Vitamin K & obstetric cholestasis

[Kittypillar]

Just wondering if anyone here who has been diagnosed with OC has not also been offered Vitamin K as part of the treatment?

Earlier today when I had bloods done, it was mentioned that my blood clotting level was a little lower than it should be, but midwife didn't elaborate any further. Having spoken to my sister, who also had OC, she was surprised and said she thought having treatment with vitamin K for OC was pretty par for the course. I'm guessing it's just as my levels were only slightly under they didn't think it necessary but was curious why.

Thanks all - was only diagnosed Tuesday night so still getting my head around it a bit...

Hi Kittypillar,

I have just been flagged for OC. I can't help you with info on the treatment, my midwife refused to tell me what she was testing for in case I googled it. I only found out it was OC when the bile acid blood test came back raised yesterday. I am 28 + 3 weeks. I only know what I have read online and I am really concerned. I have to go into hospital Thursday next week for repeated blood tests and been told if it is confirmed again I will have weekly blood tests until I deliver. That is all I have been told. Is this condition really as bad for our baby as the internet suggests? My midwife was really cagey about telling me.
I'm sorry I don't know anything to help you x

Hi @Fionz, I'm sorry to hear that! I've only just been diagnosed myself (I'm 37 weeks) so not sure how much help I can be, but I was back in day assessment unit again today to check my levels. I was put on some medication on Tuesday when I was diagnosed (Urso and been given tablets for the itchiness too). Obviously I can't speak for everyone but the staff at my hospital were so reassuring about the dangers to baby - I've been monitored well and they've booked an induction in for next week, but they said that as long as condition is monitored properly, levels do not rise (they've gone down a bit already since Tuesday, which is great) and I was induced next week, then all should hopefully be well. Apparently the dangers to baby get greater right towards the end of pregnancy, which is why they will usually just not risk it and induce early. Hope that does help a bit.

That does help, thanks for replying. I think I'm getting all the rubbish pregnancy symptoms and complications this time round - daily migraines, blocked nose and nose bleeds, major fatigue, gestational diabetes (diagnosed @12 weeks!), chronic hypertension... I already see two specialists at hospital lol and on insulin, aspirin, painkillers and blood pressure meds! This new one just feels like a kick in the teeth lol.
I ended up in day assessment 2 weeks ago cause my bp shot up to borderline emergency levels. A kidney function test they did showed I was dehydrated, which was weird cause I drink so much water. My midwife repeated the test a week later and did the bile acid test and both came back raised. The BA test was 41. I have no idea if that is bad or not!
The midwife on the phone told me if it's over 40 then it's an indicator for OC and I am just borderline, but online it says anything above 40 is bad. Worst is I have to wait nearly a week to find anything out! Is it just good old NHS or am I waiting a week cause they know it's not serious? I just don't know.
Sounds like you are being well looked after tho, aww that's great you are all set to be induced 😊 I can't wait to have my little girl too so all this worry can go away lol xx

Waiting between tests is normal. At your very slightly raised levels, a quicker repeat test isn't needed, weekly is normal and is often the interval between tests for those who have been definitely diagnosed.

(I think the midwife who wouldn't tell you what they wanted to test you for acted appallingly. It is a key part of informed consent that you know what they are testing for!)

If diagnosed, you can expect additional monitoring. OC is manageable.

Your team should however strongly recommend induction if monitoring results become too adverse. The prospect of adverse impact on the baby is much less than it was, because of the closer monitoring and successful induction. You are more likely to have your baby early, but nowadays the stillbirth rate is at pretty much the same rate as the wider population because of enhanced monitoring. That should also include offering extra scans too, as there is a need to check that whether there is no fluid build up that could have an impact on the baby's heart.

Vit K is only needed if your blood clotting appears impaired. It's not a key treatment for OC, rather a way of dealing with something it can produce.