Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Pain at the top of my bump!

31 replies

bubs1 · 30/03/2010 17:25

I wondered if anyone has had anything similar. I have a severe pain at the top of my bump which seems to only be relieved when i sit. I can walk for about 5 mins before needing to sit and it wakes me up in the night. It is in the middle right at the top of my bump just below my boobs and the area is numb. Had a full check last week where they reckon it might be muscular and wont tell me how to get rid of it apart from pain killers. It has been two weeks and i am not sure i can cope for the 13 weeks i have left!

OP posts:
reikizen · 30/03/2010 17:35

It is caused by a rapidly growing human being sat somewhere below your diaphragm! Baby is probably pressing on a nerve and it may be relieved if you can get baby to move into a different position.

Original poster
bubs1 · 30/03/2010 17:53

Supposedly its not baby. Its too high up.

OP posts:
gemcgem · 01/04/2010 14:16

hi, i had the same prob with my dd3 , it came on at 30 weeks an the only way it didnt hurt was to sit with my hand over my head an to sleep like i was driving off the high board. lucky she came 2 weeks early.
the doc said it was rib pain !?!?

Original poster
bubs1 · 01/04/2010 21:30

Doc didnt really know. Maybe muscular, maybe rib pain who knows - i would love to know how to stop it! Still working and it makes it very difficult to walk or stand for very long.
I will try the 'diving' position tonight. Thanks. Did the pain stay until the birth?? and did it go?

OP posts:
gemcgem · 02/04/2010 14:29

yep it was there right up to having her , then it was gone!!?!? im 25 weeks pregnant again an im waiting for it to happen once more :S .

Original poster
bubs1 · 04/04/2010 13:34

Oh gosh, fingers crossed it doesnt happen. It is sending me insane - not slept for 2 days and just came back from a weekend in BAth and could barely walk around the shops. Is there anything like tiger balm i can rub on the area? Did you take any pills for it??

OP posts:
meep · 04/04/2010 14:17

I had this with both of mine - mw's/docs hadn't a clue what it was. It was worse if I slept on my side (great when that was the only was I could sleep!) - and the only way I could slightly relieve it was to prop my bump up with cushions. I reckoned it was my bump pulling on my muscles.....

Maybe some sort of support belt to hold your bump up might help? I would walk around kind of holding my bump and that was a bit better.

Disappeared completely after the birth though!

Original poster
bubs1 · 04/04/2010 14:38

Sounds like the same thing! They dont know what it is either. Sometimes when i roll over its soooo painful. I am sure its getting worse. It feels like someone is sticking a knife in the top of my bump! Do you have any other tips??? Can i rub anything on it?? Doc says to take paracetemol but that doesnt seem to do anything

OP posts:
katgod · 04/04/2010 15:59

sounds similar to what I have. have been up to hospital to be monitored twice re the intense, tear indicing pain that stops me looking after the other children properly. I knew it was me not the baby IYSWIM, and by going to hospital you get to see specialist doc. Have been prescribed Codydramol to ease the pain. Told is muscular. Some days are terrible, others I don't feel anything. Like the worst stitch in the world. Worse than labour> Good luck.

Original poster
bubs1 · 04/04/2010 16:23

Thanks. Really wanted you all to say it might go if you try....... and didnt stay til the birth! Katgod, have the pills helped?? Doc mentioned i can try codeine but not really sure about it. Have you tried anything else?? Do you get it bad when you sleep??

OP posts:
Original poster
bubs1 · 04/04/2010 16:44

Is it numb too???

OP posts:
butterscotch · 04/04/2010 20:12

I had a pain like this and had been to the hospital because of reduced fetal movements so was kept in for about 4hrs they were going to refer me to a scan of the stomach as they believed it was Gallstones! However that was 3 weeks ago and no appointment has come through yet...(I'm 35+5). However I believe mine was muscular (I had been lifting my toddler more than normal)....

I had a few baths and just massaged bio-oil in as normal - got told off by the hospitla for not taking paracetamol (my theory was ton't take anything becuase I wanted to be able to have effectiv pain relief during/aftrer birth and didn't want to be a bill popper!

However I now have SPD and have been prescribed Co-drydamol (SP) so its worth going to the doctorsto get them to prescribe something as its quite likely the chemist won't seel you co-codine over the counter!

Good luck x

LadyGaggia · 04/04/2010 20:14

bubs1 - it is nerve pain. Feels a little like sunburn almost.
I am still numb 8 years on, so I guess in my case it was permanent nerve damage.

katgod · 04/04/2010 20:29

midwife said I was taking too much paracetemol, hospital docs were cross that I was soldiering on not with ineffective pain relief. Last hospital doc was particularly annoyed as said would much rather I took codydramol and stayed mobile than sat at home and got blood clots.
Can come on from no where, just sitting down it will suddenly start. Not a natural pill popper but this is so bad and was stopping me functioning and looking after other children. Managed 2 labours with big babaies on gas and air so think have pretty high pain threshold, but had ro have something for this. Co-dydramol works within 20 minutes for me. Midwifes and phamarcists v v cautious, so prescription the best route I'd say.

Original poster
bubs1 · 05/04/2010 10:21

Wow, thanks so much for the replies. Nice to know im not the only one with this! Only 10 weeks to go but now with this it cant go fast enough!!!

OP posts:
hormonalmum · 06/04/2010 23:21

I have this too - I have been told to rub various things textures on the areas where it is sore / numb to re-activate the nerves. It is not nice at all and I have been crying in pain at times.
Paracetomol doesn't touch it.
Mine is there pretty much all the time and now I am getting bigger (36 weeks) it is getting harder to get comfy in any position.

Take care and count down the weeks.

futureworld · 07/04/2010 06:32

This is definitely to do with the structure stretching to accomodate a bigger baby. If you have a masseur you can guide him/her to pull gently (in very flat strokes that penetrate no more than half to one cm)on your expanding tummy and especially the sides just above the pelvic bone (below the ribs. This is quite safe, and as you feel "longer" within ten minutes you will feel the pressure and pain release. Even if it is difficult to lie on your back, whilst being massaged, you will find that this will get better very quickly. Unfortunately, the "Expert" I know to do this lives in Copenhagen, Denmark.If you need more info and help I can suggest further how to contact him...

Original poster
bubs1 · 07/04/2010 10:10

Thanks for all advice. It def sounds like the muscles stretching etc, just cant believe it can be so painful! Hormonalmum - is your bubs on the bigger side???

OP posts:
hormonalmum · 07/04/2010 22:10

I am measuring slighter under and everyone tells me I am small. I have not asked anyone how big they think this one will be. Hoping not too big!

It is very painful and you have my sympathy. Definately no more for me - cannot cope with the pain.

UnrequitedSkink · 07/04/2010 22:57

What about trying acupuncture? I have found it very effective for pain relief for muscular pain...

Original poster
bubs1 · 08/04/2010 20:45

Oooo i hate acupunture. I did it to help get pregnant but dreaded going. I wish i liked it as yes it would make sense for this. Went to the midwife today (who was about 12!) and they have offered me co dydramol which i might have as a back up.

OP posts:
hormonalmum · 09/04/2010 22:57

I had acupuncture last time I was pregnant due to the same pain and it did not help at all!
Glad you managed to get other pain relief - I have been refused anything other than paracetomol (even though I have had this pain since just before 3rd trimester)

Tootiredforgodtyping · 09/04/2010 23:02

rib pain can be a sign of a serious complication of pre eclampsia called HELLP syndrome. This might not present with high bp or protein in the urine until it goes critical:

www.apec.org.uk/hellpsyndrome.htm

Original poster
bubs1 · 10/04/2010 08:05

Been checked for pre eclampsia - i hope anyway as i was in the hospital all afternoon, they took bloods etc. Hormonalmum - are they any positions that help the pain?? Does it go away when you rub it?

OP posts:
Tootiredforgodtyping · 10/04/2010 09:32

Its good that they took bloods, HELLP syndrome would have showed up in thoses as long as they tested your platelets and liver function