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AIBU?

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Original poster

Going mad with itching - pregnant

38 replies

BigCuteBaby567 · 15/07/2024 16:04

I've posted in pregnancy before and peeps advised me to go get tested, which I did, but all bloodwork keeps being fine. AIBU to be going mad??? The whole "it will go away once you have the baby" is NOT helping as that's 7-8 weeks away! Help!

It is NOT cholestatis and NOT iron deficiency - repeated bloodwork 3 times all normal. It started at week 29, I am now 33 weeks.

I slather myself in anti itch creams every night but it gave me prickly heat - apparently being always covered in thick cream plus being hot and sweaty do not mix well (I live in a warm climate but in aircon almost 24/7 really as I run so hot atm). Prickly heat now gone and still itchy.

No rash whatsoever, itches all day but worse at night. Not itchy on hands and feet.

I haven't had a good night sleep in 4 weeks. Dr gave me piriton which does nothing for the itch. It knocks me out to sleep for a few hours but I am so drowsy the next day, I am totally useless. And it only gives me 3-4 hrs of sleep anyway.

Calamine lotion does v little. Aloe vera helps but very short lived, for like 1-2 hours.

This is making me really depressed, I'm SO tired and itchy all the time, it's driving me mad.

Please, any tips?

Constant bathroom breaks in the night don't help as I obviously wake up and feel the itch so can't go back to sleep.

OP posts:
Itchyboobs · 15/07/2024 17:46

Hello! No great tips but I had itching all over at night from about week 28-36 and then it abruptly stopped I think! In case you need a positive story
I was monitored bloods at least once a week in case there was a latent liver issue
I don’t think it was quite as bad as yours though :( I think baths, e45 etc got me through but I was able to sleep

haveatye · 15/07/2024 17:40

I had this, it's crap.

I found cool baths helped a bit (even if it's a couple of inches to sit in at 3am)

With oats, I used a coffee grinder to get oats to a fine powder then put a few teaspoons in the bath. It basically dissolved.

Because of itching, they had me on daily checks in last week or so of pregnancy - sitting in bed with a heart rate monitor strapped on, surrounded by other pregnant women having horrible things happen to them. Hope you avoid that!

HarpieDuJour · 15/07/2024 17:29

Yes, tights would do it.

DanielGault · 15/07/2024 17:02

HarpieDuJour · 15/07/2024 16:52

No, I wrapped the oats up in some fine muslin and hung them over the tap while the bath was running(so the water ran through the oats). Then I used the oat bundle to dab at my skin where the itching was worst.

Or tights iirc.

Original poster
BigCuteBaby567 · 15/07/2024 16:52

@HarpieDuJour thank you, oat bath tonight it is!

OP posts:
HarpieDuJour · 15/07/2024 16:52

No, I wrapped the oats up in some fine muslin and hung them over the tap while the bath was running(so the water ran through the oats). Then I used the oat bundle to dab at my skin where the itching was worst.

Original poster
BigCuteBaby567 · 15/07/2024 16:49

@HarpieDuJour have not tried oat baths, looking at it now my first thought is that it looks a bit messy, does it clog the drain?

OP posts:
HarpieDuJour · 15/07/2024 16:34

Sorry, posted too soon.
In the last couple of weeks I was given antihistamines, which did help.
You have my sympathy, it was torture! Thankfully, it only happened with my first baby.

HarpieDuJour · 15/07/2024 16:32

I had a similar problem with unexplained itching. Aveeno lotion and bath products helped, but only for a while, then the infernal itching would start again.
In the short term(because you probably dont have instant access to a range of lotions), have you tried oat baths?
In the last couple of weeks I was

Ramblingnamechanger · 15/07/2024 16:28

Strange…that was how I discovered I was pregnant 50 odd years ago…went to GP who was also obGyn and he suspected straight away!

Original poster
BigCuteBaby567 · 15/07/2024 16:13

@herbygarden thank you and my commiserations, that's awful. PEP/PUPP has been ruled out, I have no rash whatsoever. And my belly is a bit itchy but it's actually worse on my arms, forearms, thighs and legs.

OP posts:
DanielGault · 15/07/2024 16:12

So sorry to hear that 😞 my eczema exploded when I was pregnant, and none of the usual meds were allowed. I got some herbal stuff, it cooled me down but didn't clear it up. It did disappear overnight once I had the baby though if that's any consolation.

herbygarden · 15/07/2024 16:09

I had PEP (?) Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy, I think! So itchy and awful and I had a rare case that got worse after birth 🙈 This might be worth a try: amzn.eu/d/0fcltnwo this helped me a lot whilst pregnant but afterwards I had to start on steroids. Best of luck, miserable for you! Xxx