Painful ab/rib muscles, third trimester - anyone else?

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Hi all, hope you can help to reassure me!

I'll be 28 weeks on Monday and have AWFUL muscle pains in my abs and rib area, especially in the evenings (after a day of lugging my two-baby bump around). Too high for ligament pains.

These pains are triggered by movement, which is why I'm 90% sure they're muscular, not internal. They're aggravated by simple stuff like bending over the sink, shifting position while sitting, or reaching for things. It's like a sharp cramp/spasm feeling that can last up to a minute, then the area is tender to touch.

Does anyone else get this?

Also, for the last 4-6 weeks my bump has started to feel extremely 'stretched'. It feels weirdly off-balance, too - like things are in the wrong place sometimes. Hard to explain! It seems impossible that there's another 9 weeks to go!

Is all this normal for twins, do you think?

I never felt this uncomfortable in my last pregnancy, even though my baby was 11lbs 3oz at birth. At nearly 42 weeks, I was still doing long walks on the day of induction! Can't imagine that now - I'm struggling to get around the house and garden sometimes.

Glad to hear the pregnancy is coming along well.

34+3 weeks now and I have all manner of weird pains. The stomach stretching is awful- tight, stingy pain and then came the stretch marks. Even DD looked at my tummy and asked me if it was ouchy! It was actually worse in the second trimester, the tightness would take me breath away and I couldn’t stand up. But that was a couple of months ago, and they’re still hanging on so it wasn’t a sign of early Labour. Just growing rapidly.

I have started getting soreness in the muscles around my bump when I shift positions. And I have a burning sensation in my ribs which is one of the twins’ feet.

It’s definitely a different league of pain and discomfort compared to my first pregnancy.

If you’re concerned it’s probably worth a chat with your midwife or consultant but it sounds normal from my experience.

@TheMagicDeckchair - Thank you! It's really helpful to hear you've felt similar.

I seem fine otherwise, fortunately. So just uncomfortable and in pain when I 'move wrong' (which seems to be a lot!).

I called maternity triage today, to put my mind at rest - and they agreed it sounds muscular (strained muscle, probably).

My bump is actually quite neat, but feels densely packed and very heavy! I think it must simply be the sheer weight of having two in there.

I had this (large singleton baby who was breech until 38 weeks).
Take care not to bend over suddenly, as you can tuck one of your ribs under an upper one, which really hurts!

@mineofuselessinformation - Ouch! That sounds horrendous - will definitely try to avoid that 😬

My first baby was huge, but I was lucky on the pain/discomfort front. I was expecting to feel big, heavy and 'stretched' with twins, but this muscle thing has been awful. Fingers crossed it'll heal soon!