Rib Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy, though a very joyful time in a woman and her family's life, brings with it, its own share of symptoms which can be quite uncomfortable for the woman. The most common symptoms that are experienced by a majority of women are morning sickness, nausea, fatigue, food cravings and aversions, breast tenderness, headache, backache and frequent urination. Rib pain, especially in the last trimester is experienced by many women too. There are lots of reasons why women encounter dull, medium or sharp pain in rib cage during pregnancy. Below are the causes, followed by the treatment options as well as remedies to get rid of the same.

Causes

Growing Uterus
The number one cause of rib cage pain during pregnancy is the expansion in uterus which takes place when the baby grows. This growing uterus puts pressure on the woman's ribs, resulting in rib pain. Due to the increase in the size of the uterus, the intercostal muscles i.e. the muscles between the ribs may become strained, causing difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath in many pregnant women. Women who are carrying large babies or who have short waists, even face the risk of a fracture in the ribs during pregnancy.

Hormonal Changes
Rib pain during pregnancy could be due to the hormonal changes, such as increased levels of progesterone, in the body of the woman. When progesterone levels rise in a woman, the ligaments and muscles around the pelvic area and spine stretch and become soft, in preparation for the delivery of the child. This causes a strain in the back as well as pain in the ribs.

Heavy Breasts
During pregnancy, the breasts of a woman tend to grow and become heavy. Weighty breasts put extra pressure on the shoulders, upper back as well as the rib cage of the pregnant woman, resulting in pain in all these body parts.

Stress and Anxiety
During pregnancy, many women suffer from stress and anxiety, which may produce symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, back pain, shoulder pain and even rib pain.

Infection in the Urinary Tract
The pain could be due to a urinary tract infection, especially if along with rib pain, a woman is experiencing symptoms such as difficulty in urination, pain or a burning sensation during urination as well as kidney discomfort.

Referred Pain from Diaphragm
When the uterus expands, it puts pressure on the diaphragm, causing difficulty in breathing. In the diaphragm, there are many nerves, which can cause pain in the ribs and the shoulders of the pregnant woman.

Treatment and Remedies

Upon experiencing rib pain, the woman should immediately contact her doctor. Doctors generally prescribe pain killers such as tylenol or acetaminophen, which are safe during pregnancy, for pain relief. Along with the medication, a woman can follow the below given remedies to get relief from rib pain.

• Doing pregnancy exercises, practicing yoga as well as breathing exercises, reduces both stress and the pain considerably.
• Wearing a correct size supportive bra, will reduce the pressure caused from heavy breasts, minimizing rib pain in the process.
• Sitting and sleeping in the right position is equally important. While sitting, the pregnant woman should sit straight and avoid sloughing. Using a small pillow to create the perfect arch behind the back will minimize pain. Sleeping on the side, where pain is experienced, helps too.
• Placing ice packs on painful ribs, and raising the arms over the head while doing that, helps in relieving the pain, if done several times, everyday.

Rib pain during pregnancy is nothing to get worried about. With the right medication, and the above mentioned home remedies it can be easily brought under control.