Rib Flare? Any experience

[LJC1234]

Hi all

Currently 30 weeks pregnant FTM.

I have been suffering with rib pain for about 6 weeks on and off. Always the right side . Usually worse in the evenings and afternoons. I spoke to my midwife at 28 weeks and she said to try omepralzine as I was also having acid issues and it may have been linked to the heartburn. Heartburn's now gone ( incredible ) but sadly the rib pain is still very much present .. it's not constant but last night was particularly bad and I've barely slept.

When I was picking up my prescription my pharmacist told me to look up rib flare and it sounds exactly like what I am suffering with . I'm also short (5ft) and midwife thinks I'm having a big baby ( first growth scan was cancelled hoping they will allow me 32 weeks ) apparently both these things can contribute.

I just wondered if anyone has experienced similar and what medical help you tried to get? My midwifes didn't seem to be able to offer much advice . I'm just wondering if it's one of those things I have to live with or should I be pushing for them to look into it more to check . It's so hard at the moment as the rest of my midwife appointments are virtual for at least the next 6 weeks and my next growth scan isn't for 3.5 weeks ( if it goes ahead )

Advice really welcome

Ps - paracetamol doesn't even touch the pain

I had this and it's awful. I couldn't walk far without it hurting a lot. I had a referral to a physio and she gave me a tummy support which did help a little.

I had this twice, I also carry big long babies. Unfortunately I didn't get help for it - just got told it was normal. I did buy bra extenders though and stretchy sleep bras for night which helped.

I'm so glad I'm not alone. I don't think I can get a referral at the moment for any form of physio . Did you find anything to help the pain at all?

Honestly no. I don't know if it helps but the pain did become more bearable though simply because I got used to it 🙈 I'm a fair bit taller than you though so probably nowhere near as severe in my case. Speak to your midwives about a physio referral, I'm sure my area is still doing them.

I had this in my first pregnancy, also 5ft!

I didn't know it had a name but it was so painful. Interestingly I didn't have it in my two subsequent pregnancies.

It is rubbish though so much sympathy.

I will absolutely ask about physio but not holding out much hope. All midwife and scans cancelled currently or just virtual 😩

I'm so glad I'm not alone in suffering thou as I was really starting to worry what it was .

I did hear it might get better at 34 weeks ... here's hoping

I could have written your original post! I've been suffering with what the midwife says is rib flare for about six weeks and it's absolutely excruciating. I'm short too with a long baby and struggle to sit down for more than 15 mins at a time before it's unbearable and I have to stand up.

I have managed to get a referral to a physio via my midwife which took about two weeks to come through. I've yet to speak to her but I had a voicemail on Friday afternoon. So you should be able to get referred if you ask. I have no idea what sort of treatment will be available - maybe only a virtual consultation! But it's better than nothing.

I had this and other than being told what it was I was give no help at all. I'm also short, short-waisted and had big babies. My rib cage is a different shape post pregnancy and I have to now wear a bigger bra size than I measure.

I had this with my third pregnancy, long baby. I'm afraid I didn't get any help, but I found putting pressure on my ribs did ease the pain, also sitting on a birthing ball would help get baby lower into my pelvis so could help, lots of baths, and sometimes I think I did resort to ibuprofen.

What was even worse than the rib pain was the last couple of weeks I'd get a foot poking right at the top of my tummy, he'd stretch it out so far and it would really hurt, eventually it tore a ligament in my abdomen and the pain was unreal every time that foot stretched out. I'd have to push the foot in constantly to relieve the pain. My poor son was born with positional talipes, (it resolved after a few weeks with massages) so I guess he really was cramped in there! Long babies are tough when you aren't tall!

I had it. It was so painful. GP advised paracetamol which didn't help much.
I found it to be much better at the weekends as I wasn't sitting at a desk all day compressing my body.
You need to create more space for the baby basically so try upwards stretches and some yoga.
I found it helpful standing with my feet hip width apart about a metre or so away from a wall (facing it) then putting my palms flat on the wall as far as I could reach, then inch them up a bit more and a bit more.
Try to sit down less too.

Yes, I had this too, particularly in my 2nd pregnancy. Didn’t find any solution for it other than actually delivering the baby. I still have wonky, flared looking ribs on that side, 5 years on.

You've reminded me of how awful it was actually. I'd almost be in tears by lunchtime at work.
Pregnant with my second now but only 10 weeks eek.

Had this with both my pregnanciea. From about 24 weeks I went everywhere with an ice pack wedged on top of my bump, under my boob. It was the only thing that made it bearable. It does go after you have the baby, but it's horrible to go through. Sorry you're suffering. x

Yes very painful. Am I the only one whose rib cage has never gone back to how it was before ? I have been slimmer/lighter than I was prechildren and some fitted dresses won’t zip over my ribs

I have it on my right side, same side I had it was my daughter. It hurts like hell. I have a small baby but unfortunately I’m a small person so I’m still stuck with the intense pain. Hot water bottle on my ribcage helps me sleep at night, leaning over my birthing ball helps during the day (stretch it out) but my god I’m fed up, 35 weeks and I’m crying from pain.

@Lucked I never went back to normal either. Ribs and hips permanently expanded. Even when I'd lost all of the pregnancy weight I could never fit back into my old jeans or bras.

hi. i had this when pregnant with ds. i agree comfortable sports bra's instead of underwire or other bra's helped, also ice pack's applied to ribs really helped me.

I had it on the left so bad I went to A&E thinking I had broken something. There was nothing they could do to help apart from suggest I keep moving about gently. Resting up when it hurt made it so much worse. Now it eased and then started up on the right side lol 😂

Not that it helps the pain but it's so nice to hear others experienced this! People think I'm crazy crying from rib pain but it's so painful !

Thank you for all the suggestions I've got a birth ball on its way so will absolutely try that and the ice pack

Lying down helped me. I'm going to be honest it didn't go away until I gave birth. I feel like it's not taken seriously enough by the midwife and doctors, I found it so painful

I have this but never knew it had a name. Im nearly 25 weeks and it started about 2 weeks ago, so painful. Im noticing its worst during the week when I am working from home. Im 5ft4 and have a really short torso so wondered if that doesnt help.

Oh god I remember that it's so painful! I used to get a hot water bottle or one of those lavender bags that you put in the microwave and heat up and hold it against my ribs