Incredibly itchy legs and back!!

[Newby2021]

Guys I really don’t know what’s going on with me at the moment!
My legs and back are so itchy it’s driving me wild! It’s especially in the nights for the last 3-4 nights, I’m 11 weeks and a few days now but my legs and back just won’t stop feeling itchy it’s horrible!
Any one else experience this in their 1st trimester going into their 2nd?
Help!!!! 😩

Anyone else experience this or have any idea what it could be?

I had itchiness on my tummy around week 20. I called GP and they prescribed a cream with steroids but told me to use it if it gets unbearable and also suggested me to call the hospital if it spreads. It spread to my legs and arms, so the hospital asked me to do a blood test to check acid bile levels. It was normal but I will get another done on the week 27th to make sure everything is normal.

I did not use the cream much, keeping it cool and cotton clothes helped me. I also kept an ice pack by my bed at night and used it when I woke up from extreme itching on my legs or tummy.

I was wearing shorts and tucking the skirts of my T-shirt to my bra when working (perks of working from home I guess) but it really helped me get rid of the itchiness. it disappeared from my legs and arms. Now sometimes feeling it on my tummy but it is not as bad as those first weeks.

I hope yours gets better as well. It is very annoying.

Thank you for replying!
I didn’t think to call the GP to be honest I might call 111 now for some advice maybe as it’s all over my legs and all down my back 😩
Ahh I’m really glad it’s come back normal for you that’s a relief in that sense!
Definitely the perks of working from home I’ll be trying that! Haha and the trick of the ice next to the bed too I’ll be doing that tonight as well, it waking me up at the moment, I’ve broken the skin from itching so much I can’t help it nothing is making it feel better 😭
Thank you very much!

Is it a rash or is the skin itchy for no obvious reason? Pregnancy does weird things to the skin!

It’s just itchy skin for no reason 😔 no raised bumps or anything visible of the sort just the constant itching. You can say that again!!

I would call for advice - it’s best to make sure it’s not this which your symptoms match - intense itching/no rash/worse at night

www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/complications/itching-and-intrahepatic-cholestasis/

I had that in pregnancy. It is a common thing. For me it was really dry and irritated skin, rubbing on lots of body lotion helped. The hormones also caused my hair to become a lot drier too.

As the previous poster said, this can be a sign of serious liver complications as a result of pregnancy. It's unusual to start this early but please do ring your GP or midwife as soon as you feasibly can. Of course, it's perfectly likely that it's just a sensitive skin thing but it's very important that you get checked for liver problems.

I had this too, just one of those pregnancy things (I think if it's your hands and feet they'll want you to do a blood test) I just had to keep getting my partner to keep moisturising me to help plus I used a hairbrush to itch my back 😂😂

I had that during my second pregnancy. My feet, hands and stomach got so itchy. I used he constantly rubbing my feet in the floor and would break the skin on my stomach during my sleep without realising. They did tests and said everything was fine but there must have been a reason for it. It didn’t affect the health of the baby so try not to worry before you’ve had it checked out.

plus I used a hairbrush to itch my back 😂😂 never mind when pregnant, I do this when DH refuses

@Newby2021 I had this and am in a similar place in pregnancy to you. It turned out I was low on iron. Started taking a supplement and that has helped a fair bit. Still there but not nearly as annoying.

I had this in pregnancy, turned out to be an underactive thyroid. Please speak to your doctor to rule out any underlying medical issues.

Thank you everyone, I’m really hoping it’s one of those weird pregnancy things!
I’ve rang 111 and waiting on a call back now, my feet are itchy too and the soles of my feet are but no where near as itchy as my back and legs 😭

@Newby2021 I have this to. It’s mainly my upper back and right calf and it’s super irritating. No rash or bumps or anything so I’m going to mention it at my next midwife appointment. Currently 15+2 and it’s been itching for probably over two weeks now. Iv been using body shop almond milk and honey body butter and that seems to give me some relief for an hour or so.

@Freshair85 Iv been using my hair brush too. It’s the only way I can reach it properly!! 😂😂

@ExcitingTimes2021 it is so annoying it driving me crazy at the moment haha, yeah exactly the same no rash or bumps just really itchy!
@Freshair85 I’ll definitely will be using that hair brush trick! I’ve become a contortionist the last couple of days trying to itch my back if my DP isn’t around or he’s sleeping 😂

Glad you’ve called @Newby2021 the condition I linked to notes about the soles of your feet. Hopefully it’s not but better to have it diagnosed early than disregarding it. Keep us updated

Please do get checked for obstetric/intrahepatic cholestasis - just in case.

@WalkingMeAway thank you for linking that I did give it a read and it does sound a bit like what I’m experiencing right now 😩 thank you again!

I’m currently 20+1 and have been itchy mostly back and legs and sometimes arms since about week 10. It’s when my skin is on something so if I’m sitting on the sofa leaning on my back, my back itches. If I’m lying on my side in bed, the arm that I’m lying on itches. For me it’s exactly the same itching as when I’ve had dry skin before and always worse after a shower. I’ve told two midwives and a gp about it and from how I’ve described it they have said it’s just normal itching. I think i could also have a bit of eczema on my legs too as sometimes get some bumps. I know my skin is incredibly dry as i can see it flaking off (ew!) on my face in the mirror and on my boobs! I also don’t have any classic symptoms of OC of it being on hands or feet or worse at night. However I will keep mentioning it each time I talk to the midwife incase they want to do the blood tests.

Hi sorry I know this is now years ago for you but i’ve been trying to do some research on it and I have the exact same symptoms that you had really itchy back and legs to the point im making them bleed. I’m 19 weeks for reference- did you ever find out what was the issue?