Lower rib (and just below) pain - 35 weeks - how to alleviate?

[steph117]

Hi all, 

Another general question for those who've BTDT - I thankfully didn't experience this during my pregnancy with DD, but this past week of this pregnancy I've started getting more and more pain just below my bottom ribs.  Kiddo definitely kicks up there a fair bit - well, butt high on left and feet high on right - and I carry like a torpedo, so there's lot of fascial/muscle stretching - what I want to know is, HOW DO YOU RELIEVE IT?  Please don't tell me that I have to just tough it out.  Is there some kind of support belt that does it?  A particular stretch?  Would love feedback.  I'm seeing MW on Tues and will ask her but until then, I seek the counsel of wise mamas out there...thanks!

Stephanie

[Amor Rays]

I had severe rib pain with my second.  It was so bad the midwife said it was ok to have a vicodin and prescribed a few to me.  There is a medical term for it, and it seems to bother women with shorter torso's, like me.

If it is the same thing that I experienced there was nothing else to be done. No stretching, nothing, but the painkiller. 

Sorry if you're going through what I did.

[vachi73]

Hey there - not to be alarmist, but please be sure to mention this to your MW as soon as possible. Although rib pain is most likely benign (just from stretching and being kicked), it is also a sign of HELLP syndrome, which is a severe form of pre-eclampsia. When I developed HELLP at 32.5 weeks with my twins, my only real sign/symptom was ... rib pain. Turns out it wasn't my ribs, but my liver.

Again, this is probably totally nothing! But be sure to tell your MW/do not ignore pain.

Good luck and hope you get some good suggestions!

[steph117]

Thanks -it's not so bad and yes, already mentioned to MW who said there's basically nothing to do about it.  After I posted I discovered that arnica ointment seems to help quite a bit so I've been using that.  Not perfect, but it's something!

Thanks! :)

[Brambleberry]

Do make sure it's not your liver - especially if you have been having trouble getting enough protein or if you haven't gained very much this pregnancy.

[spughy]

I had that with DD (large baby, short torso on me) and it was hell.  Acupuncture helped a little, but not overmuch.  I spend a lot of time just physically shoving her foot (which was lodged beside my rib cage) away from the part that hurt, but other than that not much helped. :(  Sorry, it totally sucks. 

[steph117]

You know what helped SO much?  A combination of craniosacral and mayan abdominal massage the other day - AWESOME.  Have barely had a twinge since!  Thank goodness...