere]

Pain right under your ribs is often the baby actually pushing against them with his/her feet. Both mine did this and I've actually got uneven ribs now two years after youngests birth. Ribs on the right stick out a lot at the bottom, DS literally bent them! Aching in your back may well be posture related. It's really hard to do but try and pull your bomb in a bit and tilt pelvis forwards. Around now you start to get that curved spine because the weight of the baby at the front and all that fluid forces you to thrust pelvis out to compensate. Try not to do that and you may find the aching eases, and you will have less of a curvy dip spine after birth as well. It is all very very normal though and yes, it will get worse!

[ShadowsShadowsEverywhere]

Bomb should say bump!

[ShadowsShadowsEverywhere]

Woah that's got to be the quickest deletion I've ever seen on MN! Was is spam?

[soundsystem]

Ooh, just got a bump band (this one: www.nctshop.co.uk/Carriwell-Support-Band/productinfo/1185/) and my back feels so much better. Might be worth a shot?

Downside: I can't eat anything while wearing it without throwing up :(

swings and roundabouts...

[Roseblossom2]

Thanks for your advice/sharing! since I can't tell If I have felt my baby move yet at 19 weeks I suppose a kick in the ribs would be some kind of sign! ;)

I might have a look into the bump band, although whenever I wear pregnancy clothes with a band in I feel so tight and restricted :(

[ShadowsShadowsEverywhere]

I never liked bump bands, they made heartburn worse and once you start getting big kicks and Braxton hicks they can feel like you're being squeezed and pummelled from all angles.

[WftsC]

Yoga REALLY helped with this for me. From about 16 wks I had such a sore back (esp shoulders, weirdly) and the pg yoga teacher showed me some stretching exercises that were like heaven!!

It's all about making space for the baby, apparently. Flat shoes, sitting on birthing ball, warm baths and a body pillow worked for me alongside yoga. I am fine now, and have been for a good few weeks! (33 wks now)