Itchy skin 18 weeks

[Merlina920]

Hi there,

I’m 18 weeks + 3 and suffering from bad itching/rash. It started in my lower back but now the itching is everywhere in my back, my sides and sometimes my belly and breast.
I can feel that my skin is starting to feel crusty, thicker and darker in the areas where it itches.
I’m drinking around 3L water a day and moisturize my skin with coconut oil/vitamin e + almond oil but it doesn’t seem to help and now my skin is becoming super sensitive.
I’ve always had sensitive skin, even had eczema when I was a kid/teenager.

I’m just starting to worry as it woke me up in the night yesterday and couldn’t stop itching. I called my midwife as I was worried about possible intrahepatic cholestasis (thank you google...) but she said it was too early in pregnancy to be the case and possibly just a skin problem. I’m waiting for a call from my GP this afternoon but wanted to check if anyone has the same experience and what helped you?

Thank you xx

It could be serious. I just spoke to my midwife and she specifically asked me about itching and she said if I was to experience it I should tell her straight away. So perhaps ring your midwife as a precautionary measure xx

Hey @Beau2020!

I did call her this morning but she told me it was too early to be anything serious and told me to call my gp instead... hope she’s right even though i would have liked her to prescribe me a blood test at least. I guess the virus situation is not helping !

@Merlina920 how did it go? I had the same things as you! Im now 18+6 atm! My midwife said the same! But im having bloods done Wednesday as my gp suggested. Xx

Hi OP, obstetric cholestasis normally starts later - 28 weeks onwards, as your midwife said. Mine started around 24 weeks but I was pregnant with twins. It doesn't sound like OC because you describe changes in your skin, e.g. crusting and thickening, but OC doesn't have any outward visible signs at all (until you start to bleed from all the scratching that is). Pregnancy can cause eczema to get worse and flare up so it could be this. OC often starts as itching around the hands and feet before spreading to other areas so if you find you're itching in these areas once you get to 24 weeks plus I would get your midwife to send you for a blood test.

Just realised the OP was from a while ago now, but hope you're OK @starrr123 🤞