Itchy legs!! Why do we itch!

[Byets]

Could someone pleaaaaaseee shed some light on why pregnancy can make you itch?

I've had itchy legs/tops of feet on and off for a couple of weeks, now since last night they have itched constantly! Does anyone know why pregnancy can make you itch?!😩

I don't know but itching has been driving me nuts this pregnancy

@Delbelleber so strange isn't it! Do you itch all over or just one specific place?

Mainly my legs and I can get a really intense random itch like on my back or anywhere that needs to be scratched that second. Legs are the worst and I get restless legs as well.

@Delbelleber horrible isn't it! Worse if there's no answers for it. Have you ever mentioned it to your midwife?

I had the itchy legs in my previous pregnancy also, I'd have to lie on the couch watching TV with no trousers on because the trousers irritated me so much.

Please be aware of cholestasis in pregnancy

I mentioned it to a hospital mw when I went in for monitoring one day. She just gave me a piriton! I don't even know if it helped because when I got home I fell asleep . I think the piriton knocked me out!
I sometimes wonder if its to do with low iron or dome other deficiency but I don't know. Are you going to speak to your mw about it?

That mw at the hospital said if it isn't intense itching in the palm of the hands and soles of the feet they aren't worried about cholestasis.

Please ask your doctor. I had cholestasis both pregnancies. If it is, and not treated it can cause stillbirth. Sorry.

@lotusbell I've seen about that, but was under the impression too that is was palms and soles. Is this right do you know?😊

@Delbelleber ah I didn't even think we could take piriton! Maybe I'll give it a go. Yeah will probably bring it up next time I see midwife and see what she thinks. How far along are you?

I'm.not too sure and I'm sure others will have more knowledge than I but my ex sister in.law was blue lighted with this when she was pregnant, quite late on. This was 15 years ago. Not sure of the guidance on it but worth genning up on!

Aveeno and oat baths may help, as you'd treat chicken pox itching, maybe!

Speak to your midwife - you probably need a blood test to check it's not Obstetric cholestasis. I had this in my last pregnancy and it was all fine but I took a pirition (again the midwife can advise the right one to take) at night to help a bit.

@lotusbell @Colouringinbook thank you both. Maybe I will check with midwife, I didn't think anything of it as its not on my soles or palms. But if there's serious risks then best to be on the safe side and get it checked 😊

I have bad itchy legs this time and did with my last pregnancy, I don't know what it is but it's so irritating! I find wearing looser clothing to bed helps me. I also get restless legs too which I take magnesium for and that really helps.

I'm 37+6. I'm having a section on Thursday!
I was in the 3rd trimester when I had the piriton. How many weeks are you?

@maria2bela sounds like a lot of people suffer with the same things! Horrible isn't it. How far along are you? (Only asking people as I'm interested to know if it's at a specific point this happens)

@Delbelleber oh wow how exciting! 💐 Good luck on Thursday! Bet you're very glad you'll soon to be relieved from the itching😂 I am 28+5, cannot wait to be where you are!!

Thank you

I had cholestasis in my last pregnancy, although the itching was only in the sole of one foot and wasn't that bad. I would double-check any itching with my midwife, but there is also a thing called something like pruritis which is itchy skin all over for no reason during pregnancy and which I don't think is connected to liver issues?

@CarterBeatsTheDevil did you have any complications from it in your pregnancy? I've seen online it can have a lot of complications for some and not any for others. I have seen the other type of itching too, and that would make more sense for me as my itching isn't on soles or palms, it's on my legs and slightly on my arms but it says that usually has a rash and I don't have any rashes. (Apart from what's come up from my excessive itching) 😂 isn't pregnancy just a whole load of confusion and lovely symptoms!!!

I've found that my skin is much drier which is making me itch. Moisturising all over every day really helps.

Do speak to your midwife if it's severe though
www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/itching-obstetric-cholestasis-pregnant/

@KnobwithaK thank you 😊 will give moisturising a go. I'm useless at that normally lol

May leave it and see if it gets worse/sticks around and see again in a few days. If it's still there I will contact midwife 😊

@Byets I'm 23 weeks this week

@Byets My ALTs spiked a bit at the end of week 36 and so I ended up having a planned section at the beginning of week 37 instead of week 38 but she was fine and everything went back to normal after she was born.

I started with itchy skin a few years ago and I had some bloods done to check my liver because of possible liver disease. All fine. Through elimination I worked out that I had become sensitive to shower gel and/or fabric softener. I didn't have a rash or dry skin just a persistent itch.
Pregnancy can cause sensitivities to things you previously weren't sensitive too so it might be worth testing soaps etc in case there is an easy solution!
It probably wouldn't hurt to mention it to your midwife just in case they want to run some tests.