Help - is the pain normal? Any ideas for relief?

L

Liquorice

Registered User
I am 32 weeks and over the past couple of weeks I have developed increasing pain in my right side, around my rib area. Uncomfortable when I'm sitting, fine when standing/walking/exercising, but wakes me up at night with bad discomfort. The past couple of nights I am up 3 or 4 times with pain.

I have tried to research this online. I don't think it is gall bladder or appendix problems. It feels more like the baby is too big and is squeezing up (I do have a very small bump and a very large baby) - but would this make sense if the pain is only on one side and always on one side?

Its worse if I sleep on my right side, not so bad if I sleep on my left but I can't sleep on my left side all night as that makes me uncomfortable too (and no back and no stomach, so difficult).

Also, does anyone know who I could go and talk to about this (I'm in the public system)? I don't want to pay thousands to a private doctor but I don't think going to my medical centre will help as the nurses' English isn't good. Is there any point in going to see a GP or is this too specialised a problem?

Any thoughts / ideas much appreciated.
 
Hi
I had a similiar issue and when i was scanned it revealed the baby was breech, then a few weeks later transverse, so the head was pushing on my rib cage and lung all the time. Good news is that it turned at again two weeks later and the head is now down and I feel relief, except I am getting up to go to the toilet more frequently!
 
Depending on your baby position, he/she may put more pressure on one side than the other. I remember that when I was 3X week pregnant I also suffered for this... if you want to check with a public doctor, it doesn't have to cost thousands. I went to Union Hospital, and a regular Obgyn charge 500HKD for the examination, which includes an ultrasound scan.
 
I get a pain between my breasts and when looking it up, came across many women who had pain in the ribs. I mentioned my pain to the doctor at the public hospital, and she also said it was common to have pain in the ribs (though mine is not in the ribs) due to the organs pushing upward and also sometimes the baby keeps kicking your ribs. From what I read online, in severe cases, women are given painkillers.

If you're 32 weeks, you should be having public appointments every two weeks. I suggest you mention it to the doctor/midwife then, if you don't want to spend on a private appointment. Surprised you say the nurses don't speak good English... I'm not in one of the expat areas and the midwifes in my clinic still speak decent English. Or try a private doctor who is not in Central/HK Island. The one's in Kowloon seem cheaper. Mine charges 500, including ultrasound (Uniion Hospital Polyclinc).
 
Thanks for you replies.

So by 32 weeks the baby stays in the same position for long periods of time? I was thinking that he was still moving around a lot but I suppose not. Seaprincess, I had read that the baby often moves down by 34 weeks so hopefully that will happen to me.

Gataloca / Charade - stupid question, I know, but at the Union Hospital, do you simply call the obs & gynae dept. at the hospital and ask for an appointment with a doctor? You don't need any referral? I've always been referred to private doctors at clinics downtown.

I go to the Ma On Shan medical health centre for my check-ups (no more hospital appointments until 1 week before delivery now). I have been and seen a nurse/midwife that spoke good English but the last couple of times haven't been so good - in fact the last time, the only words the midwife could say were 'baby' and 'normal'. I suppose I could specifically ask to see someone else though if my midwife doesn't speak English well next time.
 
Yes, you just call and ask for an appointment.

As for public hospital, I had my check ups at Tseung Kwan O Hospital, and I have always been seen by doctors, except for the first time.... don't know about the English though, as I speak Cantonese.

And by week 32, the position of the baby can change at any time.... I think my baby turned head down at around week 36, but every pregnancy is different. You may consider start doing exercises, like bouncing on a birth ball, at this point to help the baby to engage.
 
You might want to try a massage, it might help relieve some of the muscular pain...sometimes you can get a knot/trigger point in the muscles between the ribs.
 
For the private one, I went to the Union Hospital Polyclinic in Tseung Kwan O. I just called and asked for the doctor I wanted to see and made an appointment, no referral needed. I think they asked if I was a first time patient and that was it. If you live in Ma On Shan, you might want to see the doctors in the hospital itself... isn't it around there? Just google Union hospital speciality clinics for the number... I called them once because I wanted to see my Tseung Kwan O dr there and they didn't ask me for a referral either.
 
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