Strange Problem from Pregnancy

Updated on September 30, 2008
R.M. asks from Sandy, UT
18 answers

Has anyone else out there had this problem? My midwife even said that in her 25 years of practicing has never heard this complaint before. There is an area of my abdomen that is numb, it's at the top where my ribs start curving upwards and it's about 4 to 6 inches in diameter. It started out as a burning sensation in the area and then I noticed the numbness, when I was...I guess about 6 months pregnant...right around the time my tummy started to show. The burning was off and on throughout the rest of my pregnancy and the numbness has still not gone away. My ribs right there in the front are still bruised as well and my baby is now 8 weeks old. Is this normal? Can I do any thing about it? Please help.
R. M.

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So What Happened?

Thanks to everyone that responded. It really helps to know that I'm not the only one. I think for now I'll just wait it out a while. If it doesn't go away in another month or so, I'll go to a Dr.

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D.T.

answers from Denver on

Sounds like a pinched nerve, why not talk to a good chiropractor? Maybe they can help get everything lined back up.

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M.P.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I had what sounds like the same thing, in the smae area. My doctor told me it was a pinched nerve, that it would probably last throughout the pregnancy and go away after birth, maybe taking a couple of months. It went away within a few weeks after birth.

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M.M.

answers from Denver on

Congrat's on the hypnobirthing, I used that with both my kids and am planning on using it for the potential 3rd child as well.
I would recommend seeing a chiropractor because it sounds like a displaced rib or pinched nerve. You could also follow up with your MD.
M, RN

1 mom found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from Denver on

Don't take advice off here, or a midwife, go see a Dr soon.
I have no idea if it is normal or not and may be nothing, but when it comes to issues like this see a professional, see what they say first and foremost!!!!

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C.H.

answers from Denver on

I would run this by a doctor.

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N.B.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I had the same thing. I do remember it still being numb after I gave birth but I'm not sure for how long. My baby is about 4 months old and it has gone away. When I asked my midwife about it she also said that it's normal. She told me about one of her patients who thought she spilled hot coffee on her leg and when she looked down there wasn't anything there. Your body does all sorts of strange things when you're pregnant. If it doesn't get back to normal in the next few weeks, I would talk to your doctor again or ask Jana for her doctor's name and number. I hope it helps!

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A.W.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I am sorry, I don't know about the numbness. I couldn't resist sending you a message of congradulations on the natural birth. I too had a natural birth (at home in a birthing tub). It was wonderful and it makes such a difference for the little onces and mamas to not have meds. Good job!

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S.L.

answers from Boise on

It sounds like a pinched nerve to me. I would go to the doctor and ask about it, though.
I had a numb spot on my hip when I was pregnant. I'd had it before when I wasn't pregnant, but only for a month or so. It started out tingling, sort of hurting. And it was very very annoying. I had gained some weight at the time, and when I lost it, it went away. I was surprised that it showed up again while I was pregnant, but at least it made sense, because I was gaining weight again. I don't remember when it went away, though, but I don't think it lasted my whole pregnancy.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.C.

answers from Denver on

Hi R.,

My sister-in-law and I both had the same sort of burning pain in that area. It eventually went away. We would laugh and want to write a book about "what they don't tell you about pregancy"

L.

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J.S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

During my first pregnancy I had a numb area on the top of my abdomen, just below my breast. I asked my OB about it & he even finished my sentence for me. I pointed to the area and said "I'm having a weird kind of.." and he said "is it numb or tingling?" So he's totally heard of it & said it is not uncommon. He said that nerves can get pinched by the expanding belly & extra pressure in the area. He said that it's nothing to worry about that it will go away when the pregnancy is over. It was a bit annoying, but it did go away once I had the baby. My guess is that as your body gets back to normal over the next couple of months it will start to go away. If not, you might want to check with a doctor who has seen this kind of thing before. If you are in the Salt Lake area, I could give you the name of my doctor since he has had experience with this in the past.

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H.M.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I also had this problem. It seemed to take me several months to get back to normal. It is caused by the uterus pinching a nerve. The doctor told me if it didn't get better within 6 months that he would do some imaging tests (MRI, Ultrasound). It is really uncomfortable (so sorry about that!) but should return to normal.

Best of luck!

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S.A.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I have the same problem (though no bruising). My numb spot started out the size of a nickel, and currently it is a little larger than a dollar bill. My Dr. told me it is a pinched nerve. I carry my babies high and mostly inside, so this baby is pushing on my ribcage pinching off several nerves. My Dr. told me that most likely it will go away on its own after the baby is born, but it may take awile. It drives me crazy, so I have total sympathy for you. Good luck.

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R.K.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Sounds like maybe a pinched off nerve or pressure from your uterus on one of your other muscles or an organ. I'm sure as time goes by it will subside.

And to DEB, a Midwife IS a professional, thank you.

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S.G.

answers from Boise on

I had the same thing from both of my pregnancies and they started about the same time you said - when my belly started to grow. It was a burning pain at the top of my abdomen right under my rib cage. It took several months to go away after I had my kids, and to me it felt almost like the muscle had torn or separated from my ribs. It could have been a nerve thing too, I guess, but either way it eventually went away.

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A.B.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I had tingling and numbness in my hands during both of my pregnancies which lasted about 3 months after having my babies. It's possible the weight of the baby pressed on your spinal cord in an area to cause numbness. Did you mention it to your doctor at the 6-week appointment? Bruising could be related to the childbirth process or the baby kicking/pressing on your ribs. Definitely make sure your doctor is aware of it, incase there are other factures involved. Good luck! I know my numbness was miserable both times until it finally self-resolved. You could also consider a chiropractor if it doesn't improve with time.

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S.R.

answers from Salt Lake City on

In two of my pregnancies I had numbness for a while in a small area (this was after delivery), both were different places, but I forget where now. My doctor said it would fix itself in time and it did. Forget why exactly. It was just freaky to have no feeling there and it lasted several months. I almost thought it would be permanent, but it did eventually go away. At least with no epidural or drugs, you know that is not a factor.

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M.C.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Hi R.,
I am a mom and an RN and was a La Leche Leader here in Park City for many years. I would suggest you see your physician number one and just have some routine blood work done to check your platelet levels. Also, go to Whole Foods and purchase some Arnica, and rub it on the bruised area every day. This should help it go away. The numbness was probably caused by compression of a nerve in your spine and maybe a broken vessel occurred as well. I hope this helps.
Thanks,
M.

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A.F.

answers from Killeen on

Hi there, R.! Congrats on the new baby!

I had the very same thing with both my boys. With my first, I got kind of worried. It just started "burning" and tingling on the bottom of my ribs on the right side and then it went numb. I thought something was wrong, so I asked my doc (I had to go in for an ultrasound anyways, so I just waited) and it turned out that his little foot was so far in my ribs that he was pushing them out! I still have that pic too. lol. He said it was just a pinched nerve and not to worry, that it would go away after the baby was born. Same thing happened with my 2nd, and on the same side too! It was weird! I know it's bothersome and you wish it would just go away, but just give it some time and it will. If it doesn't go away after about 3-6 months ('cause everybody's different), I'd bring it up to your doc again.

Congrats on the HypnoBirthing! Not a whole lot of mothers can do that, I'm glad that you could. I tried to go all the way without any drugs, and I almost made it, but with both boys my legs would start shaking really bad. They ended up having to give me 1/4 dose of statall. =/ (don't know how to spell it) I wasn't too happy about that, but if I didn't take it I wasn't going to be able to push. With all the shaking I couldn't really control my body.

Other than that, enjoy that little bundle of joy as much as you can! It's true, they do grow up too fast! ::tear::

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