Itchiness driving me mad. Any tips?

[BlingLoving]

I am 26 weeks. I was warned about itchiness but had no idea how bad it would be. It is horrible. I am moisturising like crazy but it doesn't help much. Chemist recommended wired which, as well as smelling awful, is not working. Any suggestions? My skin is all red and blotchy and sore. And that's just the bits where I have avoided scratching!

It's weird. You feel horribly itchy and just assume it's just one of those pregnancy things (because let's face it, 99% of the time, you go to the MW with some trauma and her response is, "yes, that's what happens in pregnancy") and then you realise that sometimes things are more serious.

I'm glad I posted.

Aloe Vera does seem to be soothing slightly. The big test will be tonight - it gets worse through the day but DH is very good about rubbing whatever cream I'm trying on me! . And will mention OC to the doctor tomorrow, even if he does think I'm obsessively symptom spotting online.

When I went to the midwife, and she asked if everything was OK, I said "yes, apart from the itching", and was told itching was normal. It was only when I went to a pharmacist and asked for advice that I was alerted to OC. When I mentioned it to the Dr, he tried to fob me off saying it probably wasn't OC as I wasn't jaundiced (only 20% of OC cases get jaundice). And of course, in the end it was proved to be OC!

I saw the doctor today. he thinks its unlikely to be OC, but has taken some bloods to check that and a few other things, just in case because he agrees it is possible.

He's also given me a mild antihistamine which I can't take daily but which he says I can take for the next few nights to try get it under control and then now and again when I'm desperate. It will apparently also help me sleep. I think if I wasn't already happily married to DH and having his baby, I would have proposed on the spot!

In the meantime, I can report that the Aloe vera is working well and seems to be having a cumulative affect. Dr thinks it's the combination of moisterising and anti-inflammatory properties - turns out he's also a fan of aloe vera products.

What worked for me, which sounds totally counterintuitive, is exfoliating. Every few weeks it seems my belly gets incredibly itchy and red, then I exfoliate (I use one of those bars from LUSH, they're quite expensive but I like their oilyness, as I have really sensitive/dry skin) and it gets better.

To moisturise I use Burts Bees Belly Butter, it's lovely and creamy. It gets absorbed well (i.e. not sticky on your clothes or anything) but still has a lasting effect throughout the day (I use it twice a day).

Just an update to all you kind people who wanted me to check on OC. Doctor says my liver function is fine. Wants me to mention it to the midwife when next I see her, but overall, says my blood show normal pregnancy anomolies like slightly raised cholestral and slightly low iron. So I'm all good. Thanks again all!

That is good. Keep an eye on it though.

glad to hear you are ok bling like 444 said, keep an eye on it. Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well.