obstetric cholestasis

[faintpinkline]

Has anyone had OC during a previous pregnancy or do you have it at the moment? I had it with DD and am a high risk for getting it again.

Last time it meant blood tests every week, vit K tablets and strong anti histamines, a scan a week from weeks 32-38 and being induced at the start of week 38. I was given first gel on Wednesday morning and ended up having my waters broken, then on a drip and finally giving birth at nearly midnight on the Thursday.

I seemed to live at the hospital and I'm dreading getting it again but fully expect to. The good news was I must have had the best ever ante natal treatment and checks and the lady who did the scans was lovely and kept giving me pictures so I am one of the few who have pictures of my baby during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy - still would have rather not had OC though

bump - anyone or am I all alone?

I had it with both my pregnancies (right from the beginning with dd2) and I really did live at the hospital as they struggled to get it under control. It is one of the main things putting me off having dc3.

OMG can it start earlier than 3rd trimester no one has suggested it to me. Poor poor you. I'm going to be up in arms at every minor itch now

Yes, I think it is very rare to get it that early though. I kept thinking I must be imagining it until I got my bloods done and proved I wasn't going crazy!

Appears I've been put under consultant care for this pregnancy (no surprise there then) so will talk to them about it when I see them.

I'm not surprised you thought you were imagining it, even when I got it late with Dd I was convinced I was making it up in some paranoid way just because I'd read about it but really itchy palms are hard to ignore

I'm 35 weeks PG with DC2 and developed OC at around 32 weeks. I definitely did not have it with DC1 - I was as fit as a fiddle during that pregnancy, unlike now! So perhaps there is a slim chance that you can avoid OC this time round?

It is horrid isn't it, not just the itching, fatigue and worrying but the constant trips to the hospital.

Were you on Urso (Ursodeoxycholic acid) tablets during your 1st pregnancy? I find they have helped reduce the itching and the bile acid levels.

Also the OC support website is great and Jenny Chambers who runs it is fab, you could give Jenny or one of the counsellors a call? www.ocsupport.org.uk

And congrats on your pregnancy!!

dd is 6 now but yes the usodeoxycholic acid tablets ring a strong bell

sorry pressend send to soon

Thank you for the advice I did not know there was a support group I will look into it

Good luck with the birth, are you going to be induced a bit early or are they letting you go on until nature takes it course?

They are going to induce me at 37 weeks (yipee!) or before if my bile acid level goes over 40 (unlikely as it seems to be getting lower since they upped my Urso dose).

When I spoke to my consultant about induction, she said that induction for 2nd time Mums is usually much quicker than inductions for 1st time Mums. She said that because your body has done it all before so things tend to happen quicker - hopefully that means you won't have 2 days of induction like last time?! There is a thread in the childbirth section of Mumsnet called something like "positive induction experiences" which I have been reading as I too am quite daunted by induction (DS was a spontaneous labour, all over in 11 hours)

How many weeks PG are you faintpinkline?

Yeah faintpinkline...I had it twice; very early like greensnail. On the second one I nearly swung for a new midwife who looked over my notes at my 34 week check and said 'ooooh you had a bit of an itch did you?'
Several years later, my ears still perk up hearing OC. Hope all goes well for you.

"A bit of an itch"

I'd have knocked her out.... or unleashed a heard of hungry mosquitos on her!

Thats what I felt like doing....instead I became very haughty and supercilious and she referred to me later as 'very cool about it all' (not in my head, I wasn't)
sorry pink- mild hijack- I'm sure, she has since retired (old bag) and you will meet only MW who are concerned and caring and understand that you feel as if you could happily shed your own skin in a snake like fashion.....

Me, I have it and had it with my son back in 2010 when he was born.

I've been on URSO for two months which has helped bring down my bile acids, but my LFT's are still in their 90's.

I have a sweep this morning to get things started, if not I'll be admitted on Friday for a drug induced labour. I'm 37+1 today.

Agree with Rick regarding the OC support group, it really is great. There's also one on Facebook too. I'm planning to help Jenny in some research into OC once I feel fit enough after the birth. For me (and many others I'm sure) it's been a scary road both times and I'd like to do any I can to help oher women in the future.

Also, the midwife and consultant told me that both my children, esp DD will more than likely have it when she has her babies, and that makes me feel very sad.

Thanks for the replies.

I hope I'll be getting the same lovely midwife as last time and she would never have described OC as "a bit of an itch". I can understand the desire to knock out a midwife who does

Good to hear second inductions can be quicker really hope it is. I'm only 8 + 5 at the moment so plenty of time to worry about OC or not.