Rib pain during pregnancy: What it means and how to manage it

Rib pain during pregnancy is a common thing that often appears around weeks 28-40. It can manifest itself as discomfort, stiffness, and soreness on one or both sides of the rib cage and radiate to your back.

In most cases, rib pain is normal and shouldn’t be a cause for concern. It can be caused by a number of reasons, including:

• Baby’s growth
• Baby’s movement
• Posture changes
• Breath shortage
• Heartburn and indigestion

In some rarer cases, it can also indicate an underlying problem, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), a liver problem, or gallbladder issues.

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When you’re pregnant, there is a lot going on in your body. Your breasts are growing and preparing for breastfeeding. Your body is working more than ever before to supply the fetus with all the nutrients it needs. And your baby is growing at a rapid pace, which sometimes causes some challenges.

One of the common issues associated with your baby’s growth is rib pain during pregnancy. It affects a large number of pregnant women and often interrupts their daily lives and sleep. Luckily, it’s typically a normal occurrence and can be managed through simple actions.

In this guide, we’ll delve into the causes of rib pain during pregnancy and tell you how to find relief.

What Is Rib Pain During Pregnancy?

In short, it's a pain in your ribs. It can be felt on just one or both sides of your rib cage. Often, the pain is felt under the breast or radiates to your back. It can cause a lot of discomfort during later weeks in pregnancy. And it can also cause sleep disruption.

When Does Rib Pain During Pregnancy Begin?

There is no specific rule concerning when this symptom may begin. However, the majority of pregnant women start experiencing it later in pregnancy, around weeks 28 to 40.

What Are the Primary Causes of Rib Pain During Pregnancy?

If you suddenly start feeling pain in your ribs, of course, it can make you somewhat alert. However, typically it’s a normal symptom that can be caused by a number of reasons:

Baby’s Growth

As was mentioned earlier, rib pain most often appears in the third trimester. This is the time of the most rapid baby growth, which is the primary cause of pain.

Starting from 30 weeks, your baby is expected to gain 175 grams (6 ounces) each week. At 35 weeks, its growth rate increases, and it starts gaining 215 grams (7.5 ounces) per week. This is about the time when your baby’s growth rate peaks. It happens as your baby needs to prepare for being born. But it can create certain discomfort for you.

When your baby grows rapidly, it urges your uterus and abdomen to stretch. This might add extra pressure on your ribs and make them sore.

Baby’s Movement

In the third trimester, your baby becomes incredibly active. It rolls, kicks, and moves much more than it used to in the second trimester.

On the one hand, this can be an incredibly exciting and emotional part of pregnancy, as this movement helps you connect with your baby. But it’s also normal that your baby's kicks cause you discomfort or pain. Frequent movement can make your rib area very sensitive and sore.

Posture Changes

The closer you get to your expected labor day, the more your breasts and baby bump grow. Needless to say, they add extra weight and thus strain your bones and muscles more than pre-pregnancy.

Added weight frequently leads to pregnancy-related postural deviation. As a result, you can experience more discomfort and even pain in your back, neck, and rib cage.

Breath Shortage

As your baby grows, it also adds pressure on your internal organs, including the lungs. This can make it hard for you to breathe normally and deeply.

When this happens, you may gradually develop shortness of breath, which, in turn, may overwork your accessory breathing muscles. In the long run, this can create greater stiffness in rib joints and cause spasms. Also, a lack of normal rib movement during breathing can cause pinched nerves. 

Heartburn and Digestive Issues

Heartburn is another very common symptom in pregnancy. Studies suggest that as many as 25% of pregnant women experience it on a daily basis. And it might be another, though less obvious, cause of rib pain during pregnancy.

Heartburn, as well as other digestive issues, such as indigestion or acid reflux, send stomach acid up and create a sharp, burning sensation. Often, this sensation appears in the chest and can be confused for rib pain. But it’s also possible that it radiates into actual pain in the ribs due to nerve pathways or inflammation.

How to Help Rib Pain During Pregnancy

Although rib pain during pregnancy is normal, it creates a lot of discomfort. It can interrupt your daily activities and even cause sleep issues, so it’s absolutely natural to seek effective remedies if you’re dealing with it.

Here are a few general management tips that can ease the pain and provide a sense of comfort:

• Wear a well-fitted, supportive bra to support your posture and prevent pain from appearing due to growing breasts.
• Keep an eye on your posture at all times. Try to avoid slumping while sitting to prevent additional pressure on the rib cage. Also, consider using lumbar support if you need extra aid for maintaining your posture.
• If you are also dealing with heartburn or acid reflux, which could cause rib pain among other things, talk to your healthcare provider for personalized advice. Often, treating your heartburn will offer general relief.
• Use heat or ice therapy on your rib cage. Applying heat can promote muscle relaxation and reduce any pinches in your nerves. And ice can help reduce inflammation and pain. But don’t use too hot or too cold compresses on your rib area to prevent adverse effects.

Additionally, you can try gentle exercises to prevent or manage rib pain during pregnancy. The most effective types of exercise in this case are those that help you find your optimal pelvic position. Once you optimize your pelvic tilt, your body will distribute weight more effectively, which will remove added pressure from your bones and muscles and, possibly, resolve pain.

Here are a few pelvic tilt exercises you can try:

• Sit straight on a ball or chair and slowly tuck your tailbone to tilt your pelvis. Hold the position for a few moments and release.
• Get on all four, exhale slowly, and gently round your back like a cat. Return to a neutral position as you inhale.

Additionally, you can try gentle side stretches to release your rib cage and provide comfort.

How to Sleep With Rib Pain During Pregnancy

If you feel rib pain at bedtime, follow these tips to relieve it and avoid sleep disruptions:

• Sleep on the side that doesn’t cause discomfort or pain.
• Ensure optimal spinal alignment during sleep. You can do this by putting a pillow between your knees.
• Consider buying a pregnancy pillow. These pillows are designed specifically for pregnant women and can help you sleep comfortably without putting pressure on your back or ribs.

When to See a Doctor

In most cases, rib pain during pregnancy is an absolutely normal occurrence. Yet, sometimes, it might indicate a more serious problem, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), a liver problem, or gallbladder issues.

In order to avoid any complications, it’s recommended to tell your doctor about the pain as soon as it appears. After communicating the issue, keep a close eye on your symptoms. If the pain is sharp, severe, or persistent, you might want to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider and, possibly, conduct a few tests to rule out any issues.

FAQ

Is rib pain normal during pregnancy?

Yes, it is. At the moment, there is no evidence telling us how many women experience this symptom. However, experts emphasize that it’s incredibly common to have it. In most cases, rib pain appears later in pregnancy (in the third trimester) and is not a cause for concern, though it can cause certain discomfort.

Why do I have rib pain during pregnancy?

It’s generally normal and rather common to experience rib pain during pregnancy, so you shouldn’t get worried if you experience it. The pain can appear due to your baby’s growth and movement. It can also result from posture changes, breath shortage, and heartburn (or another digestive issue).

What to do for rib pain during pregnancy?

There are several ways to reduce or remove rib pain during pregnancy. The general pieces of advice include keeping your posture, using supportive bras and lumbar support, treating heartburn, and using heat/ice therapy. Additionally, gentle stretching and pelvic tilt exercises can help you release your rib cage and create optimal weight distribution to relieve pain.

Also, pay close attention to the pain severity. If it’s very sharp and intense or doesn’t go away, you might want to discuss this with your healthcare provider.

Conclusion

Rib pain during pregnancy is common and normal. It can appear in the third period due to your baby’s growth and movement, or arise due to a number of other issues. Still, regardless of the cause, it can be very discomforting and alarming.

After reading this article, you should have a better understanding of the nature and causes of rib pain during pregnancy. Use the general advice and exercises we shared with you here to provide yourself with a sense of comfort and relieve pain.

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