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Itching (cholestasis) during pregnancy

Advice on remedies to soothe itching skin, cholestasis symptoms and when itching may pose a problem during pregnancy.


Discuss itching (cholestasis) during pregnancy on our forums, right now! Or, post a comment below.

Mild itching is common in pregnancy because of the increased blood supply to the skin. In late pregnancy the skin of the abdomen is stretched and this may also cause itchiness. Wearing loose clothing may help.

Severe generalised itching, without a rash, particularly in the last four months of pregnancy may be the only sign of a more serious problem called obstetric cholestasis. This is a potentially dangerous liver disorder, which seems to run in families, although it can occur without any family history. It is important to contact your doctor if you have troublesome itchy because obstetric cholestasis may lead to premature labour, stillborn or serious health problems for the baby, and to an increased risk of maternal haemorrhage after the delivery.

If itching becomes severe, or you develop jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin), see your doctor. Itching which is associated with a rash may also need treatment if it is severe.

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I started getting a pain in the right hand side of my abdoment, by the ribs ! I told my midwife and she tested for Preclampsia - that was clear. But it wont go away - told my Doctor too who examined me but again hasnt' diagnosed - now it gets itchy around that area too - and I'm worried they are missing something ?! Has anyone experienced anything simlilar ?This is my first baby I'm 32 weeks now, so feel a little anxious now !
added by Glav [Tue 12th Aug 2008 @ 09:27:33]
Hi Marshmallow,

My advice is to go to your midwife and tell her about this itch.....ask them to check your liver function to rule out cholestasis. I have had this condition in every pregnancy (this is my third!) and it can really make you feel down and not enjoy your pregnancy like you should. Dont worry if it is this condition as you will be put on to the correct treatment for it and will feel much better - my itch is no longer troublesome and I can now sleep at night!!

Unfortunately nothing else really worked for putting the itch away, except to keep cool, wear loose clothing and drink plenty of water......

Good luck!!

xx
added by Wendle [Thu 6th Mar 2008 @ 09:09:33]
im 26 weeks pregnant and have a severe itching in my legs hands and feet could anyone give me advice on what i should do ? as im a first time mum and really worried about it thanks xx
added by Marshmallow1606 [Wed 5th Mar 2008 @ 08:45:57]
Hi I'm 36 weeks pregnant and for the past two weeks I've had this really annoying itch closer to my belly button. This is my first pregnancy and when i tell the nurses about it for my regular check ups they just say they skin is stretching. However they're not here with me in the night when it is so uncomfortable I can't sleep and nothing soothes it!! I am waiting for my last blood test to return so I'll know if it is a liver disorder or not. But i am thankful that I'm not alone with this.

Good luck to everyone!
added by Neets [Wed 20th Feb 2008 @ 08:40:39]
hi
i am 37wks pregnant with my first child and i av neva ad itching like this in my life, i am awake most of the nite with it, i went 2 c the doctor last wk and e sent me 4 blood test, i av just got the results 2day and all they av sed is i av 2 discuss them wi my doctor on friday. i have tried al kinds of stuff 2 get rid of it but it just dont seem 2 go away.....
added by nicki86 [Thu 29th Nov 2007 @ 08:51:10]
Hi Sandym,

See your doctor and ask them to do a liver blood test to eliminate cholestasis.

Once that is eliminated, I would suggest you have a condition called PUPP (google this to find out more).

I suffered from this and tried everything from antihistamines, calamine lotion, talcum powder, oatmeal baths and nothing worked! Someone then recommended going down the holistic root and advised dandelion root tablets and flaxseed oil tablets. I started taking the tablets and noticed an obvious improvement after just 3 days! My skin is still a bit itchy but it's bearable. Hope all this helps.
added by LaraO [Fri 12th Oct 2007 @ 08:27:22]
Hi,
I am 12 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child and I have never experienced itching like this before. I am at the stage where I am tearing my arms and legs apart on a daily basis and cannot sleep with the itching. I have tried e45 nad vitamin e creams but nothign is helping me. I already went to my nurse who told me its one of those things but i'm worried. Is it worth a second opinion?
Also, when your initial bloods are taken at the hospital are they automatically checked for cholestasis or is there a special blood test for this?
Thanks
added by sandym [Mon 23rd Jul 2007 @ 09:19:26]
Hi Sandra, so glad that you posted on here. I'm currently 35weeks pregnant with my first baby. About 2 weeks ago my wee tested positive for blood and also biliruben. The results came back that there was no infection and my midwife said to put it down as a "pregnancy thing" and not to worry. Since then over the last week I have developed the most maddening itch (without a rash) I have ever experienced and I suffer from exzema so I know about these things lol. At the moment it is everywhere on my body and gets worse at night time where it seems to concentrate mainly on my feet and hands. After reading your post I have rang the doctor and am awaiting his return call, I'm so glad to read your post because I probably would have suffered in silence if not! Anyway, lets hope it's nothing, but something tells me.......well, lets just call it mothers intuition eh?
added by lipping50 [Wed 4th Jul 2007 @ 13:27:02]
I am posting this comment to share my experience of obstetric cholestasis and to urge any pregnant woman suffering from similar symptoms not to ignore them.
From around the 26th week of my pregnancy, I began suffering from the most horrendous itching, particularly on my lower legs, feet, abdomen and arms. At first, I could almost cope with the itching by applying E45 Itch relief cream and calomine lotion, and my midwife suggested that it was simply caused by raised hormone levels, in particular, progesterone. However, the itching became so unbearable that eventually I could barely function - I couldn't sleep and the only thing I could think about was the terrible itch which was driving me to the verge of madness! Blood tests were taken and a couple of days later the consultant from the maternity hospital called me to tell me to come to the hopsital immediately as my results were abnormal. Cholestasis was diagnosed and I was told that the count of bile in the blood should ordinarily be between 1 and 40. At this point, mine was around 140, and I was told that I would have to attend the outpatient department every day to have the baby's heartbeat checked. I was also put on ursodeoxycholic acid and vitamin K, and given steroid injections to promote development of the baby's lungs as it was suspected that I would not be allowed to go full term. My blood tests were taken every day and my readings were getting more and more abnormal, so at 34 weeks, I was admitted to hospital and told that I would be there until the birth. I was given an anti-histimine to control the itch and my blood was checked daily along with the baby's heartbeat.
By 35 ½ weeks, my readings had become so abnormal (440) that I was told that the baby really needed to be born sooner rather than later. I was induced at 36 weeks and 1 day and had a healthy baby boy weighing 7½ lbs - his size probably due to the fact that I was also suffering from gestational diabetes.
I count myself extremely lucky to have received such excellent medical care. The hospital staff were obviously aware that my condition could have led to a stillbirth, but the risk of this was alleviated by the constant monitoring and drug treatment.
The cholestatis did not present any other symptoms apart from the itch, and if I had not sought treatment for this, then the result could have been disastrous.
added by Sandra [Wed 27th Jun 2007 @ 13:03:05]
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