I can't stop scratching!

[lolalotta]

Is it a pregnancy thing? I 'm 14 weeks! My skin is driving me nuts!

OMG, me too, particularly around my ankles when I'm in bed. It's driving me mad too. My mum said she had it too, so I guess it's one of those lesser know pregnancy symptoms. I've found shaving my legs less reduces the itching, but it's catch 22 as I don't want to be hairy either!

I shaved this morning, you are right, it it doesn't help! I have just switched to Radox bath bubbles, am just wondering if that could be it too? Reacted to it or something, I have been having a big bath everyday so could be drying out my skin?

I had this to.around 11-12 weeks, its a nightmare but just something else we have to deal with in.pregnacy.

Try mosturising it may help if ur skin.is dry

Are your hands or feet itchy?

I suddenly developed a rash/itchiness at 28 weeks. I saw the GP who checked it over and said to avoid baths near bed time and keep cool. It's common to be itchy in pregnancy (skin stretches) but if your palms or soles of your feet itch, seek urgent medical attention!

you dont need to worry about OC (when hands and feet itchy) at 14 weeks - normally develops mid to late second trimester/third trimester :) best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy

I'm 29 weeks and have really itchy ankles! It's only been in the lady few days!

Oh my ankles have started to itch too, am just over 31 weeks. I had OC in my last pregnancy too . Have just slathered on some cocoa butter onto my legs and feet to see if that helps as I has a shower before I got into bed, but no joy yet. This itching does feel more like dry skin though rather than the insatiable itching I had in my last pregnancy.... Sighs .....

I'm only about 5/6 weeks and I have had itchy legs since bloody conception. It is driving me MAD. Will it continue throughout then?! I will have no legs left by the time it's out, I will have scratched them off! Didn't have this with DS.

I'm 34 weeks and my skin seems to have got really sensitive. Every moisturiser I've got makes my face itch, I've had to take all my jewellery off (I had my wedding ring on a chain around my neck and I can't stand it being there - not lots of jewellery worn here!) and at home (in Oz so it is hot) as soon as I get through the door I have to take my clothes off.
My skin isn't exactly itchy, I just know its there if that makes any sense.
A good friend has had OC in both her pregnancies, she would scratch herself raw, her eyes went yellow and cat like. Nothing she could put on it helps as its an internal itch rather than an external itch.

I told my midwife about the same problem (that I've had since around 6 weeks!). She sent me for an urgent blood test as sometimes it might be a sign that the baby is in distress. In my car, thankfully, it wasn't. My mother had also had the same condition, so maybe some of the other mumsnetters are right and it's one of the lesser known symptoms. Worth mentioning to your midwife though.

BTW, still itching and it's driving me nuts. I might mention it to her again. E45 cream hasn't helped either

Although itching in pregnancy is very common it is worth getting it checked out. IOC can develop in the first trimester although this is not typical. IOC doesn't always start with itchy hands and feet either. IOC can run in families spaghettibolognese.
It is worth repeating bloods even if they are normal because the itching can occur before blood results become abnormal. Also CheeseAndMushroomToastie, have you been offered blood tests in this pregnancy?

I had very itchy legs particularly, my doctor prescribed some E45 to see if it helped. I picked it up from the chemist and it's an enormous pump bottle!

In one of the pregnancy books it says it is due to the increased amount of oestrogeon in your body xx

I had about a week or two ago as well, in particular itchy legs I am now 15 weeks.

Chocolate I am under consultant care this pregnancy because of my previous OC, had an appt at about 12 weeks and another one in three weeks when I'll be around 35 weeks. Going to see how the itching goes over the next few days otherwise will call the docs and request a blood test. The itching has come on so suddenly I want to make sure it's not just a general skin sensitivity..... nothing to do with being induced last time because of the OC oh no

It seems like shaving really irritates my skin now...have swimming tomorrow so no getting out of it!
Put some body lotion on afterwards that relieved the itching for about 5 minutes and now it back! Grrrrrrrrrr!

I will mention it to my midwife, I have my 15 week appointment next week...

I'm lost, what's OC or IOC? I haven't really been worried about it, just really annoyed. Sorry for mentioning the shaving Lolalotta, it'll probably bug you more now! It's better with a new blade than old one! For me it's mainly ankles and legs & tonight my neck too, not really massive areas of stretch and I'm only 12 weeks so havent really grown much yet.

Obstetric cholestatis Geberally occurs later in pregnancy but just something to be aware of.

CheeseAndMushroomToastie, glad you are getting well looked after, fingers crossed that you stay IOC free.

Hi Purple, IOC stands for Intrahepatic Obstetric Cholestasis.

Oh goodness purple I hadn't even thought about changing the blade on my razor...how daft?!? Goodness knows how long that one has been on? Thank you for reminding me! I wish I could blame it on pregnancy brain, but I think it's just me!

Hehe, probably is baby brain

Thanks for the info, I'll look it up