Rib Flaring: Don't Let It Flare Up During Your Pregnancy

Rib flare is one of those less common conditions, found in pregnancy during the second and third trimester. Many pregnant women often complain of their growing baby poking and prodding them - “I feel a leg kicking through me.” Often you will place your hands over the bump just for the excitement of feeling your baby kick. Usually your husband is in the next room, he runs in to feel the baby kick and misses it each time. Well life would be simpler if they just carried the baby throughout the pregnancy, and then they could feel every kick along with the morning sickness, nausea and any other symptom that may occur....

This pain is a direct result of your baby and uterus getting bigger and poking and prodding into you. In pregnant women the demand for oxygen is increased. You will exhale more carbon dioxide which triggers the respiratory system to increase the respiratory rate slightly, and this is the reason you may find yourself more breathless during strenuous activity. Your diaphragm will have to work harder as well. 

You may find the baby beginning to press up and under your ribs and chest. This is the uterus ascending as the abdomen stretches upward and outward, so the baby can grow. The growing baby can obstruct the descent of the diaphragm, which is needed for deep breathing. Hence the pressure pushes the rib cage out sideways and forwards, known as rib flaring and causing a lot of pain. It can also lead to shoulder pain due to the nerves of the diaphragm referring pain there. 

Your growing breasts can also place added pressure onto your ribs, so a good supportive bra which is not underwired is really important.

Good posture can help relieve some of this pain as slouching will put added pressure onto your abdomen. So sitting up with shoulders back is a good start to relieving the pain.

Exercises that open your rib cage up are also really useful here. Stand facing a wall. With your feet 40cm 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. Practicing doorway chest stretches can also be helpful because they, too, will help rotate the shoulders up and back, which can also help lift the ribs away from the uterus.

Breathing and relaxation exercises can also help. There are also several hands-on techniques that your physiotherapist can do to gently stretch and lift your ribs away from the uterus. 

If you are suffering from rib flaring and would like to book an appointment, please contact me on 0544485086 or by email to tamaramay.physio@gmail.com.  I can arrange to see you in Bishvilaych Women's Comprehensive Medical Centre in Givat Shaul, Jerusalem or a home visit if you live in Gush Etzion.