Rash!

[cane]

Hi all,

I am 38 weeks and have developed a red really itchy rash all across my bump (but nowhere else!) and it's driving me nuts! I have to get up every two hours during the night to have an icy cold shower - great practice for new baby but not ideal (I already have a two year old daughter!) Doc think it's pregnancy related but can't give me anything to help except priton, which isn't doing much! Can anyone help? Has anyone had this? Please - I'm at the end of my tether!
C

pure aloe vera gel might help, its very cooling and soothing.

as far as I remember PG rash is very common, and (I think) disappears after the birth)

Ask at the pharmacy whether you can use Eurax at this stage of pg. It's very good at soothing itchy skin. Or possibly that other cream (sorry, can't remember its name) that is put on insect stings, and contains a local anaesthetic. If cold showers help, would it be less disruptive to your night to keep a thermos of ice water by the bed to dampen a hand towel and drape it over your bump?

Thank goodness you've not long to go now!

I had this and it was a nightmare. Mine was called gestational urticaria, or PUPP (poly-something urticated plaques of pregnancy) and piriton DID work for me, but my GP refused to prescribe it and I had to get admitted to hospital to obtain it.

It's your skin reacting to being stretched so far. It is most common in mothers of twins or multiple pregnancies, but can happen in single pregnancies in the final couple of weeks, especially if you're carrying a big baby.

In my case it spread from my bump, and eventually covered all my skin below my chest. If piriton doesn't work for you, you have my deepest sympathy because it's a horrible sleep-depriving condition. The only cure is delivery, and the doctors induced me earlier than they would have done normally partly for this reason.