Really itchy back and belly and sometimes head???

[lovecloud]

Hello

I am 17 weeks pregnant and for the last week my belly and back is so annoyingly itchy - it is driving me mad!!!

Sometimes at night my head is too.

There is no rash on my body except for the red lines because og my scatching.

I have not changed body cream, washing powder etc. so I amnot sure why this is.

I moisturise my whole body after showering like I normally do and I apply a Neals Yard massage oil on my belly, boobs, bum and thighs like I did throughout my first pregnancy morning and night.

So its not because my skin is dry. I am aware of the liver problems you can experience with itch hands and feet but those body parts are fine.

Anyone else experience this?

Any suggestions?

Thank you

Anyone?

Go to the GP and get yourself checked for Obstetric Choleostatis (OC) - the liver problem you mention. It doesn't always cause problems with hands and feet, can be elsewhere. There's a straightforward blood test that can easily tell whether it is or not. But you need to find out because if it is OC you should be delivered at 38 weeks. You and baby will be fine if delivered at that stage but it can be very serious otherwise.

Don't want to frighten you - it's probably just one of those very irritating pregnancy side-effects - but if it is OC it needs to be picked up.

probably best to get it checked out, just to be on the safe side

I itched like mad when I was preg, I would scratch my legs til they were red raw!

Really?

Thats worrying.

I suddenly feel more itchy, its making me feel so irritable.

Whats the treatment?

Delivery at 38 weeks - sorry, there's no cure except not being pregnant any more. It may well be something else, but this is something that HAS to be checked out. Untreated OC can kill babies, unfortunately (if mothers go beyond 38 weeks).

im 23 weeks pg and i have very itchy legs, had the same last tome i was pg, seems to be worse at night.

I have the same (14 weeks pregnant). Does this mean we don't need to have it checked out until nearer 38 weeks since nothing can be done about it until then? Would suit me given battery of other tests coming up.

It may just be normal pregnancy itching but, OC needs to be diagnosed as soon as possible. Please don't leave it till 38 weeks, a simple blood test is all that is needed to diagnose OC. If it is OC there are drugs that you can be prescribed. OC can be extremely dangerous if not diagnoosed and treated.

I don't wish to alarm anybody but I nearly lost my 3rd daughter to this as I ignored the symptoms
(just thought it was normal pregnancy itching)

kcemum - where did you have the itching?

Lovecloud, the itching was on my back, belly, chest,thighs and the most horrendous itchyness to the pals of my hans and soles of my feet. This was so bad I used to scrape my hands on brick walls.

Also had really bad night sweats which is another classic sign.

lovecloud I had OC with both babies (although it wasn't diagnosed with my first, in retrospect I definitely had it and ds1 is very lucky to be here) - both times the itching DIDN'T present on the hands on soles of feet that I particularly noticed. I'm also quite a sensitive skinned type person so I'd initially written it off as my skin just getting hyper sensitive during pregnancy. Please do get tested for OC, it's just a quick blood test.