Please help I keep waking up to itchy feet and am currently sat in the bath which to be perfectly honest doesn't seem to be helping much. Is this a normal pregnancy symptom and are there any tips to get past it?
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jjc80 ·
29/05/2016 05:05
Agree with PP get yourself up to maternity ward tomorrow & ask for a blood test. I had ICP or also called obstetric cholestasis, also like PP was diagnosed after second blood test, a week later. I initially had itchy feet which then spread to hands & rest of body itched too. I too was on daily meds & in hospital for at least weekly monitoring, they also do bloods & liver scan etc to make sure no underlying issues. I was induced at 38 weeks. They typically will induce at 38/39 weeks but if your blood levels got really high would possible do it earlier, you also will have to give birth in a consultant led ward & will get monitoring during birth.
Don't go googling & worrying!!! There is some scary stuff out there but the research is (very) old, the consultants are clear now that with medication, monitoring & early induction any risks are reduced to pretty much the same as someone without the condition.
In terms of managing the itching, mine got soooo bad before the meds kicked in, that took about two weeks but once they did my levels & the itching really settled down thankfully. Speak with midwife tomorrow about anti-histamines, they are generally fine to take during pregnancy, they don't really help with the itching but they have a mild sedative affect which can help to sleep through it. Cold is also what helped me, so I bought loads & loads of ice packs!! I had some in the freezer & also bought the first aid types that you can just shake - I would sleep with ice packs on my hands & feet! 
We went to the theatre one day & I had to take my shoes off & put ice packs on my feet, I must have looked a sight! If you've ever watched friends I was like that episode when Pheobe got chicken pox & she's not supposed to scratch!!
If you do have OC/ICP it can be pretty miserable - people underestimate how unpleasant itching is & can really affect your sleep so find ways to look after yourself. I worked from home for my last few weeks after diagnosis as was so tired & uncomfortable. The main thing to remember is that your baby should be absolutely fine & this is temporary - pretty much the moment baby was born the itching stopped. I now have a gorgeous little girl, nearly 5 months old & she's healthy & well.
I was quite worried when I was originally diagnosed, pregnancy can be stressful enough right & didn't know anybody who had it to speak to - come back & chat/ask any questions if it will help!
Xxx
jjc80 ·
29/05/2016 10:35
Hi hon
Yes OC is typically indicated by itching on the soles of your feet & palm of your hands. I had really bad itching on my belly too, lots of people said that was normal & just to do with skin stretching etc but mine was really
My LO is my first baby too so I know how everything worries you!
Oh meant to say you don't have any sort of rash or marks with OC/ICP - it's like an internal itch.
Have you phoned midwife unit yet? They will likely see you today as if it is OC they do take it seriously & want to get treatment started ASAP. But as I said as long as they diagnose it & treat any possible risks are reduced to similar levels of someone who doesn't have it. How many weeks are you?
I was about 28 weeks when I went for blood test although I'd had the itching for a couple of weeks at that time. My first results just one reading was elevated, they did repeat bloods a week later, results the following day & then into hospital the day after to start monitoring & medication etc.
Like PP said it may be just normal itching but from what you've said so far it does sound like it maybe OC.
Let us know how you get on & please just ask if you have any other questions!
jjc80 ·
29/05/2016 10:38
Ha! I think we must have been writing our responses at the same time there!!
I've just been reliving the OC with my partner - it's so horrid, I'm in 4 month sleep regression at the mo so am shattered but would take that any day over the itching! X
helpitsmyfirst ·
30/05/2016 23:45
Oh my gosh so sorry my phone has been playing up and hadn't seen any of your replies!! Thank you so much for the advice I have my midwife appointment in the morning so I'm going to mention it then and request blood tests, I'm 34 weeks and 4 days now, will let you know what she says when I'm done, I just feel like such a pain as it was only Thursday that I had been seen and monitored for the swelling. But it's so nice to know that I have people here I can turn to my sil keeps telling me that I'm worrying over nothing and just to drink loads of water (bear in mind she has no children) and it's probably heat, I'm overreacting and even had the nerve to make me feel silly about getting a taxi to and from hospital the other day instead of driving. (My boyfriend was working out of town and I didn't want him coming back before I knew exactly what was going on) xx
OP posts:
helpitsmyfirst ·
31/05/2016 20:51
Went to the midwife and just told her I had itchy feet and I didn't even need to ask for a blood test she just said about it straight away how long does it take for them to get back to me if anything is wrong? I forgot to ask as I was so tired xx
OP posts:
helpitsmyfirst ·
01/06/2016 07:37
Thanks so much I only had my bloods done at 3pm so not expecting to know straight away, fingers crossed I hear back asap
OP posts:
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