developing a cat allergy in pregnancy

[hamncheese]

I've got 4 cats, had them for 3 years now and never an issue with allergies etc. I'm 35 weeks pregnant now and over the last week I have started to get itchy all over. Been to maternity assessment and the liver issue was ruled out so they put it down to allergy/anomaly and told me to take piriton.

However, I notice now that it is only when I am in the house. It's worse when the windows are closed. It's focused on my chest, face, head, arms mostly. Just got home and gave one of the cats a cuddle and noticed the itch came on there. I don't think it's hayfever as it's never outside, and it's never similar times to high pollen count/when my DH/Mum has hayfever etc. Plus I get very mild hayfever sometimes and it's not the same. Also I gave the house a real good hoover and clean etc when I found out about the itchy maybe being allergy and it seemed to help for a bit but now is worse again.

Anyway so I'm now really worried I've developed an allergy to my cats as I have 4 and we are in a flat and couldn't let them outside or something to ease it. Plus I really can't imagine not having them they are like family.

So, has anyone else had this? If so did it turn out to be your pets? Did the allergy go away or get better after pregnancy etc.

Any help and advice welcome please... as if the worry of cats and baby wasn't enough, now the idea of being itchy every single day too... arghh!!

i know this might seem a strange question but when you scratch does your skin come up in bumps?

I had the opposite last pregnancy. I was really allergic to cats (DH has two that have been banished to the utility room since we met and tried everything we could think off including antihistamines and cat dander wipes. I felt bad about that but now there's an excitable two year old running aboutm I think they're probably glad of having their own, child free space). Anyhow, when I was pregnant my allergies disappeared completely. I probably could have licked the cats and it wouldn't have brought out a reaction.

This time around however has been the total opposite. I just need to look at a cat and I sneeze and I've also been getting hayfever that I've not had in years.

If it's just itchiness, then I think it would be worth going back to the doctor to rule out obstetric cholestasis. I don't know too much about it but I do know that itchiness is a symptom and that it needs to be managed as soon as possible.

Mind you, since it's only when you're in the house, I doubt OC is anything to worry about.

No, skin doesn't come up bumpy when I scratch. I also don't have any sneezing/itchy throat/runny eyes and nose etc which I would associate with it.

Weirdly as well... itchy ALL NIGHT... kept waking up itching but the cats are kept out of the bedroom at night. And now I'm up in the living room with them and I'm not quite as bad.

Will ask MW next week about OC to be sure but had the blood and bile tests already.

Anyone else not been allergic and become so and did it go away or not after pregnancy?