Obstetric cholestasis diagnosed today...

[cameli]

.....and i'm worried after reading Dr Google .

Can anyone tell me their experience? I already have an irrational fear of stillbirth, cord accident etc & i'm really scared now.

I'm 31+5 today.

If you look at the thread Itchy palm update which I posted today, there is a mum who had it with her first, x

Hi there

I had OC with my DS. The worst part was the unbearably itchy palms and feet, especially at night - I felt terrible - exhausted and sick. They induced DS at 37 weeks because early birth means there is no risk to the baby. He was absolutely fine and I also felt tip top within the hour - best thing about it was that I'm probably the only person I know who got significantly MORE sleep after her baby was born :)

Seriously though, don't worry. I think it is only potentially dangerous if they don't notice it. They'll probably induce you a couple of weeks early - 37 weeks counts as term and won't harm the baby.

Turns out my mother actually had OC, most likely, with 3 out of the 5 of us children - undiagnosed and we were all right as rain so, really, please don't worry. The other big downside is that apparently it's very likely to happen in subsequent pregnancies, which is a bit depressing - but of course it is all worth it when you have your lovely baby.

DON'T google. The OC site is good www.ocsupport.org.uk/ . It specifically states that, when OC has been diagnosed and managed, the risk of stillbirth is no higher than with a non-OC pregnancy. Don't worry!!

Thanks starkadder, was told they would deliver me at 37 weeks and do weekly monitoring until then as well as having to take two types of medication daily.

The website you suggested is quite helpful, i just have to learn to be positive.

The itching is horrendous but i am coping at the moment. Piriton doesnt help the itching but does help me sleep.

Feeling a bit sorry for myself today because the diagnosis came just after i left the hospital today having been there for an emergency physio appointment for SPD :(

Ohh poor you. OC is no joke. I don't know anything about SPD apart from that that is certainly no joke either.

My mum told me she used to sleep at night with her hands and feet draped over the edges of the bed in buckets of water. !! I wasn't in the UK and my doctors were really not helpful so I never got any Piriton..used to take baths in oats which stopped the itching as long as I was in the bath..I was really a mess! You have just 5 weeks though left, right?? And it is all ghastly BUT will at least mean that childbirth will be a huge relief. And it will all be worth it when you have your lovely baby :) Anyway - huge sympathies from me and hang in there.

The itching is unbearable. Any miracle cures anyone?

Also had this with both DSs- we are all fine. Agree that once it is diagnosed and you are on URSO, best to not Google! Sadly no miracle cures- spent a lot of time with my hands and feet in bowls of cold water (just be glad it isn't summer!)

My friend had OC with her third, and was induced at 37 weeks.
The labour went well, and her daughter is healthy and fine :)

I hope you manage to find some relief from the itching in the meantime x

I was diagnosed with OC in my second pregnancy at about the same stage as you@OP. I had the hellishly itchy palms and soles of feet, and just felt very, very tired.

I was booked in for a section at 38 weeks (had already had a c-section with DC1, so the hospital wouldn't offer induction because of possibility of scar rupture). I was monitored through blood tests twice a week, and at my 37 week test they decided to keep me in and do a section that day as my baby wasn't moving much (quite scary).

My baby was born slightly jaundiced but absolutely fine and is now a healthy, happy 2 yr old.

Monitoring is key. And keep an eye on your baby's movements.

OC support website is quite a good source of info.

All the best x