Sore and Itchy Stretchmarks

[Janos]

I couldn't find any specific advice on this so thought I'd ask.

I'm currently 34 weeks (nearly 35 weeks) pregnant and over the past 2 weeks I've developed a horrendous sore, itchy, pimply annoying rash (I can't think of any other way to describe it) on my abdomen, where all my stretchmarks are. The cream I was using doesn't seem to help any more and in fact seems to make things worse so I've stopped using it. The only thing that seems to be giving any relief is using a cold compress (not too cold obviously - don't want to upset baby).

Has anyone else suffered from this? Any advice gratefully received!

[ponygirl]

As soon as I say your thread title I felt that itch all over again! Mine wasn't too bad and I just stuck it out. Have you tried calamine lotion?

[Janos]

Thanks ponygirl - I have given it a go as a friend suggested it to me, but I haven't found that it helps much unfortunately.

[MrsBigD]

hi there, I was lucky I didn't suffer, but when I get any kind of skin complaint I use aloe vera gel, it cools and soothes almost everything!

[Janos]

Aloe vera gel - I will give that a go.

BTW ponygirl sorry for bringing back the itch!

[littlethings]

HI there,was searching for something about baby a bdomen rashes when I saw this thread and just had to add I had exactly the same thing which started at 34 wks and I was due to see the gp anyhow but my waters broke and I was in hospital for the next 6 days until I had my baby. Janos if you're still around I'd be interested to know if you also had an early delivery? Incidnetally in hopsital the consultant gave me steroid cream fo rhte rash which really helped and she said it was likely to be a particular rash which only stops once you deliver your baby. So I was glad he came early!

[ledodgy]

I had this with my first pregnancy it's called PUPPP - (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy) I was prescribed Zirtek antihystamine.

[geekInPigtails]

ledodgy, I used to be prescribed Zirtek for my allergies (excema, asthma and rhinitis) but when I fell pregnant I spoke to the GP and she I'd better come off them! I think it was just the usual thing of "There have been no proven problems with using it in pregnancy, but it's not proven safe either, so don't just in case" but I've been obediently steering clear and therefore suffering more than usual with hayfever recently Fortunately my excema seems to be slightly better since I've been pg and I don't think my asthma has changed, but the sneezing is driving me up the wall!!!

[burstingbug]

I had a bit of a rash and insanely itchy stretch marks. Go to your mw and see what she advises. I had bloods taken for a liver function test.
Calamine lotion helped a bit, but I had to put up with it, it went away a week or so after birth.

[littlethings]

That's it, PUPP. I googled it and apparetly theree's a study which suggests its more common if you're having a boy as its your body reactig to the testosterone! Whatever, its a really unpleasant thing to have, but the steroid cream -can't remember the name unfort - really did help.