Powered by BarnOS™
Rib pain or soreness is common later in pregnancy, as the growing uterus pushes upward against the ribcage and the baby's movements can be felt directly under the ribs. Hormones that loosen ligaments throughout the body can also affect the rib cage, adding to discomfort.
Evidence checked against current HSE guidance for Sore ribs in pregnancy, covering the article's core clinical information and relevant assessment, management or safety considerations.
Public health education article
Posture and positioning can offer relief — Sitting up straight, avoiding slouching, and changing position regularly can reduce the pressure on the rib cage from the growing uterus.
HIGH CONFIDENCE
LEARN — Use this information to build health knowledge and support prevention.
Topic-specific prevention and risk reduction will be added during the article-specific evidence audit.
Status: PENDING
Health Intelligence supports health literacy and editorial transparency. It does not diagnose conditions or replace individual professional assessment.
Rib pain or soreness is common later in pregnancy, as the growing uterus pushes upward against the ribcage and the baby's movements can be felt directly under the ribs. Hormones that loosen ligaments throughout the body can also affect the rib cage, adding to discomfort.
Topic-specific prevention and risk reduction will be added during the article-specific evidence audit.
Rib pain is severe, sudden, or accompanied by breathlessness
Rib pain or soreness is common later in pregnancy, as the growing uterus pushes upward against the ribcage and the baby's movements can be felt directly under the ribs. Hormones that loosen ligaments throughout the body can also affect the rib cage, adding to discomfort.
It's usually more noticeable in the third trimester and tends to ease once the baby moves lower into the pelvis closer to birth (known as "engagement" or "lightening").
Sitting up straight, avoiding slouching, and changing position regularly can reduce the pressure on the rib cage from the growing uterus.
While rib soreness from a growing bump is common, any chest pain — as opposed to soreness around the lower ribs — should be assessed by a healthcare professional to rule out other causes.
BarnMD Health Intelligence uses authoritative and clinically relevant sources appropriate to the topic. References are shown so readers can inspect the evidence directly.
BarnMD Health Library provides general health education for public health literacy. Reading this article does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and this information is not a diagnosis, prescription, or personalised treatment plan. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek urgent or emergency medical attention.
Sore ribs are a common and usually harmless part of later pregnancy as the baby grows and takes up more space.
It often eases once the baby moves lower into the pelvis in the weeks before birth.