The itchy thing - obstetric cholesomething

[Crossandratty]

Has anyone had it?? I'm 38 weeks and last night could not sleep for itching - head to toe. Really really weird. Isn't it quite rare? Surely v unlikely to be....sure I'm being a hypochondriac...

Cholestasis. My friend had it. Are your hands and feet itching? Do you have any swelling of these parts?

My hands and feet have been mildly swollen due to heat for the last few weeks. My feet are as itchy as hell but last night was my whole body. My hands aren't too bad. If this continues I'm going to be a sleep deprived wreck by the time the baby comes out...

You should see a doctor/midwife. Please.

Right yes you need to be seen.

Call your midwife or the labour ward, they will do some tests.

You shouldn't be swelling due to heat, really.

Itching this severe is somethingto notify anyway - but with the swelling, it definitely needs checking out.

Sorry - hope you are Ok.

God - go to the hospital, you need a blood test.

My sil had this and delayed getting treatment which she now regrets.

Go, go, go now. Please do. Easy to diagnose with a simple blood test.

I had this, started mildly at about 34 weeks had emergency induction at 36 weeks you really need to be seen.

Hope op has gone to the hospital

Ive had it twice. First time i was tested for it at 28 weeks and the results got misplaced/forgotten about (I would've chased them but didn't realise I'd been tested for it or what it was) and when I had my 40 week appointment someone finally realised there was CHOLIOSTASIS written in big red letters on my hospital notes and I was induced that day.

The second time I wasn't showing many symptoms but was tested anyway as I'd had it before and I did have it but my bile acid levels weren't too bad and the midwife told me that choliostasis had been downgraded and wasn't thought to be as serious as it used to be, so although I had regular blood tests I didn't need to be induced (as it was decided there was barely a risk of still birth anymore) and went into labour naturally at 40+3

I am not sure if what I was told the second time I had it was correct as google tells me differing things.

Currently pregnant and will be tested again soon.

Thanks for all the repllies, I did ring the hosp and have spent all afternoon there being monitored and having blood tests. Baby moving fine so have been sent home until blood results come through in a few days. The itching is driving me mad though!!!!!!

My consultant gave me piriton for the itching? Hope you feel better soon

Can someone please enlighten me as to what Choliostasis is?

I had really bad itching in the first trimester (waking up having drawn blood on my legs in my sleep) but with lots and lots of moisturiser it seemed better.

I now have it to a much lesser extent (26 weeks) and instead seem to have swapped my reason for not sleeping to restless legs

Is this choliostasis? Is it dangerous? What should I look out for ?

Thanks and sorry for threadjack,

OP I hope you find some relief soon!

Cholestasis is to do with the bile ducts and liver - efficiency decreases so that there is more bilirubin in the blood and this can cause the symptoms such as itching, tiredness and various others.
It can sometimes slightly increase the risk of having a stillbirth, but you shouldn't panic as it normally shows up in the third trimester, not the first.

If you are worried though, there's no harm in being checked out.

They usually check your liver function when they do your bloods too. Itching is a common side effect of pregnancy whereas Cholestasis only occurs in about 1% of pregnancies. I had itching in my hands, face and chest along with swelling in my hands, face and feet.

ok, thanks for the info :)