Why can't I stop itching

[Yummymummyyobe1]

So I am nearly 17 weeks pregnant and I am like a super itchy monster at the moment it started on my hands and feet and over the past week or so it has gotten worse and I am even itching you know where.

I have called the Dr's and they don't have any appointments unless it is an emergancy, I explained I am pregnant and have insain intching almost all the time. This was not considered an emergancy.

I am really worried as I had a UTI the other week and that was sorted by A&E and now this. I am worried that this is going to hurt the baby. I am reluctant to go to A&E again as they might start to think I am hypercondriac and seeking attention.

I did get some respite yesterday after buying a bath oil but was itchy by the middle of the night. I thought it was perhaps something to do with all the cleaning and genral dust at the new house but even after a shower I was still and itch monster.

Unexplained itching in pregnancy does need to be checked out urgently, as there is a contusion called obstetric cholestasis which is potentially serious (though eminently manageable once diagnosed).

Do you have a number for your MW team? I'd get on to them straight away to arrange to be seen and checked (this is probably better via them than your GP anyhow).

The itching might also be PUPP, or just one of those things.

But you do need to be seen straight away to rule out OC.

Thanks EdithWeston I am getting very stressed out with it all.

Quick update;

So I called the MW at the hospital who advised me to go back to the dr and if they had no appointments then to go to A&E. I called the Dr and told them I had spoken with the midwife and low and behold I got an appointment.

The Dr checked me over and said it sounds as though it is hormonal and to use simple products to reduce the itching. I have to go back on Tuesday for blood tests to chek for OC.

Apparenty 20% of women get itchy during pregnanct due to their hormones. I feel a lot better knowing this LO should be okay.

I am so glad your GP saw sense, and that you're in the system for the relevant checks. Hope it all goes well.

Thanks again, I can't believe what it took though to get seen. xx

For what it's worth I had terrible itchiness too which the midwife dismissed as "normal pregnancy itching". I was only diagnosed with Obstetric Cholestasis because I was taking part in a clinical trial which picked up abnormal liver function (causes bile acid levels to rise which leads to the itching).

Good for you for pushing, I hope everything goes well for you!

Thanks Graciescotland. I felt really bad perstering all those people but don't want to harm this LO.

I was advised to use simple products for the rest of my pregnancy, so I got home and had a long shower and it feels less itchy already.

I had terrible itching and it turned out to be linked to my liver function, the gp should have done bloods today as I was admitted once the results came back as they were so abnormal!!! Having said that there wasn't much in the way of treatment they just monitored baby for a couple of days.