Rib Popping During Pregnancy: Causes, Relief & When to Worry

Question
I'm 22 and this is my first pregnancy. i just came back from my doctors the 26th, i mentioned to him that there's this popping beneathe my breast, my upper ribs above my huge stomache that doesn't hurt. he just laughed and said not to eat pop corn kernals. but i recently on the 28th sat down and bent over and the pressure of my pants under my belly made my ribs pop again,it's on the right side of my body and when i sat straight up again it popped again and it's starting to hurt when i breathe and when i touch the spot it feels bruised even when i laugh. i was originally 100-105lbs now i am 145 at just 27 weeks. i don't know what this pain could possibly be but i can't really ask my ob since he kinda just comes in and out and makes jokes of my questions and there's no one else that would know to ask besides you. my baby kicks a lot but he lays pretty low and kicks my bladder so i kinda urinate my pants sometimes so i know its not him kicking but whenever i put any kind of pressure on my body like as if i would to push the baby out ( not that im trying) it pops, it's becoming more often and i don't know if i should go to the hospital, not worry, call my doctor, tho i hate to bother him and i know he'll just make a joke. i hope this all makes sense and i hope you have an answer thank you for you time - leah

Answer
As the baby is growing and the uterus is expanding in size, all of your intestines and other organs are being pushed upward and crowded against your diaphram and gas is sequestered in your intestines in that region. Any pressure of movement may cause you to move this gas around in the intestines and can, sometimes, cause a "pop" from time to time. As long as you feel fetal movement at least ten times per day and you are not having any vaginal bleeding, all is probably fine with the baby. The baby is well protected in the uterus, surrounded by amniotic fluid and well cushioned. Your ribs will not break due to the growth of the baby. You have gained quite a bit of weight so far. We usually want a pregnant woman to gain 35 lbs for the entire pregnancy. You have already gained 40 lbs. At 28 weeks, you should be getting a test for gestational diabetes (1-hr glucose tolerance test). If you do have gestational diabetes or some carbohydrate intolerance, that could explain the excess weight gain. A sonogram should show if the baby is of adequate size for dates. If you continue to notice this "popping" discomfort, try Tylenol or a warm shower or a heating pad in the area of the painful ribs. Don't worry.