Pain Under Bra Line During Pregnancy: Reasons & Getting Relief

When you think about pregnancy most people think of a bump and how your lady parts are going to change, but it’s not till you actually experience pregnancy that you realize that it’s not just everything south of your belly button that can hurt. If you are suffering from pain under the bra line during pregnancy it can spark fear over what is normal or not.

Pain Under Bra Line During Pregnancy

Even though a sharp pain under the bra line during pregnancy can be normal there are times when it can signal something isn’t quite right so discussing symptoms with a doctor is the best option. Obviously, everything inside is on the move organs, joints, and ligaments but rib pain can signal other more serious implications like Preeclampsia or gallstones.

The Female Body

Let’s take time to appreciate the female body. Not only do we bleed monthly but we have the capacity to grow another human, and our lady parts transform to give birth. If that isn’t enough our bodies continue to work hard to supply food for our little cubs. Cue applause!

The female body is utterly spectacular, but whilst all these things are truly amazing, they come at a cost. After conception, our bodies are pushed and pulled from the inside out. This leaves us with some of the most uncomfortable symptoms. Pain under the bra line during pregnancy is not one to go unnoticed. Typically there are many reasons for this type of pain, some being more serious than others so let’s look in deeper detail.

Trimester Troubles

We can link an awful lot of symptoms to each trimester and once you feel as if you have lived through the worst the following trimester gives you something else to battle. To understand exactly why you may be suffering from pain under your bra line or more likely your ribs we have identified the likely causes in each trimester.

First Trimester

Hello morning sickness or should I say all day sickness. As a warrior of early pregnancy sickness myself I can vouch that this is by far the most inconvenient symptom. No matter where you are or what you are doing it can appear from nowhere!

Many times your tummy will be running on empty if you are suffering from sickness meaning that you could be subjected to muscle strain which can cause pain in the ribs.

Second Trimester

The wonderful mirage of the second trimester lends itself to the glow of radiance, you may notice your bump is starting to show along with clear skin and thicker fuller hair you may think what’s not to love?

Two words, growing pains! As your baby is developing he/she is getting bigger week by week and your cute little bump evidences this. It’s not at this stage where you would expect much rib pain but as your uterus expands your organs and skeleton respond accordingly, moving to make space for the new lodger.

As this movement takes place nerves can become suppressed so while the second trimester sounds dreamy to start with it doesn’t hide the fact you can be the recipient of sharp pains from loosening ligaments and you can expect this all the way up to delivery.

Third Trimester

Of course the finale, the last milestone in your journey. By this trimester many moms feel uncomfortable, your baby has made themselves known with their movements and position changes leaving you feeling as if they are using your bladder as a trampoline and rib cage as trapeze bars.

The growth of your baby is now key to much of the discomfort you may feel as there is added pressure on your muscles around your midsection. This excess weight can take its toll on you but it shouldn’t be severe.

Other Causes

UTI

Urinary Tract Infections are common, especially in the third trimester. Catching a UTI can cause inflammation and bacteria to fester within the kidneys. This pain can be mistaken or even mirrored within the rib cage.

Round Ligament Pain

Pain around bra line during pregnancy could be ligament pain and it can be a killer especially whilst carrying a watermelon on your front. As hormones surge your ligaments loosen which can cause sharp pains in your groin, known as ‘Lightning crotch’ you can feel these pains in your hips, back and ribs.

Constipation

You may wonder what has my bowel movements got anything to do with my bra line? Well as everything shifts north when pregnant so does your digestive system meaning constipation or excess gas symptoms can be felt as high up as in the ribs.

Heartburn

Suffering from heartburn is no joke! It can cause burning pain under your bra line during pregnancy which we can thank the hormone relaxin for once again. Your esophagus relaxes meaning stomach acid can travel back up toward your mouth.

When Is It Serious?

Many of the above are rarely anything to be concerned about and can be treated at home or with a short term antibiotic. But when does pain around bra line during pregnancy become serious?

Preeclampsia

This is a serious condition that needs monitoring for both mom and baby. Preeclampsia can affect the liver sending various pain signals around the body. One area in particular is the bra line.

Preeclampsia can occur in the later stages of pregnancy which signals that a preterm birth may be the best option after considering the life threatening risks it may have for you and baby.

Here are some symptoms to look out for:

pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen
Seeing spots or difficulty with vision
high blood pressure
headaches
swelling
sudden weight gain

Getting Answers

You must seek medical advice for any sudden new pains you experience during pregnancy. Your doctor will examine you and your baby by completing a fetal heartbeat check, monitoring your blood pressure, taking urine samples as well as taking a full report of your symptoms.

If necessary, you may be required to take a blood test to rule out some more serious conditions.

Getting Relief

If your doctor doesn’t suspect anything serious then you can help yourself at home. Just by making a few small changes, it can make all the difference.

Correctly fitting, non wired bra – your breath will grow along with your back width, make sure you have a properly fitting bra to ease the pressure.

Stretching –

completing simple yoga exercises can help relieve tense muscles.

Heat –

Using a warm compress or taking a bath can release some tension in your rib cage but make sure it’s warm, not hot.

Chiropractor –

If your posture is to blame, a Chiropractor can help straighten you out!

Tylenol –

There’s not much you can take during pregnancy but Tylenol has the green light! A mild painkiller to help you get through the discomforts of muscular pain. Do not exceed the dosage and seek a doctor if they don’t seem to work.

Wrapping Up

Having a pain under your bra line during pregnancy is normal and fairly common however any new symptoms that appear coupled with a fever, changes to your vision or swelling needs to be addressed immediately.

There is usually no cause for concern but it is always to check that what you are experiencing isn’t something more serious than your typical bout of heartburn.