Rib Pain During Pregnancy: Causes and Relieving Methods
If you’re pregnant and suffering from rib discomfort, you might be wondering if it’s typical. Rib discomfort is normal throughout pregnancy, especially in the third trimester as your baby grows. However, the discomfort can begin early in your pregnancy as well.
Pregnancy rib discomfort might be caused by a range of factors, including baby’s position, kicks in the ribs, extending out beneath your ribcage, or just moving by your ribs. Your muscles extending out might also cause discomfort. It might be caused by a medical issue in certain rare circumstances. What causes rib discomfort during pregnancy, how to avoid it, and how to be comfortable until you give birth are all covered.
Table of Contents
The common cause of pregnancy rib pain
Rib discomfort is more common in the second and third trimesters, especially after your pregnancy when your tummy — and everything else — strains to make room for your developing baby. Several factors, including: can cause rib discomfort during pregnancy
- Hormones – The same pregnancy hormones that cause your joints to loosen — particularly the appropriately called hormone relaxing — can also cause your ribs to enlarge. This is good news for your lungs (which are already cramped) and uterus (which refuses to stop expanding), but not for your achy ribs and side.
- Position of the fetus – A woman’s fetus changes position and turns at the side upside-down during her second trimester. This change may cause rib pain as the child’s feet point toward the ribs.
- Inflammation – During pregnancy, the cartilage linked to your ribs might loosen and grow, creating inflammation (pain) in the region.
- Increased pain on the uterus – As your uterus continues to enlarge — and your breasts become larger — your rib cage may be put under some strain.
- Baby’s kick – Your tiny contortionist has buried her foot into your ribs, and (surprise!) she packs a devastating punch.
- Constipation – Sometimes, during the pregnancy, a woman may experience abdominal pain and infrequent or delayed bowel movements due to constipation problems. This constipation-related pain in the upper abdomen may also cause pain in the ribs.
Relieving rib pain during pregnancy
The first step in reducing rib discomfort during pregnancy is to consult with your gynecologist or physical therapist who specializes in working with pregnant women. Meanwhile, here are some. If your rib pain is miner, you can also try a few common tips to relieve pain, that includes:
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Wear comfortable clothes
A squeezing shirt or dress might put further strain on your already suffering ribs. Wear pregnant dresses, oversized sweaters, and extra-long tanks and T-shirts.
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Take a hot bath
Many of the aches and pains of pregnancy can be relieved by taking a warm (not hot) bath. Muscle relaxation may also relieve rib pain during pregnancy.
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Regular and gentle exercise
Stretching is very beneficial. Pregnant women can use an exercise ball to stretch their back and chest muscles. You consult a doctor or yoga teacher who knows how to exercise while pregnant.
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Try yoga
Yoga is a gentle, effective approach to stretch your muscles and joints when pregnant. This stretching can help with a variety of aches and pains, such as back, rib, and joint discomfort.
Belly-support bands are intended to disperse weight around your expanding midsection. While they are usually used to relieve round ligament discomfort, they can also relieve the strain on your strained abdomen, which may be pressing on your ribs and creating pain.
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Take some Tylenol
Whether you’ve tried every home treatment for rib pain and it doesn’t go away. You can consult your doctor to see if you may take Tylenol (acetaminophen).
What Nasserites medical assistance about rib pain?
If you are experiencing rib discomfort and nothing appears to be helping, you should consult your doctor. Call if you’re experiencing rib discomfort in your upper abdomen, especially if it’s worsening under your ribcage on the right side of your body. Pain in this location might be a sign of preeclampsia, a pregnancy condition characterized by elevated blood pressure. Severe headaches, alterations in eyesight, and nausea are also symptoms of preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is unlikely to go gone until your baby is born. Therefore you must get treated for it now. If you do have preeclampsia, your doctor will most likely advise you to undergo frequent blood and urine tests, as well as monitor your blood pressure levels. Depending on the severity of your problem, you may need to take blood pressure medication or be hospitalized.
What complications are associated with Rib pain?
Rib pain during pregnancy is commonly dismissed as “normal” discomfort. However, there may be a more significant underlying reason for other women.
Pain in the upper right abdomen, for example, might indicate liver illness, preeclampsia, or HELLP syndrome. HELLP is a potentially fatal complication. Protein in the urine and elevated blood pressure are symptoms.
Seek medical assistance right away if you experience sudden, acute rib discomfort and any of the following symptoms:
- dizziness
- seeing dots or floaters in your vision
- bleeding
- headaches
- vomiting and nausea
Other useful links:
Is Vaginal delivery possible after C Section?
What should be the newborn baby’s weight?
How to prevent Fetal Growth Restriction?
Gynecologist in Ashoka Medicover Hospital
Why is Prenatal care critical during pregnancy?
Treatment options for Chronic Diarrhea in Children
