Pregnancy comes with its set of challenges, and pain in the ribs may be one of them. Rib pain during pregnancy may hamper the daily activities of an expecting mother and increase her discomfort. It generally occurs due to the baby’s growing size in the uterus. The intensity of the pain varies from one woman to another. Although it becomes intolerable sometimes, rib pain does not cause any harm to you or your baby. The below post elaborates on the causes and management of rib pain during pregnancy.
How Does Pregnancy Rib Pain Feel Like?
Pregnancy rib pain feels like your ribs are displaced or diverged. Though nothing of this sort happens, the region feels tender to touch, and you will experience pain when sitting, slouching, or bending forward. You will also experience pain while coughing, breathing deeply, laughing, or sneezing. The pain can appear at different times, and the intensity also varies from tolerable to unbearable. Usually, sore ribs do not cause any harm to the mother or the fetus. The pain and discomfort will disappear automatically after the baby’s birth.
When Do You Feel The Rib Pain During Pregnancy?
In the last few weeks of pregnancy, when the baby is almost ready, you may feel like there is no room left in the upper abdomen. As the uterus grows and compresses the internal organs, you will experience pain in the ribs. The pain may occur at the end of the second trimester and during the third trimester until the baby starts to descend into the pelvic region toward the due date (1).
What Causes Rib Pain During Pregnancy?
Here is why you may experience pain in the ribs when you are pregnant. Pregnancy-related changes are the usual causes of rib pain during pregnancy. However, in some cases, medical conditions could also be a reason for the pain.
Medical Conditions That Could Cause Rib Pain
Pain under the right rib can be a sign of liver diseases, gallbladder inflammation, and right-sided pneumonia.
Pain arising on the left rib can be a sign of ulcers, gastritis, gastrointestinal tract disorders, left-sided pneumonia, and diaphragmatic hernia.
Regardless of what is causing it, rib pain should not be ignored. Talk to your doctor to be sure it is harmless.
When To Call The Doctor?
You could experience rib pain, usually in the later stages of pregnancy. Contact your doctor if you have rib pain and ensure that the medical conditions are eliminated through thorough examination and investigation where required. Rib pain during pregnancy usually disappears after the uterus drops in the last weeks of pregnancy. As you near the due date, the space in the abdomen region increases, and the pressure under the ribs reduces. Meanwhile, you can follow a few tips to get some relief from the pain.
What Can You Do To Help Relieve Rib Pain During Pregnancy?
Though there is no cure for this pain, you can take a few measures for temporary relief.
