Agonising ribs - now that they've cranked open, will it be easier next time?

[LittleRedRidingHoodie]

Been signed off with awful rib pain since 29 weeks. I'm seriously doubting if I could do this again. I'm unable to walk, leave the house, drive etc. I'm holding on to the little hope that maybe if my ribs have been 'opened up' by this pregnancy then next time it wouldn't be so bad - or doesn't it work like that? (I've also go pgp, horrible rash and all the other stuff too)

I had rib pain in my first pregnancy and ive had it again this time im afraid. Mine is when I lie down though on the sofa and at night. Its ok when im stood up. Im so fed up with it at night, I cant sleep with it. Im hoping now im at 36 wks that the baby is going to drop down more to give me some relief but I certainly wont miss this pain. Yours must be a lot worse than mine if you're struggling to walk etc so I do feel for you. Its bad enough just to have it at night rather than having it all day aswell.

I had inflamed ribs, you could actually see them 'popping'. Felt like i was being stabbed by a knife, the only thing that would have helped were anti-inflammatories which you can't take during pregnancy, so nothing could be done. Lasted to 8 1/2 months of my first pregnancy, and didn't come back for my second.

So there is some hope. One out of two didn't get it second time. I have the pain all the time and I'm only 32 weeks. Desperately hoping baby drops very soon and eases it off. I'm so unhappy. Can't sleep. Can't sit. Can't walk. Can't drive or be a passenger. Want my life back!

Little pink - did your rib pain go before birth? At the moment I'm struggling to push enough to go to the loo and am scared I won't be able to push a baby out.

Yes I kept a journal with dd and it says around 38 wks the rib pain had gone as had the heartburn. I think dd must have dropped at that point which eased everything off so im hoping the same will happen again very soon!

Oh god, me too. Even so, six more weeks of this and I'll be in a complete state.

OMG that sounds terrible LittleRed. Have you seen a consultant at the hospital or anything??
I'm seeing a consultant who is willing to Induce me so I don't go over due, I have terrible SPD and always birth huge babies (5th baby) I'm sure a consultant would help make ur last few wks more comfortable, and help with birthing decisions, maybe u can request to see a Consultant if u haven't already seen one?

Your condition sounds excruciating, bless you.

Thank you for the sympathy! The midwife just said that if I was still in pain by delivery then I should have an epidural :-( this doesn't reassure me as the epidural would be lower than my ribs! Maybe if it gets closer and there's no let up in pain I will have to be a bit more vocal about it.

I would definitely be more vocal, it sounds agonising Hun. You shouldn't have to be suffering so badly, and for so long! I hope you get some relief soon, hopefully when baby drops? Fingers crossed x

Thank goodness! Thought the sore ribs thing was just me!! Am 23.5 weeks and been painful for a couple of weeks now, particularly on one side. Also got the bad heartburn too.