Itching

[Ginga66]

I am twenty four weeks pregnant and on holiday in Cornwall. I was casually reading my pregnancy notes and noticed the warning about itching and obstetric cholestasis. I have been itching for weeks, maybe over a month. I saw my gp about my itching hands and she gave me cream for excema. I did mention to my gp that have an itchy back but he was not bothered. I also have itchy breasts, bump and legs and arms too. It has been very bad at times and there seems to be red skin and or rash at times. I looked up oc and apparently this is more on your palms and feet and no rash. Should I worry about this and contact hospital or local gp or should I wait until I get home next week? I read about it being dangerous, increased risk of stillbirth and early labour. I have also got pelvic girdle pain, Braxton hicks I think. Honestly i don't think I could take anything else but I need to know! Advice please?

Call your midwife and she'll advise if you need a blood test now or when you return.

I had this but it was much later in pregnancy, I was 37w and the itching on my hands I'd been ignoring for weeks, I have eczema too, but when the itching on my feet kept me up all night I contacted the midwife. After blood tests they confirmed my liver had stopped working and I needed to be induced as delivery was the only cure. It is a very rare condition and can be mixed up with the usual itching as your skin stretches so don't panic yet.

Best of luck and call the midwife, they've generally seen it all and won't think you're a nuisance for checking.

Google PUPP, its something like puriatic itching in pregnanacy. I had it terrible and it drove me tatty. Speak t your GP/midwife as you can take chloramphenamine (piriton) for the itching and also steroid creams to relieve it too.

I had such a bad rash that my legs swelled up and i was admitted to hopspital as they didnt know what it was and i was pregnant!

If you search under my name there will be some old threads with links on to more info.

I think OC is more specific itching on hands and feet only.

here

Hate to tell you that i had recurring periodic severe bouts of this that were eventually treated with oral predisolone (steroid used to calm severe allergic reactions).

My eldest is 6 now and finally it seems to have settled down!

I had really awful itching early on in my pregnancy, the Dr was great and suggested trying fragrance free products for a while as your hormones have one hell of a lot to answer for. went home and had a shower in simple and my goodness how much better did I feel.

Also ask the Dr to test for all other possibilities. xx

I had itching - particularly ankles and top of my thighs with DS. Apparently in most cases it's a normal reaction to all the pregnancy hormones and nothing interesting.

For me what made it worse was actually scratching it - severe self discipline needed to not scratch but it was worth it as the itch has gone now.

You should mention it to your midwife though.

Goodness thanks guys, I am thinking as I am only twenty four weeks more likely to be something less severe than liver? Thougt it came later like with u pantah. But do u think it cld wait till next week as not at home? Howling before blood test results pantah?