mad itchiness/burning at top of bump

[lou19]

I am 31 weeks today and this itching/burning sensation right in the middle-top of my bump (just below my boobs to be precise) has been getting worse! whenever I wear a bra I just want to rip it off! don't think it's the fabric either because I get it wether I am wearing one or not. Oil or creams won't help. Is anyone else experiencing this?

As its just on your bump it sounds like its just because the skin is stretching and becoming itchy, but I'd still get to mw because with itching in pregnancy it can be a condition called choleostasis. Mw should do a blood test, and a further one in a week or so to rule it out, because not wanting to worry you the condition can have quite serious implications for you and the baby - but really easy to rule out with the blood test. I had really bad itching with my second pregnancy - all over bump, legs, upper arms... was prescribed a number of things which didn't work including antihistamines and steroid creams. Also had regular appointments with the consultant dermatologist who basically said it was 'pregnancy itching' and to apply loads of moisturiser and use double base as a soap substitute. This time around I've just got itching on the bump, which is bad enough I know! I try to use ice packs/cold flannels etc to cool the itch, and have had some success with bicarbonate of soda diluted in water and dabbed on with cotton wool. The GP's suggestion of calamine was useless, but I find some success with a cream called Dermol, prescribed by GP. I know how horrible it can be - just wear loose comfortable clothing, 100% cotton, and impossible as it sounds, try not to scratch as you can get into a vicious circle and when it starts keeping you awake at night things can seem so desperate! See your mw first, and good luck!

happynappies, thanks I will definitely try some of those things. My husband suffers from eczema and uses dermol so I'll just steal his :-)

happynappies that's exactly what I'm going through! My skin itches like mad - especiialy at night. So much so that it takes me ages each night to get to sleep. Basically I have to be overcome with exhaustion, to the point where I don't notice the itching anymore and MUST sleep. I have tried Piriton, prescribed by the doc, and use oils and lotions constantly.....ARRRGGGHHHH, it's driving me mental! I didn't have this with my other two pregnancies! Please tell me it goes away once baby is out

Hi tanmu82 - its awful isn't it? You have my sympathy, I'd push the GP to make a referral to a specialist because when you're sleep is really being disrupted it is a nightmare, particularly if you've got little ones to look after in the daytime... I can't say that the dermatologist helped that much in my case, but its always worth a try - they might suggest something that works! I can report that for most people the itching disappears as soon as the baby is out - I think its something to do with the hormones or something. For me it took a little while to settle completely, but I definitely wasn't kept awake with it anymore after I'd had the baby! How many weeks pg are you? Hope things improve for you, it is such a horrible thing, and difficult to explain to other people because they just think, "Oh, itching?" as if it is just a minor thing, but it really affects your sanity!!

happynappies I am 32 weeks pg today. I got some oilatum shower gel and some diprobase from the doctor's last night and it seemed to calm things (though it didn't relieve me completely) and I was able to fall asleep much quicker.....I hope it continues to work as the E45 wash and cream combo worked initially then began to lose its effect....

You're right about people not realising how bad the itching is! I have almost started to feel like a fraud for even mentioning it because I have had an otherwise problem free pregnancy. I actually screamed with frustration the other night because it was so bad - I heard my DD call from her bedroom (I thought she was asleep already) to ask if I was ok!

I'm also booked in for a blood test just to rule out that liver thing - cholestasis?