About to scratch my skin off please help

[NotDoingThat]

I'm nearly 21w with my first.

Over the course of the evening I've gone from a couple of itches to being so itchy almost everywhere I'm beside myself.

I don't have any other symptoms or rashes or anything. The nhs website says this could be a liver problem and what to expect says calling a doctor can wait till the morning- so I'm not too concerned from a health point of view.

Does anyone have any ideas what I can do to prevent me peeling myself over the course of the night? I'm going spare.

I have had this through my pregnancy and apparently it's rushes of histamine .. Do you come up in hives when you scratch?

I was told just to take piriton (apparently fine for pregnant ladies) and it mostly helps ... It was worst at 12-19 weeks and then only happens on odd occasions now (28 weeks).

When I was pregnant I was the same but it was only on my belly, I kept scratching till I was red raw😩 I found moisturising helped for a little time, I used a pregnancy cream. I would definitely ring the doctors and double check. I hope you find something to help, I know how frustrating it is

If it's excessive itching don't dismiss the liver condition! Do something!

Otherwise try some lotion, check your washing powder and just endure it I've found it's a lot better now at 34w but at one point it was pretty frustrating so I can sympathise!

Also calamine lotion helps.

Sorry it's miserable and uncomfortable! Hope you manage to soothe it.

Look up PUPPs. Bloody awful i had it with my 1st, could have literally scraped my own skin off was a horrible time, midwifes didnt help much, seemed to think it was very rare yet i knew 2 friends who also had it at the same time...not so rare id say

Agree with others about antihistamines.
Also an oat bath- cut the foot off an old pair of tights, fill with porridge oats and tie closed then put in the bath and run a warm bath.

Yep I had PUPPS too at the end. It was horrendous and no one had ever heard of it. But do get checked for the liver thing.
I got some of the aveeno cream, hydroquartizone and diprobase. Hope it calms down soon.

Thanks so much for all your replies! Sorry mine are slow (itching).

@DoraNora I'm not seeing any hives or rashes/ it's mostly just getting increasingly red. I don't have any calamine in the house but I'll get some ASAP in the morning- guessing everywhere will be closed now :(

@Lozxx Belly is fairly low down on the itchy list at the mo- I have mama mio moisturisers (various) - do you think it's worth trying? I'm worried perfumes might make it worse.

@Casmama I do have oats though- currently sitting in a tepid, bubbleless bath which hasn't help. I'll ask DP for an oat sock 

@Flipflop789 I did look up pupps- I don't have any lumpy bits that I've noticed

Also- thanks for advice on antihistamines- will try that now

Please, please get yourself checked. This website will tell you about obstetric cholestasis and why it’s important not to ignore itching.

www.icpsupport.org/about_whatisicp.shtml

Also with the liver thing- if I have it, it doesn't look too serious? I think? It was the first think that came up when I searched 'itchyness in pregnancy'

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/itching-obstetric-cholestasis-pregnant/

Same as pp says. I had obstetric choleostatis and was quite poorly, Dd induced early due to it. You need a blood test ASAP.

Sorry x post. Do you think it's something I need to address out of hours?

It can be very serious. Please get checked.

It can be serious if not dealt with. I would suggest if you can feel the baby moving then I'd go to your mat. Unit in the morning for a blood test. They can also prescribe menthol cream for the itching.

Could you call the the midwife dept at the hospital. Is best to get it checked. I had the liver thing and itching was many on soles of feet and legs. Ds was 6 weeks early due to it and I had to have twice weekly monitoring

@Stickmangate
Mine is mostly tops of my feet and legs  I'll call medicom

It will probably be ok till tomorrow but would get it checked ASAP

I was convinced I had OC due to excessive itching that was getting worse. Went in for all the tests and came back clear. Itching completely stopped a day or so later with no explanation. Call your midwife and they will bring you in for the relevant tests OP.

I have just been diagnosed with ICP - it is not fun. On mumsnet now trying to distract myself from scratching myself to pieces. ICP can have risks to the baby but there is treatment that can help so best to get tested for it. There’s not a massive sense of urgency about it where I am though - def not something for out of hours. I mentioned the itching to my midwife on a Saturday, she met me on Monday (basically as soon as she could) to take bloods but it took until Thursday to get results back. Then day assessment today (Friday) and prescription for treatment. Next set of bloods next Monday.
I would say though that if it is ICP it might feel better in the daytime, don’t decide this means it’s gone away and forget to call the midwife like I did for a week!

Oh and I forgot to ask for the menthol cream and they didn’t suggest it so I’m just using E45 anti-itch which has minimal effect sadly.

Oh my god I had the ITCHIEST legs EVER when I was pregnant. Tried every cream under the sun and the only thing that helped until I saw my GP was ice packs. It was winter and I was shivering I was that cold but I couldn't bear the itching anymore.

My GP said it was a circulation issue due to the extra weight I was carrying and recommended I buy the scholl compression tights. THEY BLOODY WORKED!!!!

I'm waiting for a call from the mat unit. The oat bath helped but I'm straight back to going spare now I'm out!
Thanks everyone!

When I had PUPPS (and I know that doesn’t sound like what you have but just in case the itching is similar) the only thing that helped was coconut oil. I was red and angry and itchy and smelled like a bounty bar. But it did help a bit at least!

I'm having the same problem, my feet and legs are so itchy. It started about 6 weeks ago, I'm almost 33 weeks now. I was tested for liver function and all was ok - but the itching is so frustrating and I'm restless and grumpy because of it! A couple of things I've found that helped - keeping my leg hair really short, changing washing powder and fabric softener (using Surcare now), showering at least twice a day (just water no shower gel) and Aveeno Baby moisturiser (it has oat essence). The itching is still there but slightly more manageable!

Totally going to try support tights now I've read that on here though - thank you to pp for the recommendation!

Good luck op, it is miserable being so itchy! x