Cholestasis or just itchy?

[kensue19]

Has anyone ever had, or currently has, cholestasis of pregnancy? The last few nights I've become increasingly itchy, mainly on the sides of my feet near my heels, and last night it was so bad it took me about 3 hours to get sleep.

I'm not really itchy anywhere else and I wouldn't say it's completely unbearable so I can't work out if it could be cholestasis or if this is just normal pregnancy itchiness. Be good to hear anyone else's experience please?

I had this, I phoned the midwife and they got me in for a blood test which was clear for cholestasis. I then got an appointment with the doctor whose first question was "has the midwife done a blood test?" Before prescribing a hydrocortisone cream to ease the itching. It was so bad it was preventing me from sleeping, it was mostly at night and my skin wasn't dry. I think I was about 18/19 weeks pregnant at the time.

I'd strongly suggest calling the midwife just to get cholestasis ruled out, you wouldn't be wasting their time at all.

I haven’t had it but I have been itchy though my current pregnancy but mainly my bump and back. I would suggest you call your midwife it’s easily ruled out and if it is cholestasis it’s better to know. How many weeks are you? Think it’s pretty rare before 30 weeks. (Don’t quote me on that)

Thanks. I've just had a blood test today so will see what that says. I'm just over 30 weeks now and it started about 3 nights ago.

The fact it's mainly hands and feet, and not anywhere else, would concern me more! Glad you're getting a blood test, hopefully it's not OC

@kensue19 I had this in my last pregnancy and around my ankles was the absolute worst place for the itching. At the same time that it started there I also had awful itching across my tummy and under my breasts. From there it gradually spread to most of my body. I still have scars on my ankles from the constant scratching until I was bleeding. I hope this isn't what you have because it's a really miserable condition to put up with, but you have done the right thing by getting checked. I'm really hoping that I won't get it again this pregnancy but I think the chance is about 90% that I will 😭 currently 19 weeks and it started around 24 weeks last time (with twins) so keeping 🤞🤞🤞 good luck to you xxx

[quote SamoyedFan123]@kensue19 I had this in my last pregnancy and around my ankles was the absolute worst place for the itching. At the same time that it started there I also had awful itching across my tummy and under my breasts. From there it gradually spread to most of my body. I still have scars on my ankles from the constant scratching until I was bleeding. I hope this isn't what you have because it's a really miserable condition to put up with, but you have done the right thing by getting checked. I'm really hoping that I won't get it again this pregnancy but I think the chance is about 90% that I will 😭 currently 19 weeks and it started around 24 weeks last time (with twins) so keeping 🤞🤞🤞 good luck to you xxx[/quote]
Oh gosh, that sounds awful. I really hope you don't have it again! And fingers crossed mine is just regular pregnancy itching.

I had itchy on my legs which was driving me mad, I found out I had low iron and the gp said the supplements might stop the itching and it did.

Let us know how it goes. I’ve been itchy since about week 10, mentioned it three times to two different midwives and a GP and by their questions and my answers, and the fact I’m 19 weeks they are not worried but if I’m still itchy in third trimester I will ask for a blood test as it sounds really easy to rule out.