Obstetric Cholestasis....anyone else suffering?!

[JessHelicopter]

Ugh! Just been diagnosed with OC agaaaain! I'm only 23 weeks so poss another 17 weeks of itching hell and boring hospital visits! This is my second pregnancy with OC unfortunately so I know it's only gonna get worse! I've written about it here: mrshelicopter.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1 but anyone else suffering?

Nobody? Am I all alone??????????

I had this with DS1 and it was awful. So itchy. It did stop once I gave birth.
Doctors didn't recognise this.. I had to research it myself to find out what was making me itch on my hands and feet so much!

I did not have that, but I had a horrible itch everywhere, especially hands, arms, tummy and legs. GP said it was a pregnancy rash. It only stopped after I had my baby and it was so bad I couldn't sleep. I was given calamine (sp?) lotion and piriton tablets (they are safe when pregnant the GP said). Piriton only helps to sleep, but does not help with the itch. Calamine helps for just a few minutes. Sorry I can't help you more.

Take a long bath with oats, and cut your fingernails very short. Good luck.

Aw thank you both! Yummy, it sounds like you DID have it! It can be pretty serious, but i assume they did blood tests to check. I think it would drive me even more nuts if i knew there wasn't a reason. :O Yeah cold baths help too....which is fine if the weather stays like this. :D

Jess I had the blood tests and were negative. GP said it was a rare pregnancy rash. I got 'lucky' to have it. It was awful, non stop and I tried reading or doing things and trying to keep my mind occupied as the itch was awful. My baby is 9 months old, I can't believe I survived the itch.

I had this! Only diagnosed at 39 +1 thou and my lovely home birth had to be ditched :( ds was whipped out by cs as all the drs panicked as I was so far gone without symptoms. In hindsight I've since read the nhs diagnosis guidelines for oc and they weren't followed at all!

Oh no. I had it in 1st pregnancy. At 36 weeks. Was induced at 38.
Itching was crazy. Didn't take the piriton during day as I didn't like being sleepy.
Was in hospital every day in the week before induction to be monitored sucked.

Been told its highly likely ill get it this time. Currently 28weeks. So FC I don't get it till the end. My boobs itching is driving me crazy enough without the feet/hand thing taking over.

This time did you go triage straight away when itching started? Or wait until next appointment?
I was wondering this the other day. Last time I was up all night itching and went to triage as soon as DH got up in morning.

I had this in my first pregnancy too, diagnosed at 36 weeks and induced at 37. Am now 31 weeks and have been itching on and off since 18 weeks, but last blood test at 24 weeks was clear so now not sure if I'm being paranoid or not. Can sympathise with the being driven mad with itching though!

I had it with dd1

not with ds or dd2

diagnosed at 35 weeks and induced at 38.

was awful

Jess sorry to hear you are suffering - I had OC with my last pregnancy, am now 14 weeks with #2 and so noticing every twinge or itch to see if it is back.

I would recommend the OC support (now called ICP support) email forum and Facebook page - I'm still on there from last time - they are really supportive and knowledgable bunch.

Keeping cool at night helped me (tough to do in this weather!)

Yummy, lucky??? Poor thing! I felt like that anyway about my last pregnancy because i was also sick til the end...the next 18 months to 2 years flew waaaay faster than the actual pregnancy!

teatimecakes Aw sorry about your CS. I am requesting one this time because i was in hospital for a week whilst they tried to induce me last time, then 18 hour labour ending in forcep delivery and DS didn't breath unaided for 7 mins! NOT going thru that again! But yeah, before i knew i had anything wrong i was longing for a water birth. The consultant actually laughed in my face when i said it too!

GTBaby I actually just mentioned it casually to consultant last week that i'd had OC last pregnancy and that i was already a "bit" itchy. I didn't think i actually had it yet tho cos i am only 24 weeks (23 last week)! He suggested bloods to check. :( was gutted when they got back and my bile acids were up already.

smileattherain yeah i assumed it was just pyscosymatic (? um not sure that's spelt correctly!) when i started itching too. And when they told me it WAS OC the itching went thru the roof! there's def some physcological side to it for me i think!

steppemum yep it sucks.

fidgetpie your name sums me up at the moment! i went to a concert on the weekend and i am sure the person next to me thought i had scabies! I couldn't stop scratching! When was yours diagnosed?

It seems everyone got it quite late then? Thanks eveyone for replying btw!

My consultant told me that its most likely to start in the last trimester when hormones are raging and causing havoc with your body

I've updated my blog with a new page....all the things they DON'T tell you about pre pregnancy! :D mrshelicopter.blogspot.co.uk/p/things-they-dont-often-tell.html

I had it with DC1 but am currently 38 weeks with DC2 and have been clear this time round. So there is hope for future pregnancies! Lots of sympathy for you all suffering with it though. Must be even worse in this heat!!

OH really? mine has eased a little bit since 2 weeks ago. Which has given me a little hope but i am still only 25 weeks! I have a LONG way to go! . Good to hear that not everyone gets it second time...