Itching in pregnancy 35 weeks

[mumofjust1]

Hello,

Hope you don't mind me asking for some advice here?

My dsil is 35 weeks today and went for a midwife appointment this afternoon. She has been sent to the hospital as she has had itching all over, especially feet and arms, which gets worse at night.

Has anyone had any experience of this?

Many thanks :)

I had a blood test at my last appointment for the same problem, as it can be a sign of cholestasis which effects the liver. I haven't had my result yet but I imagine the hospital will offer your DSIL the same test. The doctor said it may also just be hormonal so try not to worry at this stage.

Thanks very much - fingers crossed all is ok with my first little nephew

Just had a text from db - they've taken bloods and popped her on the monitor while they wait for results.

Hopefully all will be well! I have been in and out of hospital this whole pregnancy and will be induced early, and it is scary when things aren't going quite to plan so will keep my fingers crossed for your sil.

Thanks :)

She's still at the hospital waiting to see a consultant for her blood results.

Sorry to hear you've had a problematic pregnancy - hope all goes smoothly from now on. When are you being induced?

Hi, me my sister and mum have all had coliostatus in pg, we all either had our dcs early (37wks) or were induced at 38my sis gets induced this Monday with her dc2,as she has been tested for it now it shouldn't cause problems as she will be closer monitored, she may need to take vit k and induced, aside from that it is unpleasant for the mum really as very itchy and can feel very sick, don't worry I'm sure itl be fine though, she's heading the home straight, if you or she if she is diagnosed want to ask anything though feel free, we are a welsh of knowledge on it now

Hi I've currently got obstetric cholestasis and I'm 35+2. I'll be induced at 38 weeks. If she does have it they will give her medication, probably monitor her on a weekly basis and take weekly blood tests and most likely book her in for an induction at 38 weeks. Hopefully they'll give her anithistimines too. I had it in my last pregnancy too and baby is now a healthy six year old. Its annoying but they know how to treat it.

Let us know how she gets on and if she wants any advice or just a rant she's welcome to leave a message on here or PM me

Thanks for all of your replies :)

Well she is being kept in. Her levels are very high - so high that they are considering the possibility that the sample was contaminated.

As the reading was so high they can't allow her home but can't test again until the morning. She is in a room alone so they have said that db can stay in with her which is nice, and they both feel a bit better about it.

She has been feeling very sick the last couple of day and very itchy too.

She's worried about the possibility of the baby being born early, obviously she would like to go full term if possible but from what you guys have said, an induction could well be a possibility.

Thanks again for your advice and experiences - tis much appreciated :)

Looks like she is being taken good care of and nice they are letting her have her own room with partner.
My sis was very sick with it but they usually keep you going til 37wks as that is classed as full term so she needent worry, just with constant scans, monitoring and bloods, my dd came naturally at 37wks and personally to us that's the only highlight of it, the last few weeks get harder and harder so to be saved that and going over like most first timers was the biggest blessing, all weighed healthy and we were all out of hospital after a day or so, good luck xx

I had this and was induced at 36 weeks. It does sound like they are taking very good care of her (I also had pre-eclampsia not sure if they're linked?). Dd was/is fine btw.

Bet you can't wait to meet your nephew

Morning, and thanks again for posting your stories - they're really reassuring

The latest is that her bloods this morning are worse than yesterday.
She has been on the baby monitor and all seems fine with him.
But they want to do a scan of the baby and a scan of her liver.

No idea when she will be home.

Is it possible that with her levels so high they won't bother with medication and just deliver the baby if all seems ok with him?

I think that there is little evidence to suggest harm to baby, they really don't know the effects. But then the only cure is delivery so I guess it depends on the scan results. If they decide to induce they will probably give her steroids to help develop baby's lungs. They might decide to keep her in to be monitored for as long as possible. Keep us updated

Thanks again spotty.

Original plan was to scan the liver and baby and take it from there.

Bloods are now so high that they aren't scanning liver or baby, they aren't giving her medication for it, they have started her on steroid injections and have said baby will come at any time - I'm guessing they mean c-section.

Db and dsil are really worried and upset - it's their first baby - so my mum and I are going up shortly for a bit of support.

I'm not sure which method of delivery the will use. I would get her to see if she can visit SCBU before her baby comes as it is likely he will need to be in there for a few days and it would be nice for her to meet the staff etc first.

She must be worried but she will get to meet her baby boy soon! Might be worth popping into mothercare to get some tiny baby clothes

sorry to hear this OP but its good that she's in the right place and getting looked after.

I saw my midwife yesterday and she told me that if my baby were to deliver today she wouldn't really be worried as at 35 weeks they are very well developed and just need a bit of growing time. Please try to reassure them that while its scarey baby (and your SIL) will be fine.

Hoping everything goes alright for them all

Gosh, things are changing so quickly

They said they would do the scan on Monday, she had more bloods taken at 3pm.

They have just taken her down to the labour ward - they think she may have the baby by c-sect this evening.

Hi please don't worry too much. I had cholestasis in both my previous pregnancies from around 25 weeks and my babies (though early) are fine. I am 20 wks just now with no 3 so waiting for it all to start again but really at 35 weeks the baby may not even need scbu. My dd was 34 wks and would have been let home had they not left her without a blanket for too long within he first hr as she became hypothermic term is technically 37wks so she's not that gar off now anyway and scbu is fantastic if the baby does need a bit of extra help. At least if she delivers the itching will stop :)

Hi mumofjust1

This must be such a huge shock for you and your family but please don't worry, at 35 weeks baby will be fine, s/he may need a bit of monitoring or support in the SCBU but s/he may well not. OC is only dangerous to baby if it is undiagnosed and the baby is not delivered by 38 weeks. None of this applies to your DSIL. She and baby are being monitored very closely so they will be fine.

I had Obstetric Cholastasis and was induced at 35 weeks as the meds didn't get my bile acids/liver function under control. It was a huge shock to be told "you are having your baby tomorrow" and it will be a prem.

I had a fantastic induced labour and DS arrived very quickly weighing 8lb ! He did have typical premature baby lungs (ie a bit underdeveloped) so he went to intensive care for a few days to have CPAP (pressurised oxygen) and he was tube fed for a bit as he was using all his energy to breathe. The Drs told me that having a v v quick labour had probably contributed to these problems so I can't blame it all on having an early baby!

On the other hand my cousin had a baby at 35 weeks and was home the next day!

Have a look at this website to reassure yourself www.ocsupport.org

I hope all goes well for your SIL and the baby.

Thank you all so much for the reassurance - its really helped put my mind at ease, and I'm passing your stories on to Db and dsil :)

They are waiting for a final decision from the consultant, she is still on the labour ward and is nil by mouth so I'm guessing section rather than induction.

So its just a waiting game now.

Can I ask your experiences of what sections and inductions involve please?

It does sound like its going to be a section although I wasn't encouraged to eat anything during my induction (just incase?).

Mine was an emergency induction so to speak so they broke my waters and put me straight onto the drip. Contractions went full force very quickly. Dd was born ten hours later nice and healthy 8lb

It can be scary but tell her to ask lots of questions and write down any requests she has now whilst she is in the right mind frame. Ie skin to skin with her if possible, if not with dad? Although dd had to go to SCBU she was with us for an hour so that was nice

My OC induction was just great. Was given a pessary (to soften cervix) and sweep and the plan was to have another pessary 6 hours later then a pitocin drip to start the contractions some time after the 2nd pessary. I was told that most ladies having an induction do choose to have an epidural once the pitocin is given as it can cause quite painful contractions. So epidural was very much on my birth plan!

DS had other ideas- waters broke a few hours after the 1st pessary and he was born an hour later. No time for any pain relief!

My consultant warned me that OC babies are born quickly, she was not wrong, you may wish to warn your DSIL!

Any news?

Thanks for remembering us spotty :)

Just got a text from Db:

The levels in dsil's blood keep rising, despite the fact that they are giving her 4 times the amount of medication that usually control it. They have been told that baby will probably be delivered today, but are awaiting a final decision and details from another Dr.

I can't usnderstand why they don't just make a decision and stick to it :( she was taken to the labour ward yesterday to have the baby and they changed their mind's. Now they've changed their decision again, but are waiting for a final decision, which could be different again.

Dsil just wants to know what's going to happen. She's very tearful and scared bless her :(

So, we are awaiting the outcome of this final decision and will go to the hospital if needed. We're ready to go at the drop of a hat.

Some more questions I'm afraid, sorry - we have no idea what size this baby will be. Should we go and buy smaller nappies, vests, sleepsuits and stuff? They have newborn nappies and 0-3 clothing - is it likely that these will be ok? My friends daughter was due at the same time as dsil and her baby was delivered at 33 weeks weighing 5lbs - should I go by that?

Sorry for all the q's, but have no experience of babies born before term.

Thanks again x

I'd say the newborn nappies would be fine but I'd get a few tiny baby clothes, that sounds small but my dd born 37wks was 6:10lb and needed that size, 0-3 is quite big as really that's after newborn, they won't be un them long so I'd just stick to a few packs of simple babygrows
Hopefully you will get some answers today, it may seem like they are indecisive but it's purley that the longer they keep the baby undelivered the healthier they stand to be, it seems with coliostatus that the babies are born ok although they think there are risks if they go over 38 wks but the mother suffers and they will probably be weighing up how poorley and what damage it's doing to her to the health risks of delivering early! Don't worry though 35wks isnt that early, my god daughter was born at 24wjs and is a beautiful healthy teenager now! I would say your right at asuming 5lb ish, im sure things will be decided today anyway and hope everything goes well x

The reason they have not made a decision is that it is very very hard to weigh up whether baby is best in or out. On one hand her levels are very high but on the other hand baby is fine on the monitor, no one is absolutely sure of the effects of OC on the baby before 38 weeks, the medication can start to work very quickly and there are some risks associated with early delivery.

I totally get your frustration though, I was told several times that I would have to be induced- including a panic call from the hospital at 8pm one night saying come in immediately with a hospital bag we need to induce- I was only 32 weeks and completely crapped myself! Luckily the meds did work that week!

Re sizing, newborn nappies will be fine. I'd get some newborn or early baby vests/babygrow/cardies too. 0-3 months can be quite big. Having said that, DS was an 8lb pudding at 35 weeks and did not fit into any newborn clothes.

Also, don't forget a hat and blankets as early babies can get quite cold. If baby arrives before the shopping, the hospital will have clothes to fit.

I hope all goes well today.

I'd go to mothercare and get some early baby things, we also found the sleeveless vests good because it was the only thing we could get over dd's cannula.

I would get a pack of sleep suits, vests a cardi and a hat