Itching at night

[leilathebaby]

I’m 26 weeks currently and have been experiencing itching since I was around 22 weeks. I’m a bit hesitant to contact my midwife because of the pandemic I’ve never met my assigned midwife and have only ever spoken to her once and see new people each time, and because I’m not too sure if I’m overreacting. I’ve been getting itchy skin on my bump and breasts, not to the point where it’s cut and bleeding but where I can’t help but itch and turn myself a little red. It only ever occurs and night when I have finished work. At my last midwife appointment they reckoned there could be a chance my iron levels had dropped but to wait for my blood tests at my next appointment before they can do anything which is in two weeks time. Could this be a side effect of low iron? What can help in the meantime? 🙂

If it’s just your bump and breasts that are itchy then it could be because of the skin stretching to accommodate your growing baby and larger breasts.

Having said that, you should definitely speak to someone if you’re worried. I don’t think it matters if you know them or not. They’d always rather you are cautious just in case.

Okay, I thought I’d just be overreacting a little I suppose when the itching comes on you just get so fed up! And I suppose you are right and they are there to help 🙂

Stretching skin is itchy! I've found plenty of moisturiser and E45 anti-itch cream helps.
Although if it's the palms of your hands and soles of your feet then you need a blood test.

I had this, it drove me mad! It was only on my torso and I think because of stretching skin, was much worse at night as clothes and bed covers rubbed the skin. Luckily it only lasted a few weeks and I didn’t get it in subsequent pregnancy.

Itching can be a sign of ICP- or obstetric cholastasis as it's often called - so you need to speak to your midwife and get your bloods and bile acids tested.

Speak to a midwife, and try an emollient cream.

And my ICP itching was not in my hands or feet- it was mainly my chest, tummy and breasts. Was defo ICP though!

Thanks for the responses guys! A little follow up, I’ve spoken to my midwife and she has recommended I use an emollient cream. I am going in for my bloods to be taken this afternoon just so they can rule out cholestasis and get my results back tomorrow afternoon 🙂

Hope the itching stops soon!

Hi @BaronessVonCake just wanted to ask how your ICP was diagnosed and what your itching felt like? I've had itching across my whole torso, especially my back since about 14 weeks (now 30 weeks). They tested my liver function which came back in the normal range but not bile acid (which the ICP website says should be tested I think). My guess is that it's just dry skin from pregnancy hormones but I always wonder if I've had the right tests... GP just told me to use E45 which doesn't really help to be honest.

They tested my bile acids and liver function which i think is what the ICP support website suggests- v helpful website by the way!

I also had a liver scan once they'd decided there was an issue just to rule put any other reasons for the high bile acids like gallstones.

The consultant told me that ICP does not always show up in the tests so it's important to get the tests repeated if symptoms persist.

It is probably just dry or stretched skin due to pregnancy but might be were pushing for another blood test and a bile acid test?