Itching

[tasja]

When I was pregnant I started itching at 28weeks. It started at the back of my arms, back of my upper legs and my abdomen. When I scratched it made little bumps. I went to the emergency room but they gave me antihistamines. It didn't work so I went to see my midwife. It was realy terrible. She gave me other antihistamines. I took it 3 times a day. It helped a bit, but at night time, after 4pm I really hit the roof. I sat with a brush scrathing myself. After 2 weeks the ithing were terrible on my legs. They did blood tests but found nothing wrong. I tried everything - cloth soaked in vinegar wrapped around my legs, itching creams, bottles and bottles of calamine lotion. Nothing seems to work. I had pre-aclampsia on 33weeks and was admitted to hospital where I stayd till I had my daughter on 35weeks. Even through my epidural my husband had to scratch my legs for me! After the delivery they did more tests but couldn't give me a reason for the itching. 9 months after I had my girl I still took an antihistamine at night. Luckly now 10 months down the line it's over. An occasional scratch at night. We're planning another baby, I'm just so scared for the itching! Does anyone have an answer for the itching? and has anyone had a similar problem? Does anyone know if it will happen with my second baby? My poor hubby - he slept so little with me itching all night.

Hi tasja, bumping for someone who knows about cholestasis. I've no idea if that's what it is - a friend of mine had it before I met her and mentioned chronic itching, but I would hope someone else here can give you more information. Or another suggestion. Good luck with it.

did do tests for colestasis but it came back negative so it must have been something else.

Oh that's good. As I said, I know very little about it other than it can be very serious, so I didn't want your thread to go unnoticed, just in case. But you're no nearer to knowing what on earth caused it. Poor you.

bumping as DH and I are TTC nr2. Trying to find out if this happened to anyone? the itching? Scared it will be the same with nr2.

I had a lot of skin irritation during both pgs but not as bad as yours and it wasn't cholestasis. The only thing that helped was loads and loads of cream - try aveeno - but i sympapthise heartily xxx

Did they do bile acids and LFT's right at the end of pregnancy for cholestasis? the itching can often start before the blood tests show anything up.

But from the sound of it it wasn't - wrong place and the rash is not typical of OC. Could it have been PUPPP?

What is PUPPP?
Did tests and they were pos it wasn't colostasis.

I had terrible itching & eczema flare up in first pg & this time round (only 2 weeks to go) I've had nothing. I don't think mine was anywhere near as severe as yours but I did have to have steroid cream for my eczema, hadn't used for about 10 years previously but I was a bit worried, this time round too and fears seem to have been groundless.
My shins were a mess too till DD was a few months old when it finally stopped. Sympathise with you.

Hi there.

I have suffered with itching from around 6 weeks of pregnancy (am now 25 weeks). Not nearly as severe as you describe but just wanted to say that this is my 3rd pregnancy and the first time I've experienced this. So because you had this last time doesn't necessarily mean it'll happen this time.

Good luck and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

thank you, yes, lets hope that just because I had it the first time doesn't mean I will get it again.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruritic_Urticarial_Papules_and_Plaques_of_Pregnancy This]] is PUPPP.

This is PUPPP.

I'm 41 weeks pg and developed an itchy rash on my bump & arms around 39/40 weeks. I saw the midwife who took blood samples to be tested (still waiting for results).
Spoke to pharmacist at Boots who suggested Eurax cream or lotion to ease the itch. It's not recommended for use in pregnancy, but she said it's ok for me to use since I am officially at the end of my pregnancy. I've also been avoiding soap, and just using aqueous cream (you can buy it from chemists for a couple of quid for a huge tub) & water to wash my skin. Also found E45 bath oil helpful for adding to the bath. Rash is much better now.

I only had itching with my third pregnancy and they say all pregnancies are different so there's every chance you won't get it next time.

I found E45 helped a bit too. I also found adding oatmeal to the bath helped a bit.

The midwives had very little advice and said it was just one of those unexplained pregnancy niggles.

I had PUPP at the end of my first pregnancy and had to take antihistamines it was horrible but it went almost as soon as I gave birth. I didn't have it with my pregnancy with ds or so far in this pregnancy (30 weeks). I think mine started because I scratched my stretch marks then it seemed to spread all over. I did start getting a bit itchy on my abdomen in my pregnancy with ds but didn't scratch. The more you scratch the worse it gets.

Also want to say to anyone with itching that the doctor should prescribe you creams to help (or a pharmacist if they do a minor ailments clinic for people who don't pay prescriptions like us pregnant people). I'm just using E45 but am going through a huge one every 2 weeks so would have cost me a small fortune!!

I tried E45 but it didn't help. it felt like the E45 made it worse