Ouch - I think my ribcage is going to explode!

[Biscuitsandtea]

Just wondered if anyone had any advice. I'm 20+3 and my ribcage is killing me!

I feel as if it might explode!

I guess (a) is that normal(ish)? And (b) is there anything I can do to help?

Also, I have a cough / cold - could this be making it worse as sometimes it feels as if the pain comes right up into my neck / jaw?

Hi Biscuitsandtea,

I hear that there are days when my ribs feel sore at 15weeks and 5 days and it is normal as far as I am aware. I find that gentle stretching helps and lots of lovely back rubs from DP.

Having a cold certainly doesn't help, hot honey and lemon with a couple of paracetamol helps. I've started to make my own far nicer that lemsip et al

Your ribcage is just moving to give baby more space.

I had that in my 1st pregnancy around 20 weeks too and it was pretty painful at times.
Luckily it didn't last for too long.

Now at 2nd pregnancy haven't experienced that at all.

It will be all worth it :)

Have you spoken to your midwife? Rib pain can sometimes be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

Hi biscuits

AFAIK this is perfectly normal. In fact I am 26 weeks on DC2 and have had rib pain for the past 5 weeks. It's called rib flare (that's what my MW called it) and can be quite painful.

As Sandra said it's just your ribcage oving to give the baby more room. I hadn't heard about the link to PE, but any HCP I've spoken to both this pg and my last said it was normal.

I find lying down on a pillow on the side that hurts helpe, or a hot water bottle seems to ease the pain for me . if in work I just do lots of stretches - my team just nod knowingly anytime I stretch these days (methinks I complain too much )

Thanks all. I h net mentioned it to mw yet, it's been on and off the last week or two but more pronounced the last 2 days. But we had our 20w scan and consultant appt today so mentioned it there. The consultant said it was normal for some people in pg, and as you've all said, just everything jigging about inside.

I also hadn't thought of a link to PE, but had blood pressure checked today at the consultant and that seemed fine. And urine was checked too. I think I read somewhere that PE is often later on in pg than 20 weeks?