My experience w/ pregnancy and slipping rib

Just for anyone wondering.

I’ve had multiple slipped ribs and 5 surgeries over about 6 years, largely due to hEDS (and my ribs being unusually thin and frail). Even after surgery I have some pain, due to my 11th ribs, which can’t really be corrected (my 12th ribs were removed, and the rest sutured/grafted, but the 11th are very long and can neither be removed nor attached together).

I got pregnant twice—first pregnancy ended at 8 weeks an by then I was having some increase in pain; second pregnancy went to term and saw the same, only for the pain to almost completely disappear as I grew a bump. I had virtually NO rib pain the entire rest of my pregnancy. It seems as my belly expanded my ribs got better and better. I could sleep on my bad side. I could work in my garden. Bend, twist, whatever. I had a completely unmedicated birth and never thought once about my ribs. Basically, I felt better and more capable than I had in ages!

Unfortunately, as soon as my belly started going back to its normal size around 4 weeks postpartum the familiar ache started to return and now that I’m almost to 8 weeks I’m once again hurting. Thankfully, no worse than before, and I’m glad I could enjoy my pregnancy without that pain, but boy do I wish the relief would have lasted!

This seems to be a common pattern. The expansion of the ribs outward during pregnancy seems to reduce pain for a lot of people, only for it to return afterwards.

Just thought that might be an interesting data point for someone wondering! I was worried pregnancy would worsen things, especially since it got worse at the start (probably because of hormones that cause joints to loosen), but it turned out fine, or better than fine.