intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

[TOWGA]

I have just been diagnosed with this, anyone tell me what happens now?

Depends on the severity of the condition. Mine was severe, I was monitored every couple of days and induced 3 weeks early. There is a medication to alleviate the symptoms which works for about 50% of people and I opted for (luckily it worked).

Take the piritin when you want to sleep and try not to fall asleep with your feet on ice!

Hiya, I was diagnosed at 24 weeks and I’m now 33+2. I was started on medication called urso to help bring bile levels down and also antihistamines to help me sleep through the itching. I have to go to hospital every week for a blood test and have just been told I’ll be induced at 37-38 weeks.
If you have insanely itchy feet then I’d recommend getting some cold therapy socks on Amazon which have gel pads in that you can freeze and gives you so much relief! How are you feeling?

Thanks @Watwing the itching is awful!

@h164 omg those cold therapy socks sounds amazing, I'm 35 +6 currently, they tried to bring my section forward but have no dates! So I'm still booked in at 39 weeks! x

Well last night was the worst, it was awful my feet just constantly itched and I didn't get much sleep!

@TOWGA I had it quite severely and was diagnosed at 24 weeks too and was given the medication mentioned by PP. I had been told I was being induced at 38 weeks but ended up going having my weekly blood test at 35 weeks and then being told I would be having a c-section 5 days later (to allow for the steroids etc) as my levels were all really high.

I would recommend asking your consultant for some menthol cream that helps with the itching (I think Aveeno do something similar but this one might have been called Menthoderm or similar and had a higher % in it), along with the antihistamines. I also got some ice packs to sleep on (wrap them in a towel) from Amazon. A cold shower before bed also used to help.

I feel your pain with the itching. I ended up sleeping in a different room to DP as I was up 3 times each night to have a shower at one point. The cream was amazing and stopped this from happening and I definitely had a better sleep with it.

There’s a charity called ICP Support that support women diagnosed with IC and have lots of information and advice.

@TOWGA as mentioned by PP I also recommend the aveeno menthol cream. Main thing I found that helps is to stay as cool as you can.
Has your consultant given you any medication? I get some relief from the urso tablets too.
Do you know how high your bile levels are?
I was told that I couldn’t go past 38 weeks at the latest because my levels are high so may be worth checking what yours are.
If you’re on Facebook there’s a group called ICP Support and it’s run by a charity that do all the research for this condition and they give you all the right advice about what should be happening etc

Thanks everyone, got the urso tablets and the menthol cream too! My Bile levels weren't mega high at 22! Not sure what the plan is, as I'm booked for planned c section at 39 and they wanted to bring it forward but no dates available!

I used to wrap my feet in a chillow pillow.

Mine was severe - bile salts 150+ iirc - and the urso didn't reduce the levels, and I was to be induced at 37 weeks but after a preparatory sweep went into natural labour.

I think less than 40 and they try and keep the baby in longer than 37.

I'm currently in the early weeks with number 2 and am absolutely dreading it starting.

Keep your environment as cold as you can. I slept with all windows open, fans pointed at hands and feet and buckets of ice water around. That was in the middle of winter...
Make sure your hands and feet don't dry out through or that adds to the discomfort!

It's horrible but it does end

I had this, but mine was diagnosed at 38+5 so I was induced next day so no tips. I sympathise with the itch as it’s awful.

Out of interest, did anyone have it in subsequence pregnancies? I’m almost 9weeks and I was told it was likely it would return but I’ve not been booked in by the midwife yet so haven’t had a chance to speak!

@tuxedocat not speaking from experience however my consultant said there was a 90% chance of it returning if I was to have another baby - online it does say that it could be a 50% chance.

Hopefully you won't have it this time round! Congratulations on your pregnancy

@tuxedocat

I had this, but mine was diagnosed at 38+5 so I was induced next day so no tips. I sympathise with the itch as it’s awful.

Out of interest, did anyone have it in subsequence pregnancies? I’m almost 9weeks and I was told it was likely it would return but I’ve not been booked in by the midwife yet so haven’t had a chance to speak!

I was diagnosed at around the same stage with my first and induced at 39 weeks. However I never got it on my second. Currently due no 3 so hopefully get lucky this time too.

Tonight I just want to cry, my feet are so bad tonight, I keep putting them in cold water to cool them down, but I have no idea how I will get any sleep

Hope you managed to get some sleep last night.

Are you on the acid? If it works it really takes the edge off and it almost becomes manageable. Before it started working I'd swear even my eyeballs itched and I was definitely not coping.

Are you off work so you can get some rest?

Thanks for the replies ladies. I think it’s luck of the draw! I did have some antibiotics last year which made me itch due to the effect on the liver so my gut says that I think I’ll get it again.

@TOWGA I’m so sorry, it really is unbearable. I hope the urso kicks in for you. I can’t believe they have no dates to bring you forward, what about emergencies?!

Thanks everyone was up for 3 and half hours before sleep finally took over! I'm on the urso acid, so hoping it kicks in! Got a growth scan and a scan of my liver today today. I really hope they can find my a section slot earlier than 39 weeks, I don't know how some of you coped with it for weeks on end! x