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Pregnancy

Pain under breasts and across abdomen

24 replies

EllieG · 12/01/2008 11:05

Best way I have of describing is that it feels like really sore trapped wind but in a weird place. Stretching makes it a bit better. Pain is on both sides - was wondering if this could be something have read about called rib flare? Is there anything I can do to make it go away?

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Report

mummylittle · 12/01/2008 11:12

Is the pain going right across the top of your bump like a really bad stomach ache and constant?

jennifersofia · 12/01/2008 11:29

I have a pain in my ribs that is quite uncomfortable - not all the time, seems to be slightly exacerbated after meals. Midwife told me it was rib flare (ribs flare and muscle in between gets a bit strained) and said there is nothing that can be done other than paracetamol if it is really bad.

EllieG · 12/01/2008 17:50

Thanks for replies - it's not constant - gets worse after meals and I thought it was some kind of weird indigestion, but it doesn't feel like that. It's like a sharp pain right across top - I tried taking gaviscon, but that didn't work. Will try some paracetamol if gets bad again if that helps, thanks for tip!

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LiegeAndLief · 12/01/2008 20:02

How pregnant are you and have you had your blood pressure checked recently? Pain under the ribs can be a symptom of pre-eclampsia as described in this thread. If you're not sure, always better to check so I would suggest you call your mw and just get her to check you over - won't hurt. Do hope it gets better soon.

Carmenere · 12/01/2008 20:05

It could be gall stones, ask your MW about them, they often come on in pregnancy apparently.

EllieG · 12/01/2008 21:51

Ugh. Neither of those sound nice. Blood pressure is fine - was checked yesterday and all normal. Might give midwife a call on monday just to get this sorted out though. Went and had a walk to shop and then bath and that seems to have eased it off a bit. Bloody uncomfortable though when it comes on.

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EllieG · 12/01/2008 22:05

LiegeAndLief - have just read that thread - I am all teary at such a brilliant result for rascal. That's fantastic.

I am 26 weeks PG and the pain comes and goes, and my blood pressure was fine yesterday so i think it is Ok. Will ring MD on monday to double check. Is defo not indigestion though as nothing I take makes any difference. But is not a constant pain and stretching/exercise/eating less seems to help.

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LiegeAndLief · 13/01/2008 13:13

EllieG, I think it might be worth asking your mw to do a blood test for liver function just to be sure. 26 weeks is very early for pre-eclampsia and it is very rare to have symptoms without raised bp so your risk is very small - but when I had this pain it was misdiagnosed because my bp and urine were normal. Only a blood test showed that I was actually pretty ill. My pain came for hours at a time, often at night, but did come and go to an extent, and exercise made it a bit better.

IME community mws and gps seem to be fairly ignorant about this type of pain in connection with pre-eclampsia. Hope your mw is brilliant but, if not, try not to get fobbed off. It is much better to get everything checked out than take a risk, however small. Good luck!

EllieG · 13/01/2008 18:35

Thanks leige - I will do that tomorrow. It's getting more and more painful and is really quite uncomfortable at the moment and have taken as many paracetamol as I can and it isn;t really going away. I don't mind things that hurt if I know what they are iyswim?

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EllieG · 13/01/2008 18:48

This is really painful!!!! I don't like it. Can anyone who had rib flare reassure me and tell me it was really painful at times?

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EllieG · 13/01/2008 18:54

Bump. Anyone got any ideas? Sorry to be a pain am such a wuss

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LiegeAndLief · 13/01/2008 20:10

Are you still around? I think you really need to get this checked out if you are in this much pain. Ring your labour ward or out of hours midwife, there should be someone who can see you. Worst case scenario, if the pain is due to pre-eclampsia, you really need to see someone tonight as it can worsen very quickly and be dangerous to both you and the baby. In the meantime, codeine is safe to take in pregnancy if you happen to have any lying around...

I think (have never had rib flare) that the pain would be actually on your ribs. Pain from your liver is in the hollow just where your ribs meet. Not sure about the gallstones.

Do hope it is better now but please bother someone and get it checked out!

EllieG · 13/01/2008 21:46

Thanks Liege - I had a bath and that eased it off for a bit. As long as I stretch and move every so often it is managable - pain is mostly directly under right breast rather than the hollow between ribs in middle so sounds like is OK. I will go to ante natal first thing in morning though to get checked. Will turn out to be something and nothing am sure and then I'll feel really stupid for worrying!

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Har · 14/01/2008 11:19

How's it going Ellie? Like some other posters I would say to be aware of pre-eclampsia (the across top abdomen pain) . On the other hand I had very similar pain for a week recently (when 17wks pregnant), across abdomen and breasts. Mainly static, occasionally shooting and occasionally going down sides too, as you say similar to trapped wind feeling. Found it extremely painful and scary and wondered if pre-eclampsia but seemed so early. However did vanish of its own accord (was abroad so couldn't go to see midwife and check it out) and am assuming that it actually was trapped wind, however painful. Hope your check up goes well today and it's found to be nothing serious. Absolutely not stupid for worrying though, everything is sooooo worrying and wierd during pregnancy!

EllieG · 14/01/2008 13:01

Thanks for asking har - have spent most of the morning at the hospital - they've taken bloods, all normal, as is blood pressure. They are going to send me for an ultrasound scan on friday morning to check my gall bladder as that might be it. Or it might not be. They said it was a bit early for baby/uterus making my ribs hurt but could be possibility. Basically, no one knows what's up with me, but all the really serious things have been ruled out and the baby is fine, so I am feeling more chilled.

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EllieG · 14/01/2008 13:01

Thanks for asking har - have spent most of the morning at the hospital - they've taken bloods, all normal, as is blood pressure. They are going to send me for an ultrasound scan on friday morning to check my gall bladder as that might be it. Or it might not be. They said it was a bit early for baby/uterus making my ribs hurt but could be possibility. Basically, no one knows what's up with me, but all the really serious things have been ruled out and the baby is fine, so I am feeling more chilled.

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LiegeAndLief · 14/01/2008 13:57

Sorry had gone to bed when you posted last night (early rising very active toddler...) So glad you have been taken seriously and everything is being looked at properly. Hope all goes well and the pain never comes back!

babylove21 · 14/01/2008 14:06

Hi ellie, My ribs have ached quite a lot on and off, am now 23 weeks. how far gone are you?

EllieG · 14/01/2008 14:07

Thanks liege x

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Har · 20/01/2008 22:36

Ellie, forgot your threat title and only just found you again! Sorry that you didn't find out what it was but brilliant news that nothing dangerous for you or baby. Are you feeling better now?

Har · 20/01/2008 22:37

God sorry thread not threat!

Poppy5 · 10/10/2008 20:00

Hi EllieG, I know you posted this ages ago but I've just read this thread and you've described the exact issues I'm having at the moment - I'm 23 weeks pg and in the last 2 weeks the pain has quickly increased to an unbearable pain on the top right of my bump. It gets worse when I eat but it's not indigestion. I was wondering what happened - was it gallstones with you and what do you recommend to relieve the pain?? Did it stay with you until you gave birth? In fact, any help from anyone is very much appreciated! Thanks.

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dan39 · 10/10/2008 22:13

Poppy from reading this thread and others, maybe you should call your mw as its been around for a while?

Poppy5 · 11/10/2008 15:53

Hi Dan39
Thanks for responding. I have been to hospital and they said the baby is absolutely fine which is wonderful news but they are still unsure of what is causing the pain. They mentioned gallstones and I am waiting for a letter to arrive to tell me when my appointment is to have my gall bladder scanned. However until then was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to deal with the piercing pain....?? And if it is gallstones what should I avoid or is there anything (apart from painkillers) that will help me out. Thanks.

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