Itching in third trimester...

[Elibean]

...I had this with dd, but right at the very end. I'm now 30 weeks, and the last few nights have been waking up itchy and twitchy all over: mostly torso (boobs, bump) as opposed to arms/legs, but all over. Bit like restless leg syndrome (which I have) but everywhere.
No rash, worse after eating/meals and when tired. Its not on palms of hands or soles of feet. It does include genital/bum area - but not more so than anywhere else (have been obsessing about threadworms, as dd recently had undiagnosed itch, but even I can't imagine a threadworm on my boobs and stomach!). I do have piles, just to add to the general itch-picture, especially in the evenings.
I'm guessing its hormonal and fairly bog standard, but....is it? And, if so, any tips for coping with it? Am awake for 2-3 hours in middle of night and exhausted, plus have laryngitisy cough/cold type thing: can't quite picture another 10 weeks of this
Moan over, any tips welcome...

Hello

Sorry to hear you've become itchy. If I were you I'd get to the doctor for a blood test to check that it's not cholestasis (a liver condition that occurs in pregnancy - main symptom is itching, especially during the last trimester).
I started itching bang on the start of the third trimester with my dd. I assumed I was having an allergic reaction to something but someone I knew told me about cholestasis. I went to the doctor and had my blood tested and it turned out that's what I had.
Not saying that you do have it, obviously! It's really rare so it's most likely something completely innocent that will pass by itself. But it's definitely worth checking out because, if you do have it, you'll need to be monitored more closely for the rest of the pregnancy.
One word of warning - not all GPs are massively clued up about cholestasis (maybe because it's so rare) so they might just try to put it down to 'itching in pregnancy'. If I were you I would insist on a blood test to be sure. Cholestasis is not dangerous at all if it's diagnosed and managed, but can be dangerous if it's not discovered.
Anyway, none of this is designed to worry you - I repeat, it's pretty rare and it's unlikely that you've got it.
Good luck (oh, and try putting calamine lotion on before you go to bed. That helped to control the itching a bit for me).

Thanks, am seeing OB tomorrow anyway so will ask her about it. I have two friends who've had it (both twin pregnancies) so know a little about it, but thought it usually caused itchy palms and soles? Did you have that?

Its driving me mad - thanks for the tip, will try the calamine!

Elibean try here PUPP I have had this 3 times, it's horrible, but harmless!

Oh, that's great that you know about OC already.

I did have itchy palms and soles but really i itched all over. It was hell - like bugs crawling under my skin.

Like you, it got worse with food, particularly certain types of food, which makes sense really as it's a liver complaint. And it was always MUCH worse at night. I have vivid memories of sitting up half the night in absolute agony and desperation, itching like mad and not able to find any relief from it.

Anyway, there is medication that can treat it (if it does turn out to be OC) and that really worked for me.

Best of luck tomorrow. I'm sure it'll turn out to be something else.

What are you sleeping on? I replaced my (synthetic) fleece mattress protector with a pure wool-stuffed one, and immediately started sleeping better. I had been waking all sweaty where I touched the mattress, and twitchy and itchy where I had been touching but had turned over. My own perspiration seems to be making my skin itchy and sensitive these days.

Have you tried showering? Probably wihtout using any soap (as that mgiht jsut make it worse), but just a cooling shower.

Tonic water is supposed to be good for restless leg syndrome.

elibean - i had OC and my feet and palms did not itch at all. however i did develop a huge rash finally (all over body) and dd was delivered 3 weeks early by caesarian.
nothing stopped the itching til she was born (sorry to be depressing. agree with previous posters, at least a blood test cd rule it out and then other remedies may well come into play. good luck.

Thanks all - will check out the Pupps link, and definitely ask OB about OC tomorrow. My mattress is the same one I've had for - oh, years, far too long really. But yes, cool showers before bed help for a bit - especially the legs (and I love tonic water, not sure if it makes much difference but have definitely got into that particular remedy).

The problem is I go to sleep ok, knackered as I am, but wake up after an hour or two and feel as if I've got bugs crawling around under my skin - just as described. Sugary foods bring it on - and I had a teeny amount of dh's takeaway curry last night, which any sensible liver would be pissed off at probably

Doesn't help that I'm mentally on the alert for itching since the whole threadworm possibility came up - but its more than that, for sure. Thanks again, I feel less upset by it already just having ideas and tips.

Just in case you do get diagnosed with OC, there's a wonderful woman called Jenny Chambers who runs the UK OC support line. She's an angel - runs the whole thing herself. Google her name and you'll find her number. She can answer any question on the illness and is very supportive. Best of luck.

Thanks, pregnabrain....appreciate all the support
Will update if OB comes up with anything...

elibean - i can totally empathise as i had this for the last 5 weeks of my pg. i tried every obver the counter remedy, calamine, e45, diprobase, anit-itch cream - none of them worked. neither did the steroid cream my doc prescribed. i was also given antihistamines (piriton) which helped a bit at night as i used to be in tears with the frustration of the itching. i also put wet flannels inside bags in the freezer and took them to bed with me to try and soothe it. at one stage i went to hospital but they also said they couldnt give me anything else.

oh - and i tried accupunture which also helped alot but she then went on holiday so i couldnt have more . sorry to go on and on but if one of these things might work for you.

good luck, its hell, i know!

HI elibean, I totally agree with pregnabrain and recommend you to check this with your doctor. I started itching when I was 30 weeks pregnant and then developed cholestasis when I was 37 and had to be induced. Don't want to scare you, cholestasis itching is mostly on your hands and feets (which you say are fine) but you know...is always better to double check. Good luck!

Elibean, to follow on from the OC posts, pupp is everywhere except your hands feet and face.

Yes, when I was induced because of my oc my husband had to cut me the nails because I was scratching myself so badly IN THE HANDS. They were really really red. So if yours are fine most problaby will be nothing to worry about

Thanks so much! Saw OB who wasn't concerned about OC at this stage - thinks its an extension of 'restless legs' type itching. Last night, I put ice cubes in a towel and cooled the itchiest bits, which was bliss...then had a cold shower, which helped. I was also taking antihistamine last night for a bad cough/cold (an ok one in pregnancy) so bet that helped too - had a much less itchy night.

I'm definitely going to ask for a blood test if it gets worse, in case of OC developing.

And finally...its it possible to have PUPPS without a rash? I have no rash at all...

eli - i didnt have a rash unless i scratched, if that makes any sense. i was never told what it might be!

also, i tried having a cool bath before i went to bed and putting a cup of bicarbonate of soda in it - it calmed the itching a bit.

I'll try that olivo, thanks - sounds like I have the same kind of itch that you had, sort of nameless and nondescript but very real!

Hi I had exactly the same thing when preg with ds and was even admitted to maternity ward so they could keep an eye on me, I was scratching myself raw it was so bad.

The wonderful midwife who was looking after me on the ward practiced homeopathic treatments and recommended Calendula cream. It costs about £5 a tube but is worth its weight in gold - almost instantly stopped the itching.

You can get it in most pharmacies and health shops - please get some it WILL help

Wow - that sounds great. Thanks Claire (we share a name by the way!) I will, tomorrow.

No probs - think if i remember rightly it says on tube that it is for rough/dry skin. I went through about 20 tubes by time little one showed up I think - well worth the money tho.

Good luck and keep us posted xx

(another quick question, do you like your name or do you feel its a childlike name lol)

Claire? No, never thought of it as childlike! And haven't met that many who spell it this way, either. I'm half French, and I admit I prefer it in French than in English - but other than that, its ok. You?

To be honest I dont like my name (no offence) , sounds very childish to me and when people say whats your name I feel silly saying "Claire" as it sounds like a little girls name. Strangely though it sounds ok on other people, I must just have some insecurity about it myseflf. There were 8 Claire's in my year at school, 5 with the i, 3 without.

Wow - I only ever had one other Claire in a class with me, and that was a Clare. But then, I'm a bit ancient - probably wasn't in fashion when I was born (my sister wanted to call me Noelle, am very grateful for Claire!). I guess I've never known children with my name, and only a few adults, so I don't associate it with anything much....funny how associations have lots of power (trying to find name for dd2 ATM so this is all v relevent).
Thanks again for the itch advice

The fact that your tching is releived by cold does kinda suggest it may be OC. D make sure you get LFT's and Bile acids done at next appointment - whilst OC isn't usually dangerous until post 36 weeks it takes at least a week to get the Bile acid results (even if you go private) and the sooner you start on Ursodeoxycholic acid the better - it can help the itching a lot. IF it is OC that is.

Things that worked for me as well as cool showers/ice packs (you can also use those gel ice packs like Mr Bump that you use for kids bruises) were:

Sleep on pure cotton, or even better linen sheets. have a fan blowing col arir over you at night. Mint body creams - the mint evaporates and cools. Body shop do one, but it can irritate skin that yoiu've overscratched. YOu can also get diprobase with 5% menthol in it from your pharmacist - though it's best to get it on prescription as they lok at you very wierdly when you ask for it.

Oh no....! I didn't know that about cold and OC, in particular. Although it helps my restlessness (legs especially) more than the itching, really. Thanks Prufrock, will keep that in mind and ask at next apt, which will be 32+4 weeks - hopefully plenty of time for tests. The OB has written 'itching' in my notes, so I wonder if she's thinking of keeping an eye on it too...
Meantime, I'll try all tips, thanks.

hi elibean,
I also found relieve with the Calendula Cream. Sorry I forgot about it. It is really good!