Any experience of itching / intrahepatic cholestasis (IHP) I may be being dramatic...

[Napqueen1234]

In the past 48 hours I’ve been experiencing all over itching but worse last night in the early hours particularly on my palms, soles of feet and scalp. Has anyone experienced this? Excellent Dr googling at 3am has made me terrified I have IHC. Obvious choice is ring midwives but community team aren’t answering so have left a message. It’s likely to be nothing right?

Sorry should add 35 weeks pregnant with baby 2 nothing with first pregnancy and completely straightforward pregnancy so far. I’m Caucasian (just important as IHP is more likely in some ethnic groups and Caucasian isn’t one of them!)

My daughter suffered from it from 35 weeks. It is unpleasant and difficult to treat, sorry

Let your midwife know ASAP and they will take blood to test for the condition.

I had this much earlier in my pregnancy (about 23 weeks i think) Contact the midwives asap. I was given tablets to help with the itching and was monitored twice weekly for movement of the baby and had lots of bloods taken regular. I’m also Caucasian My sister also had it in both of her pregnancies but in the first it was thought to be pre eclampsia.

Thanks for your responses. Can I ask for those with experience- did you go to full term or did they induce you? Thanks!

I had this in my second pregnancy and I’m Caucasian with none of the other risk factors. My first pregnancy had been straightforward. I would have been induced at 37 weeks but baby was born at 36 weeks due to reduced movements.

Please ring your midwife and arrange to have the blood test, I had to ring triage at our local hospital I don’t know what your local procedure would be. If you do have ICP you will be closely monitored as people have said. I took piriton and another medication and it really helped ease the itching.

I was going to be induced at 38 weeks because of it but had baby at 34 due to his restricted growth. This was due to fibrodes most like not the ich.
My sister had her first early as blood pressure went up didn’t know at the time it was this. With her second she was monitored and had a c section at I think 38/39 weeks.
I was told they wouldn’t let me go past what is classed as full term as risks increase

If you can’t get hold of the community team, do you have a telephone number for maternity triage or antenatal day unit?

I had it with DC1. Itching started very early but for complicated reasons wasn't diagnosed until 37 weeks. Main issue, as I recall, is that it's dangerous to go over 40 weeks with it so if baby isn't born, they will induce. I was induced at 39 weeks.

During pregnancy, main issue seems to be the deep deep discomfort. It was unbearable. Excessive use of a combination of aloe vera and Niveo Almond Oil moisturiser (it worked for me!) helped a bit but that was it. They gave me anti histamines once it was diagnosed but I'm not sure it helped a whole lot.

Biggest issue is that afterwards they recommend no hormonal contraceptives. So that's been a thing.

Don’t panic. I had it with my first pregnancy and they induced but only one day before my due date in the end. I‘m pregnant again and have escaped it so far this pregnancy - took vitamin D all the way through this time as I read some research linking it to a lack of vitamin D. It’s unpleasant for you as very hard to sleep through the itching, but unlikely to harm the baby. Just make sure you contact your midwife so they can monitor you.