Rib pain in late pregnancy

Aching, sore or bruised-feeling ribs — usually on the right side, up under the breast — are a common and thoroughly uncomfortable part of the later months. As your baby grows and runs out of room, your ribs bear the squeeze. It’s normal, if annoying, and there’s plenty you can do to ease it.

Why it happens. In the third trimester, your growing uterus pushes up under your ribcage, your ribs actually flare outward to make room, and hormones loosen the joints and ligaments there. Add a baby who likes to kick, stretch or wedge their feet up under your ribs, and it’s no wonder the area gets sore. Bigger babies, being short in the torso, or carrying high can all add to it.

What it feels like. Usually a soreness, aching or sharpness under or between the ribs, often on one side (frequently the right), that can be worse when sitting, and eased by changing position or when the baby moves down later on. It can make deep breaths or certain positions uncomfortable.

What helps. A few things ease the pressure:

• Posture — sit up tall rather than slumping, which gives your lungs and ribs more room; use a cushion at your lower back for support.
• Loosen up — wear loose clothing and a well-fitting, non-restrictive bra.
• Create space — stretch upward (reach an arm overhead), roll your shoulders, and try gentle cat-cow stretches or leaning back to lengthen your torso.
• Change position — shift regularly, and lie on the opposite side to the pain to take the weight off.
• Warmth — a warm (not hot) compress can soothe the achy muscles.

Nudging a well-wedged baby. If your baby’s feet are jammed up under your ribs, changing position, gentle movement, or a warm bath can encourage them to shift. It usually eases in the last weeks too, once the baby “drops” down into your pelvis ready for birth.

When to get it checked. Rib pain from a growing baby is normal — but pain under your ribs (often on the right), especially with a bad headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, or feeling generally unwell, can be a sign of pre-eclampsia and needs urgent review. Contact your maternity unit straight away if that’s you. Also flag pain that’s severe, constant, or comes with breathing difficulty.

The good news. Ordinary rib discomfort eases after the birth once your organs settle back and the pressure lifts — and often improves in the final weeks as your baby moves down. In the meantime, posture, stretching and a bit of position-juggling are your friends.

Sore ribs are a normal, if genuinely uncomfortable, part of making room for a growing baby. Sit tall, stretch it out, loosen your clothes — and always get sudden upper-right rib pain with other symptoms checked promptly, just to be safe.