Itchy itchy itchy

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I'm 32 weeks pregnant and ridiculously itchy. Mainly in my legs, but prickly all over. I cannot sit still, it's keeping me awake and my constant twitching is driving dh crazy.

It's got worse over the last week, and isn't too bad in the daytime. Just in the evening and nighttime.

Argh. Any ideas on what I can do to help? The usual creams (aveeno, e45) don't touch it.

You've itched our way into the fostering section- try reposting in pregnancy! No idea on the itchiness sorry

You need to call your midwife as this can be a sign of liver issues in pregnancy.

Get it checked out to make sure it isn't obstetric cholestasis

You need to see a MW - theres a condition in pg which causes itching and it needs looking at tomorrow

Please check with your midwife. There is a pregnancy condition that could be a problem that causes itching.

I've reported my post to get it moved! Oops.

I'll call my midwife tomorrow. On holiday at the moment but back on Saturday.

We're moving this over to pregnancy now, but OP, we would recommend you get checked out sooner than the weekend. Hopefully this is nothing at all and itching in pregnancy can be very common as your skin is more sensitive but previous posters are right - it can be a sign of obstetric cholestasis (especially if is on your hands and feet and if it is mostly at night, which we see it is) which can be quite dangerous. Definitely a better safe than sorry one. Hope all is fine anyway. Do pop back and let us know. If it turns out just to be annoying pregnancy skin, try saliva. We know... But apparently it helps. And also calamine lotion. Best of luck!

Definitely get checked out tomorrow, I've had OC for 3 consecutive pregnancies and the itching usually started around this time.

Don't panic though, all three pregnancies went well, although they did have to be induced a little earlier each time they were all healthy and the doctors and midwives were all ace and on the ball

Don't forget to call. You'll be fine but it is very serious for the baby.

Make sure they include a blood test for B12 during investigations.
I have non alcoholic fatty liver as a result of pernicious anaemia and i was extremely itchy throughout pregnancy.
www.b12deficiency.info/b12-and-pregnancy/

Thanks all, I'll call first thing tomorrow.

Not sure I'm flexible enough for licking my body Iona!

Good to know ynk, I'll ask for that as well

If it's not OC it could be PUPP/PEP which is not serious but sounds bloody awful to endure. My friend had it and the only thing that helped relieve the itch was pine tar soap. Might be worth a try depending on what the MW says tomorrow.

If it does turn out to be ICP, check out the ICP Support website and Facebook group. Lots of advice and support there.

Most people find aqueous cream with menthol helps most, along with keeping cool.

(ICP is another name for OC)

Thanks for the advice. Midwife was very blasé (told me not to wear perfume ... but to get it checked on Monday.

I'll try the aqueous cream with menthol :)

From the ICP Facebook page, it's not uncommon to find midwives and doctors being very uninformed about the condition. I guess because it's quite rare, it's something that they rarely see.

My midwife totally dismissed me the first time round and I really had to push for a liver function test. So don't let them fob you off on Monday.

If there is any change to the baby's movements don't wait until Monday.

My baby was totally fine then went to no movement at all. We also had a midwife that was very dismissive but thankfully he held on for 1-2 days with a better lot of care and was then delivered by emergency section and the cruel midwife lost his notes

My midwife was also dismissive so after another few horrendous days of itching I called the hospital myself and they brought me in for bloods which confirmed OC and I had to start meds straight away and be referred to consultant. Don't let them fob you off without bloods!

Another who had OC. Aqueous cream in the fridge was a life saver.

I was lucky that I was already under consultant care (hypertension) and mentioned it at my consultant appointment, bloods were taken and I was called in the day after tomorrow be started on meds. My enzyme levels did drop with the meds and the itchiness became more manageable. I was induced at 39 due to the combination of the OC and hypertension making me quite high risk however consultant said most with OC now go to full term and are just closely monitored. Good luck OP.

The next day, not the day after tomorrow

Oh dear, never herd of itchiness being something to be concerned over! Been mad with leg itch for almost 6 weeks and just assumed it was nothing to worry about since i had no rash! Will inform my midwife on Monday!

Liz try not to worry. I only mentioned it in passing to my consultant as it was stopping me sleeping. The vast majority of people with Obstetric Cholestasis have no problems whatsoever except the itching (which is more prevalent on the palms of hands and soles of feet).

Oh and my consultant (who has been practising about 20 years) said she'd seen an increase in diagnosis of OC which she believes is probably because people look it up on the internet so mention it to their hcp. She thinks the majority of people who get it are probably never diagnosed.

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