Tender/bruised feeling above top of uterus and just south of ribs

[SprinkleOfInsanity]

As title states, I have a tender feeling area (about the size of an egg (it's not shaped like a lump, it's not a lump but egg is probably the closest area size I can think of). I have felt it 'twang' like an elastic band when I have bent over and straightened myself up, and the sharp pain has taken my breath away, but it is immediately pain free afterwards. It is also tender to touch when I'm lying down. It doesn't feel muscular, as I can tense my muscles over it, and then when I relax it feels like it is under the muscle (I phoned local pregnancy unit, who said it sounded muscular/stretching of the muscles, but I'm not convinced for some reason). I've had this for the last 4 days and am 22+4 weeks. Has anyone else had this, and it has turned out to be muscular, or anything else? Thanks :)

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I made an account just so I could reply and commiserate!

I did have something like what you describe, starting somewhere around that time (in the 20s, I can't remember which week). I asked my OB and she wasn't worried about it, she palpated a bit and said it wasn't my stomach or uterus - the spot was right near my stomach.

So, I asked my physiotherapist and while he couldn't say for sure, his working theory was that I had one rib that wasn't expanding as willingly as the others - he could feel that one rib was sticking out more and had less mobility - and the pain was from the muscles that attach to that rib. He did lots of massaging and mobilizing and also taped it into a better position, which all helped a lot but didn't totally remove the pain.

I adapted to it by wearing different bras that didn't push on the ribs as much, and not wearing clothes that were tight there (lots of maternity clothes are!). That also helped a lot.

I'm 31 weeks now and I think that rib has more or less submitted to the ongoing expansion of my body (!) and I rarely get pain there now - only if I stretch oddly or suddenly.

So I would ask your health care provider just in case it's something else, and if he/she isn't worried maybe try some Physio and more comfy clothing. I also found that it hurt less when I didn't slouch. Oh yeah, and deep diaphragmatic breathing helped too.

That sounds like exactly the area they were palpating for my liver when I had suspected pre-eclampsia. I was warned to report any tenderness or pain in that area immediately (was in hospital on antenatal ward). Have you had BP and other things monitored since the pain began? If not, I think you should insist on seeing somebody as it could potentially be serious. Of course muscle strain is also likely but you don't want to mess around when failing organs are potentially in play.

Best wishes.