Baby practising karate on my ribs!

[Princessbb1]

Hi! I was hoping some of you wise ladies may be able to help me.

I'm almost 33 weeks and so fed up. I feel like I haven't slept for a month and when I do it's for 20 minutes at a time. I'm pretty sure he's head down but lying sideways so his head, bum and back are facing my left side (great news for my left ribs). However, his legs are on my right side and I'm constantly being kicked at night.

I can cope with it during the day but at night its awful, if I sleep on my left side, I've realised I'm giving his legs free reign to wallop me in my right ribs. So I've been sleeping more on my right side as this gives his legs less room to manoeuvre.

I'm only 5ft and I think he's struggling for space but I can't tell if he's dropped or not yet.

I've tried a body pillow, it ends up on the floor every night. I've now surrounded myself by pillows and I spend most of the night sat up trying to sleep.

I'm hoping there's some kind of secret sleeping postion that I don't know about or a way to get him to move? If anyone is having this problem or had this problem any tips would be magical.

The thought of another 7 weeks of this just makes me want to cry especially as he's only going to get stronger (I've well and truly thrown myself a pity party!).

Thanks x

[shelley1977]

I feel for you as im suffering with bad rib pain too, im only 30 weeks! Unfortunately I don't think there is much we can do, this is my 6th pregnancy and never found a way to relieve it.

[Princessbb1]

Hi Shelly,Your sixth! Wow, this is my first and I can't imagine wanting to do this again! I was hoping I'd love pregnancy but between the sickness and hormones, I'm struggling!

I was really hoping I was missing something that would help with my ribs. Wishful thinking, I guess!

[shelley1977]

I have pretty crap pregnancies, this is my best so far and that's on top of having fibromyalgia. My baby has spent quite a bit of time back to back and to help ease some of the pain I sit on an exercise ball a lot or lean over it, that and really warm baths

[bellaboo88]

36w & I have rib flare from baby's bum! I thought the rib kicks were bad but the bum is much worse, sorry!! I'm 5ft too!

I find propping myself up for a bit helps. MW did say its ok to take paracetamol

[hodgepodgepanda]

Have you tried giving the baby a good prod, I find if I do this eventually he moves

I'm currently 30+4 & it feels like he is trying to bloody escape most of the time with all the flipping/kicking & I swear he yanks at the umbilical cord

Seriously though try prodding him or give his bum a little push with your hand

[fattymcfatfat]

I constantly had little feet in my ribs with dc1 & 2. This one isnt big enough but ibwas forever poking at them to get them to move!

[Princessbb1]

Thank you for replying, it's comforting to know it's happening to other people. I honestly don't know how I will get to the end. I'm starting to worry about the size of baby, DH is super tall so I think he might be a long baby!
I've tried prodding time and time again, he just doesn't get the hint he's supposed to move!
I read somewhere about putting a cold drink on the area, that seemed to anger him and I felt mean!

x

[cowbiscuits]

I got bad rib pain with DS, mine was not like ribs being kicked, but an ache like my ribs being stretched. It was always worse on left side. Sometimes it used to take my breath away.

I think I'm starting to get it a bit again now(27 weeks), You have my sympathy.

[cowbiscuits]

bellaboo88, just googled "rib flare", never heard it called that before, it explained it a lot better, thanks.

[cowbiscuits]

Oh, and I just found this:

"Here is a really effective exercise for temporary relief. Stand facing a wall. With your feet 40cms from the wall, cross your arms in front of your face. Then lean your crossed arms on the wall sliding them up the wall above your head and stretching yourself up as far as possible. Hold the position for as long as comfortable. This lifts the diaphragm and rib cage up off the uterus. Practicing doorway chest stretches can also be helpful because they, too, will help rotate the shoulders up and back, which can also help lift the ribs away from the uterus."

from www.pregnant2day.co.za/2nd-trimester/rib-flaring.html