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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Itching in pregnancy

34 replies

Mia237 · 12/02/2022 18:39

Hi everyone,

I’m 36 weeks pregnant, for a few days I’ve had itching all over, specially in hands and feet and at night. Google suggested many possible reasons including obstetric cholestasis, which has me a bit nervous. I will definitely call my GP on Monday for advice but I was wondering if I’m being silly to wait and should call assessment unit today. I feel a bit bad for calling on a weekend just for itching. Do you guys think this is an urgent matter? Anybody has had the same problem?

Thank you!

OP posts:
BunnyRuddington · 12/02/2022 18:42

Please call your MW @Mia237 abs tell her what's happening.

Datsandcogs · 12/02/2022 18:44

Don’t wait, please get see before Monday.

Hireeed · 12/02/2022 18:45

Hi I'd call if there's an out of hours number you can call. I'm really sorry not to be more knowledgeable but a colleague had this a few years ago and it was a sign of something that meant they wanted to induce her right away. I'm sure it's not but no harm at all in checking all's ok. All the very best

OakRowan · 12/02/2022 18:45

Or if midwife not available ring triage this evening and ask for their advice on what to do next, because of how far on you are.. They can do a blood test for liver funtion/choleostasis.

OakRowan · 12/02/2022 18:48

Give them a ring OP, don't wait to see a GP, this is exactly what midwives/triage is for. www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/complications/itching-and-intrahepatic-cholestasis/

MissLC · 12/02/2022 18:48

Definitely call, but I was itchy when I was pregnant and it drove me mad! Nighttime was the worst for me too. Mine turned out to be nothing (though did have all the tests) but did go away post birth.

womaninatightspot · 12/02/2022 18:50

I had OC it was mainly a case of keeping an eye on me. Regular monitoring at hospital. Rerunning lots of liver function tests. Medicine wise just Antihystamine and aqueous cream. I remember googling and my LFTs were pretty bad if I hadn't of been pregnant it'd of suggested a recent infection of Hep C. Had DS naturally at 39+1 and everything went back to normal after.

If you're concerned I think I'd call, best to be seen sooner and get it out the way rather than be at home worrying.

ChloeHel · 12/02/2022 19:21

Definitely call triage and they will test you! I started the itching around 38 weeks, they tested my bloods and I only had mild cholestasis but they wanted to give me a sweep to speed things up just to be on the safe side.

Journeylikenomother · 12/02/2022 19:24

I had this but thankfully it was nothing serious and a piriton at night sorter it out. But my god, my feet itching at night drove me bananas. I would just go and stand on the cold bathroom tiles for some relief.
Definitely get it checked out just in case

Jjjayfee · 12/02/2022 19:29

Hope you have contacted someone now. If it is choleostosis they might want to induce the baby to keep him or her safe.

pickledprincess · 12/02/2022 19:36

Please call them tonight rather than waiting, I had extreme itchiness from 28 weeks in my first pregnancy & was diagnosed with cholestasis. Always best to be safe, they will be able to take bloods straight away & take it from there

Etinoxaurus · 12/02/2022 19:37

Don’t wait. Go straight to A&E to be triaged off you can’t speak to your MW

ThirdElephant · 12/02/2022 19:39

Call the pregnancy assessment unit- number is usually on your maternity notes.

ihatesoaps · 12/02/2022 19:39

@Mia237

Hi everyone,

I’m 36 weeks pregnant, for a few days I’ve had itching all over, specially in hands and feet and at night. Google suggested many possible reasons including obstetric cholestasis, which has me a bit nervous. I will definitely call my GP on Monday for advice but I was wondering if I’m being silly to wait and should call assessment unit today. I feel a bit bad for calling on a weekend just for itching. Do you guys think this is an urgent matter? Anybody has had the same problem?

Thank you!

Get yourself checked ASAP

I had OC in all three pregnancies and it wasn't nice....
I had to be induced with all three

FionnulaTheCooler · 12/02/2022 19:40

I had this but thankfully it was nothing serious and a piriton at night sorter it out. But my god, my feet itching at night drove me bananas. I would just go and stand on the cold bathroom tiles for some relief

Same, but I used to get up and go and scrub the soles of my feet on the scratchy bit of the door mat. Definitely phone your maternity unit and get checked out though, OP. Hopefully it's just one of those weird pregnancy things and not something more serious but always better to get it checked out.

Cakecakecheese · 12/02/2022 19:53

My friend had this recently, there was concern it might be a liver issue so she had to go to hospital but in the end they decided it was hormones and she's fine now.

Holskey · 12/02/2022 20:34

Call immediately. I had obstetric cholestasis and had to be induced within days of finding out. I wasn’t even 35 weeks.

I don't want to alarm you but if your bile acids are over 100 then there is an increased risk of stillbirth from 35 weeks onwards. I have to stress the risk is still small, and most people with OC don't have bile acids that high, but it does need to be checked ASAP at your gestation to be on the safe side. Blood test results usually come back within 24 hours.

BunnyRuddington · 12/02/2022 20:38

Have you managed to speak to the MWs yet @Mia237?

SeedsSeedsSeeds · 12/02/2022 20:51

Absolutely call, especially given how far along you are now. If you have cholostasis, they will almost certainly want to induce at 38 weeks.

Original poster
Mia237 · 12/02/2022 21:06

Thank you so much for all your messages. I called triage and was advised to go in. They’ve run the tests and we will have the results tomorrow. They were quite suspicious of OC as apparently is more common for my ethnic background ( Mediterranean). I’m hoping is nothing but I’m glad I didn’t wait. Thank you all for your advice!!!

OP posts:
OakRowan · 12/02/2022 21:22

Thats really good to hear @Mia237, glad you rang, fingers crossed for your results. xx

BunnyRuddington · 13/02/2022 06:15

I'm glad you rang as well. Always best to check these things Smile

Original poster
Mia237 · 13/02/2022 18:48

I’ve just returned from hospital and I have OC. Consultant is calling me tomorrow, I am a bit in shock. They gave me urso to take. Those of you that took urso, has everything been ok with baby? Any cause of concern from taking it? I haven’t talked with consultant yet and the doctor there was very vague. I am a bit nervous about taking meds in pregnancy.

OP posts:
Holskey · 13/02/2022 19:57

Urso is fine in pregnancy. It has been taken by many, many women with no issues. If you're on Facebook, I strongly recommend the group ICP Support. The moderators of that group are very knowledgeable about the most up-to-date research there is. Honestly, they know more than most doctors. They'll answer any questions you have. Did they say what your bile acid level is?

Original poster
Mia237 · 13/02/2022 20:16

@Holskey Thank you so much. They said the case is moderate but didn’t say the level.

OP posts:
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