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I am 35 weeks and one day along with my 4th child and am having pain in my back by the left rib and it feels like someone is stabbing me with a knife and twisting it and come and goes as far as sharpness but stays a dull pain constantly as far as jenny clark I will let you know this I have had hyperemesis gravidarum and have been in the same boat but am sitting on bed rest because of placental previa and its severity and now I am heading toward what I believe to be preeclampsia

I just wanted to let you know that I read on WebMd that when you are having those pains under your right rib and they are not getting any better but only worse then you need to look for other symptoms such as swelling in you hands, face, and feet and dizziness, persistent headaches as it may be a sign that you could have HELLP syndrome which could also be related to preeclampsia

I am not trying to rain on your parade but flexeril is not supposed to be prescribed in the second trimester and neither is ultram they are anti inflammatories and can cause some severe side effect because I was mistakenly prescribed the same thing and ended up in the hospital hemorraging the same night thank god though the baby is alright

i guess i'm another person who just needs to 'share'... i am 34 weeks and i've had pain in the left rib area since about 16weeks. it started as a twinge or pressure and has gotten progressively worse. now when it gets bad it feels like a stabbing pain and the skin is very numb on the surface. it only goes away when i lie on my back or on my left side with a pillow wedged underneath my side. at night i need the pressure on the rib in order to sleep, which thankfully works and i'm still getting good rest.. the most common theory i've heard is that it's just a matter of space and that once the baby comes out it will go away. i hope this is the case.. i've been swimming twice a week which really helps and doesn't cause pain. i also do yoga and find that doing 'rib'opening' stretches while trying to breathe into the area really helps, if only temporarily. i also do reiki on the spot which feels good. i'm not sure if any of this helps anyone..good luck!

Hi there, I am 8 months post baby and I am still having this pain. I've gone through the ultrasouds for gall bladder, blood test for liver function, visted the GI doctor... no one seems to know what is wrong with me. After reading Nicole T's response I think that is exactly what it is. It is so annoying having 3 doctors not be able to diagnose this problem. I am not looking forward to getting pregnant again b/c I hated this pain so much! Thanks for the info!

I have also experienced intense pain under my right shoulder blade and around my rib cage. The pain gradually became worse over time, happened when I was sitting down not standing, and lasted for about 3 months. Then, during week 32 of my pregnancy I noticed could sit for longer periods of time and that the pain was completely gone. However, a good book I found which really helped me cope with the pain, while I had it, is called the Chronic Pain Control Workbook by Ellen Mohr Catalono and Kimeron Hardin. It talks about three strategies for coping with pain: (1) relaxation; (2) strengthening and stretching muscles; and (3) developing psychological coping thoughts. I hope this helps.

I've had the same pain since 14th week of my pregnancy. Now I am in my 17th week and it is worst than ever. I found the exercise described below useful, it RELIEVES the pain, at least temporarily: Rib Pain / Soreness Rib pain can range from mild to extremely sore and tender ribs and is usually felt on the right side, just below the b___sts. Mainly occurring in the third trimester, it can be more painful when sitting. Rib pain is caused from the uterus pressing into the abdomen, squashing your ribs, as well as baby kicking or punching the area. The only real ways to help here are to make yourself as comfortable as possible by wearing lose fitting clothes and supporting yourself with cushions when lying down. The pain will likely subside when baby drops (into your pelvic cavity) in preparation for birth. Here is a really effective exercise for temporary relief. Stand facing a wall. With your feet 40cms from the wall, cross your arms in front of your face. Then lean your crossed arms on the wall sliding them up the wall above your head and stretching yourself up as far as possible. Hold the position for as long as comfortable. This lifts the diaphragm and rib cage up off the uterus and really provides huge temporary relief, especially if the pain is caused by a breech baby’s hard little head wedged under your ribs.

my rib pain got a little less intense as my baby dropped deeper into my pelvis..but the main thing is that i had my baby two weeks ago and the rib pain went away instantly! i can't even remember where it was exactly. unfortunately my son's head broke my tail bone on the out...but in some weird way it's better than that constant rib pain!

I have had rib pain, similar to what many of you desribe, with both of my pregnancies. It's usually on the right side only, sometimes extending to my back, but can be on both sides at times. Sometimes it feels like pressure coming from the inside and sometimes it s a tingly sunburned feeling on the skin, which suggests a nerve is rubbing on a rib. It can really make you crazy!! With my first child, the pain went away as soon as my water broke (which was 2 full days before he was born) never to return until about month 5 of this pregnancy (3 weeks to go!) Here are some things that make it worse: having gas, eating too much at one time, staying upright for too long at a time, underwire bra, bra that's too tight in the band. What makes it better: wearing a non-underwire bra that has a band size 2-4 inches bigger than my normal size, and/or using bra extenders, small meals, lying down for a while, the stretch described under the 3/18/07 posting, pushing down on the baby if he's getting close to my ribs, and also my midwife said that Preparation H was safe for local pain relief, even though it doesn't last very long. When all else fails, I fall back on my mantra: "Pregnancy is brief, but motherhood is forever!" Hang in there ladies, it'll be over soon.

I am a husband trying to help my wife with this same pain! Great posts. I feel your pain. After months of midnight pillow rearrangement we have finally found something that works... Yoga b___s, ice packs and ace bandages....in that order. First lie on the yoga ball with your back. Stretch your rib cage. then hop up and have someone rap a sticky ace bandage around your ribs with an ice pack underneath.. the colder the better! works like a charm. So well that I created a user name on this female dominated website :) Good luck to all you gals ladies you're the best!

im 35 weeks pregnant and i have hadon and off pains through out my pregnancy and me and baby are totaly fine,its prob just pulling pains and ya body ajusting

I am so glad I found this site! I am 30 weeks and just started feeling this pain on my left side from my ribs down my side and around the ribs to my back. I fell asleep on my side on the couch and thought maybe I had bruised my side or pulled a muscle but it has been 5 days now. So its good to know that this is very common and not really a threat to me or my baby! I am just a little frustrated to know that I probably have 2 1/2 more months of this pain!

It is amazing to see so many of us in the same spot, yet without a clear answer / cure ! I am now 22 weeks pregnant and was taken out of work b/c of the severe, stabbing pain in my mid back which radiates between the ribs & around each side (alternates in severity). I have only called out of work sick 2 days in 7 1/2 years. And, I will get no pay after my vacation time runs out, so this is a big financial stress. However, I haven't seen any other option b/c the pain is so intense and relieved by nothing. Things I have tried without relief: increased actiivity (exercising), decreased activity (resting all day), stretching, chiropractor, tylenol, darvocet,, prayer. My doctors think it is "normal" pulling / stretching of the muscles / ligaments. My kidneys, gallbladder, blood work, etc are normal. They seem so unconcerned, yet I feel panicked at my worsening state. PLEASE write if any of you have some new ideas regarding cause / treatment. Thanks for sharing / listening !

The nurse from my childbirth cla__s suggested using a pillow to support my expanding belly when I sleep on my side. The weight of my belly when sleeping on my left side is causing the pain in my right ribs. With the extra support of the pillow, this gives relief to the pain in my ribs. I'm 33 weeks pregnant.

I have the same pain. It started as a small sore in my back at 7 weeks, I thought I needed a ma__sage and that I was just tense. Then it went away for a while. Now I am 15 weeks pregnant and it is a really sharp pain in my lower ribs on the right side that goes all the way through the side of my body to the back lower ribs. I thought it was gas. I called my midwife she said that it is really normal and common and that I should go to the chiropractor and that he will fix it and then go to prenatal yoga to prevent it from happening again. It turns out is a common alignment problem, because everything shifts inside so much to make room for the baby that it pushes the ribs up and a re-alignment should fix it. Then yoga, keeps everything strong and in place.

Here's what I've tried: I'm in physical therapy, and my doctor prescribed skelaxin, which is a safe muscle relaxer. I'm also wearing a maternity belt, and sleeping with a pillow beneath my belly. All of these things may be helping a little... I do think the muscle relaxer helps a little, as much as I do not want to be taking any medications. But oh! It hurts! Walking is the only time that I'm completely comfortable. I'm a counselor and the idea of sitting for an entire hour is soooo unappealing. I'm glad to know that I'm not the biggest wuss in the world and that there are other women who agree that this discomfort is unreasonable!!!! Also, what I'm experiencing is primarily on my left side. And I've been evaluated by labor and delievery and all the fun stuff because the mystery pain miffs everyone.