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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Damn all-over itching - always OC?

19 replies

HowAboutNo · 02/04/2014 16:19

Just that really!

Started a couple of days ago, had bloods done, now just waiting for the results

Just wondered if it's always OC or if it's just another pregnancy delight! Itching is literally everywhere - hands, feet, legs, scalp, face, neck etc etc

Thanks

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SellyMevs · 02/04/2014 16:28

I've had this.. liver function tests came back normal. They reckon it's down to hormones for me. Talk about being uncomfortable! Good luck with your results x

Tillyscoutsmum · 02/04/2014 16:32

I had it as well and it wasn't OC. It did have another name (piritis?? Something?) think it translates from Latin as pregnancy itching Yet another one of the joys

ladymalfoy · 02/04/2014 16:40

Dear God I had this. In the end it was OC. I finally fad to be induced when I admitted if I'd had a Brillo pad I'd have used it on my feet and legs.
Midwife suggested E45 itch cream. Helped a bit. You really really have my sympathy and I hope it gets better and isn't OC.

TrueToYou · 02/04/2014 16:41

I had oc in 2 of my 3 pregnancies. Dcs induced at 37weeks.
The itching is like nothing else you've ever experienced, getting out of bed at night to give yourself a proper thrashing, making yourself bleed, it's horrendous. Often on palms of hands/soles of feet too.
How long is the wait for results?
How many weeks are you?
I hope you get the all clear!

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 02/04/2014 17:03

Thanks everyone - sympathies for those of you who did have OC. Haven't quite reached the Brillo pad stage, though it seems to be getting worse gah!

I'm only 32 weeks so I really, really hope it isn't. Just had a makeshift cool oatmeal bath and covered myself in E45, but it's still here! Fab.

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Original poster

HowAboutNo · 02/04/2014 17:04

Midwife said the results should be back by Friday latest!

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Tillyscoutsmum · 02/04/2014 18:08

The clarins leg lotion was the only thing that helped with mine (bizarrely enough).

PickledLilly · 02/04/2014 19:51

If it is OC there is hope, the drug they give you worked wonders on my itching and within a couple of days it was really minimal. In the meantime keeping cool/cold was one of the most effective thing for me so try sleeping with the window open.

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 02/04/2014 20:45

Thanks, fingers crossed it's not, but I know it's not the end of the world if it is as it seems they manage it pretty well. Feel like crap tonight!

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TheGrassIsSinging · 02/04/2014 20:47

Its not always OC but be warned: I had OC in my secnd pregnancy, so when my best friend developed itching in pregnancy, I advised her to get tested. Her tests came back fine, but the itching persisted. A month later she went back fo a second lot of tests, and by then her liver function was very poor. It can be an early sign, even before your bloods show it up, so always worth getting further tests if the first lot come back normal and the itching persists.

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 02/04/2014 21:37

Great piece of advice Grass, I will def be requesting another test at a later date if these results come back negative but the itchiness persists

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TrueToYou · 03/04/2014 12:56

pickled I wasn't offered any medication for the itching, I was told I just had to put up with it, there was nothing they could do, and on the 2nd pregnancy I had to travel up to the hospital every day to have bloody taken up to 37weeks when they induced.
They said a reading of under 10 was OK, mine was 12.6 so they again made me come every day to check bloods. On the day they decided to induce it was 25.4.
They had my results back overnight though, so I'm surprised at you having to wait so long. When I was first getting tested on the first pregnancy they tested at 4pm and told me to be ready with my hospital bag at work with me when they called the next day. They rang at 10am and said "we need to get this baby out now" so off I went to be induced.
On the 2nd pregnancy I was under consultant as high risk, and was alert to look for signs so was monitored earlier. I researched online on this pregnancy, and found it wasn't as uncommon as people thought.
I hope you are well and your results are OK.

ChicaMomma · 03/04/2014 14:04

have you started taking anything new recently? like iron supplements or anything like that? I ask because the minute i started taking iron i got a ferociously bad itch.. i only take them every second day now and it seems fine. I';m earlier along than you though.

As grass says, even if the tests are clear, insist on getting testing again in about 3 weeks (if the itching persists). It sounds awful!!

PickledLilly · 03/04/2014 16:06

Oh how strange True, it's called ursodexocolic acid or something (not sure how to spell it!) marvellous stuff, thought it was fairly standard to give it for OC so I'm surprised you weren't given it.

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 03/04/2014 17:19

Got the results back, bile acids at 1 so that's a relief!! Midwife did say we'll repeat them if the itching carries on.

Seems a little better today, have drenched myself in aloe vera gel. But nights are the worst!!

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PickledLilly · 03/04/2014 17:46

Oh good, glad you had good news, hopefully just a hormone/growth spurt sort of thing, fingers crossed for you that the itching is short lived!

SellyMevs · 03/04/2014 22:18

I have been using Aveeno moisturiser, and calamine lotion for the really bad itchy places. My GP also prescribed an anti histamine. For the last 3 weeks I've had virtually no itching....

Unfortunately today it's started back up with a vengeance despite me moisturising and taking the meds religiously. I swear even my eyeballs are itchy :-(

Hope you get relief soon (I'm heading for a cool shower.... again!)

CantUnderstandNewtonsTheory · 03/04/2014 22:55

Have you got a bumpy rash? I had pupp which was so itchy I used to make myself bleed scratching!

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 03/04/2014 23:37

Thanks pickled

Ahh selly I really hope it buggers off for you soon. I had a cool bath yesterday and put porridge oats into the foot of an old pair of tights and wrapped it round the tap so the water going into the bath went through it! Was mental and only did it as I didn't have anything to crush the oats with, but it did give some relief!

newtonstheory no thank god! It's calmed down today so I'm hoping it was just a weird burst of hormones or something!

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