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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

itchiness....is it always a bad sign??

32 replies

hunofmonsters · 11/02/2008 21:27

started itching last week (friday/saturday) and its starting to drive me crackers, i don't itch all the time but when i do nothing will stop it. Mostly feet and hands.

Now, i know it can be OC (obstetric cholastis or something like that) and am ringing the Drs anyway in the morning BUT do i ask for AN appt for the wednesday or try and get in for 2mo? and is there anything else it could be? Am 35 weeks pg

OP posts:
pigleychez · 11/02/2008 21:32

I think itching can pretty normal in pregnancy.

As far as im aware its because of the skin stretching and the increase in blood rushing around your body.

Im 18 weeks and have incredibly itchy legs and bump.

Maybe ring and see if you could have a word with a midwife to put your mind at ease.

Have you tried Googling it to see what it says?

PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt · 11/02/2008 21:35

Itchy hands and feet do indicate liver so I would get seen asap to be honest. Try not to worry but you must get looked at tomorrow.

pigleychez · 11/02/2008 21:36

just found this on www.Babycenter.com

''Some pregnant women find that their palms and the soles of their feet get red and sometimes itchy. This common condition may be caused by an increase in estrogen. It usually disappears right after delivery.''

Hope that helps

PavlovtheCat · 11/02/2008 21:36

itching is normal, esp at 35 weeks.

Original poster
hunofmonsters · 11/02/2008 21:42

I have nevber had it before (this is DC3) so don't really know what is normal and what isn't! It doesn't feel normal but doesn't feel abnormal either IYSWIM?

STill, will ring and bring forward my MW appt

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pigleychez · 11/02/2008 21:44

Yeah prob the best person to decide if its anything to worry about or not

babblington · 11/02/2008 21:45

get yourself checked as quickly as possible for chloastis - very very serious. then again, i got a horrible itchy rash at 35 weeks on my belly that ended up with me having to have ice cold showers every 2 hours (through out the night as well!) absolutely awful worst thing ever, had to be induced 3 weeks early as presumably baby caused itching. Still, got a lovely baby out of it, so it wasn't all bad.

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 11/02/2008 21:46

You do need to get checked and have bloods done. Hope all is well.

Prufrock · 11/02/2008 21:47

Itching in hands and feet at 35 weeks is not normal - it's a classic symptom of Obstetric Cholestasis. Other indications are dark urine, floating poo and yellowing of the skin/whites of eyes.

Please don't google - you'll only panic. (Been there, done that) But do go to the doctors tomorrow, (or better yet go to hospital if they've go a Maternal/Fetal Assesment Unit, results will be quicker) and ask for LFT's and bile acid tests to be done.

I've had OC twice, but the results of my 2 pregnancies have just been safely tucked into bed, so it's not as risky as you might think if you google (cos I'm sure you will, no matter what we say). this is the RCOG's official standard on treatment.

Original poster
hunofmonsters · 11/02/2008 21:49

Mmm thats what i thought.

I dn't have a rash, or fleas (!) and haven't recently changed any washing powder or anything like that.
Have been ill though si had pinned it to the virus going but you have confirmed to me what i already knew i needed to do IYSWIM.

Thanks MN

OP posts:
pregnabrain · 11/02/2008 21:49

Hi there

I had OC with my first pregnancy. Itching started at 28 weeks and was all over, but worst on my hands and feet.

You should definitely get it checked out - you need to get your liver function tested (a very simple blood test). But don't worry too much if you can't see anyone tomorrow. Even if it does turn out to be OC, they'll only monitor you at this stage anyway.

Good luck - hope it turns out to be normal pregnancy itching!

Original poster
hunofmonsters · 11/02/2008 21:51

x posts pru

Its one thing after another with this pregnancy!

I did google but looked at pages like nhs direct

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pregnabrain · 11/02/2008 21:54

Don't google! And don't worry! OC is not dangerous at all as long as it's diagnosed.

You're doing the right thing by getting it checked out.

Thread hijack - Prufrock - did your itching start at the same time in both your pregnancies? Am up the duff with number 2 (25 weeks tomorrow) and am just waiting and waiting for it now...

Prufrock · 11/02/2008 22:09

Yes - but I started itching at 13 weeks in both. And second time I was told by doctors that it couldn't possibly be OC that early. When LFT's came back with AST at 350 a week later they did accept that maybe, just maybe, I did know what I was talking about and I did have OC.

Do check my link (with thanks to pupuce) for latest (well only 15 months old) treatment protocols. So many places still get it wrong.

pregnabrain · 11/02/2008 22:14

Wow. 13 weeks! Did you take urso?

Thanks for the link. A doula I know sent it to me as well. I find it really unclear, though. It doesn't seem to say for sure whether or not early induction is actually beneficial. Were you induced early with yours? I was last time and would dearly love to avoid a second, but only if they are confident there is a very low risk.

Original poster
hunofmonsters · 11/02/2008 22:16

I have bookmarked the link as i can't seem to make head nor tail of it properly...tiredness i think!

Will have another read in the morning and ring the Drs...ty x

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Prufrock · 11/02/2008 22:27

that would proabaly be the same person pregna. I was induced at 36 weeks 1st time, but ended up with emergency c-section after 3 days of prostin as LFT's were shooting up again and I was only 1 cm dilated. So second time I opted for an elective c-section at 37 weeks.

I did take urso, and it worked for me, both by reducing itching and controlling LFT's and Bile Acids (AST went from 350 to 70 within a week). Though the RCOG has doubts, my consultant swore by doppler scans and a special scan he did to measure the blood flow through the babies heart as early indicators of possible problems and would have been happy to leave me longer if they had been clear (as it was once I'd opted for a c-section it was easier and less nerve wracking to just get it over with)

hun - here is an easier link. Jenny is a truly wonderful woman who has saved the lives of many babies and the sanity of many mothers to be with her work on OC

imaginaryfriend · 11/02/2008 22:29

Oh, I had that, it drove me up the wall! Hands, feet and later on legs.

The GP told me it was because the veins dilate and move closer to the surface of the skin as the pregnancy advances. There's nothing you can do. I did find that rubbing aloe vera gel on helped to stop me itching and seemed to make my skin more elastic.

pregnabrain · 11/02/2008 22:40

Hmm. It's interesting.

I am at King's in London for ante-natal / birth, and there they have a blanket policy of early induction for OC. But before getting preg, I went to see one of the OC specialists at Queen Charlotte's and he said that, if LFTs not raised too much and urso controlling the symptoms, they'd consider monitoring only (at least until 39/40 weeks). Such a dilemma. Still, maybe I'll get lucky this time and the itching will stay away (crosses eveyrthing).

I'd also like to sing Jenny's praises. She's an amazing woman and single-handedly runs OC support/information in the UK.

Anyway, hunofmonsters, you probalby won't have to deal with ANY of this as OC is relatively rare! And many apologies for hijacking your thread. Let us know how the blood tests go.

LambethLil · 11/02/2008 22:42

Ask for a liver function test. can't remember what it indicates. But along with not wearing nail varnish in case a general was needed I remember itchiness= liver function test needed

Original poster
hunofmonsters · 12/02/2008 11:04

No appointments with Dr today but would only have to go back to see nurse for bloods and she is away until next week. Brought forward MW appt to Friday though instead of next week. MW can take bloods on friday and they will go to hosp ON friday.

Receptionist was lovely (must be new!)

I can always ring antenatal day unit if things get really itchy. Woke up this morning with spotty legs where i must have been itching in my sleep so am covered in diprobase for now

OP posts:
Prufrock · 12/02/2008 12:54

Hun. Seriously. Ring antenatal unit today. The level of itchiness is not indicative of the level of bile acids in your blood, or of the potential (though very rare) danger of stillbirth. And it could be nothing, but it's not something to take a chance on.

If you get antenatal unit to do LFT's they can have them back in an hour and you'll either be reassured that there's nothing wrong, or treated and monitored and therefore much safer. If it is OC, real danger time is post 37 weeks, but teh sooner you get started on drugs and get LFT's under control the longer you will be able to carry for.

I really don't want you to panic. I really hope you come back here and rant about how I've wasted your time and all you've got is ezcema. But you should act.

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 12/02/2008 13:14

Go up to the hospital. They can do bloods there and keep an eye on movements.

NikNakF · 12/02/2008 13:26

Can I second that? Am a doc and would much rather you went to be assessed today rather than at the end of the week. I'm sure it's all fine, just best to get it checked!

tasjaSAmuminUK · 12/02/2008 13:29

I had SEVERE itching in my pregnancy. it started at 18weeks. it was really bad! first it was on my abdomen (red bumps), back of arms and inner thigh. after about 2 weeks it was mostly my legs. My DH said if I were ever pregnant again, he's not going to sleep in the same bed as me. I was disturbing him to much with the scratching.
they did all kinds of tests, also thought it was OC but it wasn't.
At 33 weeks I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, but till today no-one could tell me if the 2 were linked.
I tried EVERYTHING! best for me was to have a shower in the morning and at night and to SCRUB my legs RED! (helped for 30min). and then calomine lotion and antihestamines(sp?). without that I couldn't servive!
With labour I had epidural and thought yes, now I wouldn't have the itching. I STILL FELT IT! weird.

best of luck to you