13 weeks really itchy rash - any advice?

[katakuri]

It's my first pregnancy, I'm 13 weeks and I've developed this red itchy rash on my legs (especially thighs and behind my knees), top of my feet, back of my arms/armpits and round my lower back. It's sooo itchy, has anybody else had anything like this around 13 weeks? It's driving me maaaaaaad

eczema? no idea I'm afraid - suggest you go see your GP if you're worried, but popping in to see a pharmacist tomorrow is probably easier & they should be able to give you some cream!

I had something similar recently. I wanted to drag a cheese grater across my skin it was so itchy.

I mentioned it to the MW and she sent me up the hospital for blood tests to check for obstetric cholorosis (or something similar, don't think I have the spelling right, its the liver problem in pregnancy).

It wasn't that but just an allergic reaction, although they couldn't tell me to what and the doctor said it was common for pregnant women to get this. They gave me some piriton which was a godsend at night, when my itching was worse.

From where your itching is, it doesn't sound like OC, sounds a lot like mine but it is best to get these things checked out. I was also a lot further along than you. 13 weeks would probably be a bit early to get OC.

Does it come up in little bumps like you have been stung by nettles when you scratch? That is what the doctor saw and he said that told him it is an allergic rash.

That sounds like it - horrible itchy red bumps! I wonder if I've just developed a food allergy or something, as it's been a week now and seems to be fading a little on my legs, although I have got a lovely new patch sprung up on my foot this morning (oh good) but it's nowhere near as raw so hopefully it's nothing bad. Will mention it to the MW though. I've never had ezcema, so I think maybe you're right with the allergy thing. Thanks both for replying, feel better to know that allergic reactions are common and it's not just me!

could be PUPPPs, you might want to look into that as well.

I know what it was now - I've randomly developed a nut allergy! DH had some chilli peanuts over Christmas, and I had ONE to see what they were like and went a bit shaky for 10 mins, and the rash flared up again but had gone down by the next morning. MW has said that sometimes people do develop allergies they didn't have before in pregnancy, so there you go! At least I know what it was now?