Hand hold please. Liver function abnormal.

[DollyDaph10]

I went to hospital on Saturday as I had mass swelling in my feet and lower legs and was covered in a hot, itchy rash. They did bloods and they showed my liver function has come back as abnormal. I’m waiting to hear from the hospital what happens next, but feeling very worried about baby. I’m 24w with first baby.

[Flowers]

Hi @DollyDaph10 so sorry to hear of your worries! One good thing is that you've been to hospital now and I'm sure the maternity team will keep a good eye on things. I think that because of the liver function tests you will be under consultant led care now and they will repeat these tests weekly.
I'm sure at this point you'll be feeling movements from your baby which will be reassuring (even if they don't seem to follow a pattern yet).
Hugs for you xx

It sounds like obstetric cholestasis - which I had twice. They'll monitor you more and may well not go past 38 weeks. There are support groups on Facebook.

Sounds like it could be ICP (obstetric cholastasis). Have a look at The ICP support website and Facebook page.

If it is ICP, please don't worry - with monitoring, medication a delivery before 38 weeks you and your baby will both be fine

As others have said, please don't worry yet as it sounds like ICP/OC which whilst uncommon isn't that uncommon in pregnancy - it affects something like 1-3% of pregnancies if I recall correctly. I had it in my pregnancy, it's well controlled once you are diagnosed with it and it doesn't really impact on baby - there's a slight risk of still birth right at the end which is why most people are induced at 38/39 weeks if they haven't already delivered naturally by then, and you'll have blood tests regularly (at least weekly) to check the bile counts, and have medication for you plus cream for the itching. My trust had a specific pathway for ladies diagnosed with it from 37 weeks but I never made it onto it because I delivered naturally in the 36th week.

If it is something else then I'm sure they will also have a similar pathway, as it were, for that too so please don't worry at this stage.

@DollyDaph10 please try not to worry! I went in at about 25 weeks for itching and my liver function was raised.. bile acids were normal but only just. Doctor said they were still going to treat it as OC because my LFTs were so raised and that it was strange I had it quite early on. It was the middle of the night, I was there in my own and just burst into tears so I totally get it.

I'm now 33 weeks and I'm in hospital every week for a ctg monitor, ultrasound of the cord and amniotic fluid and bloods. I feel really looked after and they're so on it- like PP have said they will likely induce 37/38 weeks as that's when the risk gets a little higher.

Thank you all for your kind words of reassurance. I’m having my GTT tomorrow to rule out Diabetes and then back to the hospital Friday to try to find out more re my liver. I keep having horrific headaches and am hoping this doesn’t mean pre-eclampsia! X

Hope all went well OP

Thank you!! Results are still elevated, so ongoing tests for now x