My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Pain in ribs in back

11 replies

NewMum26 · 22/02/2017 14:32

I've got this pain in the right side of my ribs on my back it's like a dull burning pain and when I move certain ways or twist my body it hurts like a sharp pain. I've had it for a few days now I'm 30 Weeks this Friday.
Any ideas on what it could be? I stupidly consulted Dr Google and I'm now totally freaking out I have a clot in my lung! 😱😨

OP posts:
SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 22/02/2017 14:37

It's probably just your rib cage expanding a bit to make room for baby, it aches like a bastard and I remember it making me utterly miserable. Is it anywhere near your bra strap?

LundyFastnetIrishSea · 22/02/2017 14:50

Yep, I had this, same as SheRaaargh.

It started at 16 weeks, it was so painful, eventually it hurt to sit. And then under my ribs (top of bump) went numb at about 36 weeks as the nerves were so dead. And because of the numbness, I couldn't feel the contractions starting at the top! Confused

The sore ribs stopped as soon as DD was born; delivery is the only cure, apparently! Although I did find sitting on a gym ball helped a little bit.

My ribs did go back into place really quickly after birth (they'd been pushed out a few inches).

anxiousandpregnant · 22/02/2017 14:56

I think the previous replies are probably what happening but I think to be safe (and to put your mind at rest) you should speak to your midwife.

NewMum26 · 22/02/2017 15:21

Thanks for the replies girls!
Yes it is right where my bra strap goes across my back SheRaaargh. When I'm laid in bed flat on my back it doesn't hurt so much.
It also is worse when I cough or turn my body so I'm twisting if this makes sense. I'm such a worrier anyway and googling although we all know is the worst thing to do just can't help it 😂

OP posts:
LundyFastnetIrishSea · 23/02/2017 08:01

Sounds very like Rib Flare then, especially with the lying flat being the only way of getting relief!

You can buy little extenders for your bra for a few pounds. That helps a bit too.

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 23/02/2017 11:01

Yep, different bra with a wider strap perhaps (or do what I did and just stop wearing one as much as possible).

Are you on the shorter side, by any chance? I'm a short arse and apparently it's worse because there's less space.

It might ease a bit when baby drops, but you're a few weeks off that yet I'm afraid.

Kiwi32 · 23/02/2017 11:06

It sounds like rib pain-you might get some temporary relief from a manual therapist, so masseuse/Chiro/physio/osteopath. Try an ice pack as well for 15 minutes every couple of hrs - the joint between your ribs and spine is probably slightly inflamed. Also if you kneel up and put hands on table and then slowly stretch head down between arms (bump allowing!) that may help.

LundyFastnetIrishSea · 23/02/2017 11:42

She and I obviously had the same experience!

Yep, different bra with a wider strap perhaps (or do what I did and just stop wearing one as much as possible).

Yes to this. I stopped wearing bras at home from about halfway through my pregnancy. By 35 weeks I'd even given up wearing them to work most of the time. Blush I wore scarves to cover my nipples!

Are you on the shorter side, by any chance? I'm a short arse and apparently it's worse because there's less space.

Me too! I'm not quite average height, but I have a short torso, this meant that the baby was wedged between my pelvis and ribs. And DD was long, which didn't help. So my bump jutted out right under my ribs and that's why there was so much pressure on them.

It might ease a bit when baby drops, but you're a few weeks off that yet I'm afraid.

I looked forward to this, but it never happened... I think she was so jammed in there was nowhere to actually drop into Confused

You have my sympathy. It was so hard. And it hadn't happened to any of my friends or family so they were all a bit Hmm about how sore I was saying it was.

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 23/02/2017 11:50

Tight fitting vest tops are a godsend. You can get maternity ones for feeding that have clips for the straps, and they're really good support but don't have the band around your ribs (iirc). Otherwise, cheap ones from H&M.

LurkyMcLurcker · 23/02/2017 13:16

I had this with both my pregnancies - it is awful. I couldn't drive by the end. It does go away after delivery though.

NewMum26 · 23/02/2017 16:07

Oh thanks for the replies girls it sounds like it's more common than I thought! Funny how no one ever tells you the little twinges or pains you get like this isn't it! MidWife's etc always talk about morning sickness and the common complaints but we have to work stuff out like this for our selves 😂
Thanks for the advice I'm trying to leave my maternity bra off when I can at home.
Anyone find warm baths help at all?

OP posts:
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.