Severe, debilitating rib pain at 26 weeks, has anyone else been put on bed rest for this?

[Ghoulette]

And if so how did you cope? I see a lot about women being put on bed rest for pelvic pain but nothing when it comes to rib pains, and my Dr has floated the idea out to me I might need to basically lay in bed for 10 weeks.

For background, Midwife told me a few weeks ago I have rib flare, which I have had in previous pregnancies. This pregnancy though it feels more like that in combination with costochondritis (it seems to start as a stabbing pain at my sternum) and the pain got bad enough a few weeks ago that it was keeping me awake constantly, enough for the Dr to prescribe codeine 30mg. Codeine works as long as I keep on top of it, but it has gone from taking the pain away completely to only taking the edge off, and only lasting about an hour or so.

The last week or so has been hellish. I am only comfortable and (almost) pain free lying flat on my back, turning over hurts, laying on either side hurts and the pain is at its absolute worst when sitting upright (even at a slight incline). It has also started triggering irritable uterus (very painful Brixton hick type contractions) which happen every 15 minutes.

The doctor has said he can only up my codeine to 60mg (I'm 30 at the moment), or put me on bed rest. I honestly have no idea what else I can do but increase the dose and hope it works and just lay here for another 10 weeks. I am struggling so badly and the pain is constant.

So sorry you’re going through this . I know bed rest will be really difficult but 10 weeks is quick and they could even induce you early if you are on bed rest at 38 weeks or so ? So could really be 8 weeks , that will Probably be up to you. Still take the codeine and maybe the pain might ease off after a few weeks bed rest and then you can start doing some light activities / sitting up etc . It’s worth a try to see if it can ease . Have you consulted a physio ?

Sorry just seen your 26 wks I know you said 10wks so maybe they have already suggested early induction

I've had terrible rib pain for a couple of weeks. I've not taken anything for it, but asked my pregnancy yoga teacher to show me a few stretches, lots of warm baths and alternating a warm hot water bottle and ice pack on my sternum. On top of that I've done reflexology on my diaphragm/solar plexus region of my feet.

It's starting to ease off a bit for me. My mum told me that once the baby's head engages, it takes a lot of pressure away from your ribs, so it'll ease off a lot then.

My heart goes out to you, it's exhausting trying to grow a human whilst being in so much discomfort.

Have you thought about going to an osteopath or similar? Some are specialised in pregnancy related problems, but even if not specialised, they may be able to do something to help relieve some of the pain