38 weeks, Yellow Stools and Generally Feeling Unwell (Sorry TMI)

[Notcreativeenoughforagoodname]

Hoping somebody can reassure me.

On Monday I came down with a bug - diarrhoea, a bit of vomiting and temperature of 38. Called the assessment line and they said just take paracetamol. 👍 thanks!

Since then I’ve been gradually feeling better but still don’t feel right and have been constipated. Last night and today I have had stools the colour of korma (not diarrhoea) and stomach IBS-like pain when passing. I also felt a bit dizzy last night having dinner and I’m very fatigued. My urine has been orange and dark yellow no matter how much I drink. I just don’t know what’s going on. Baby movements I think seem fine. Perhaps not as big as usual but I guess it’s running out of room in there now.

Has anybody else had this?

I don’t want to be dismissed by the assessment line again and my midwife team run a callback service, so they won’t call me back until tomorrow, hence asking here while I wait.

You need to seek medical attention today.

the symptoms you give are in keeping with your biliary tract not working (pale stools dark urine). This could be due to obstruction by gallstones and there is also a condition called cholestasis of pregnancy. You need some blood test and investigations to work out what is going on.

Please phone your local maternity unit or 111 at least - you need your liver function checking urgently. The PP is right.

Agree with pps, your symptoms are liver issues. You need to get checked asap.

Please go and get checked today. Sounds like you might have obstetric cholestasis and it can be dangerous for the baby.

I agree with the others above, you might have an issue with your liver

Thank you all.

Sometimes I just feel like I’m a hypochondriac! I called the assessment line and they were very nice but not concerned that it’s a pregnancy related issue and advised to call 111 so I will do that.

Agree. At this stage you cannot be too careful. I would want my bloods including liver tests done. Pale stools and dark urine can be a sign of liver problems which can be happen in late pregnancy

Bloody hell. Tell them you're itching really badly! These are cholestasis symptoms. I had Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. It needs attention. They will test for it today if you say you're itching. All over, worse on your palms and soles

I had this and it was Cholestasis. Baby has to come 2 weeks early. Be prepared for a delivery soon. Bests of luck

Did you have the itching @justanothernamechangemonday ? I’ve got no itching at all.

I’ve been to the maternity assessment unit today and they’ve checked urine, blood pressure and baby and all seem fine.

The point is, if you say you're itching, they will do a blood test same day. The test checks your bile acids and your liver function. It might not be cholestasis, but a liver function test might be a good idea.

I had itchy palms but that was all. I mentioned it to a midwife without knowing anything at all about IHCP and got an appt that afternoon for BA bloods.

If anyone comes to this in the future, I did end up having obstetric cholestasis. I had very mild itching of my hands a few days later, but the urine and stools were the two main signs.

I had blood tests done the day before I naturally went into labour and had our baby boy. 🥰 but it was confirmed later that day that I did have it.

When I was in the assessment unit initially I was dismissed and told that urine can present as quite strong in pregnant women and maybe my stools were yellow because of a tummy bug. It wasn’t until I mentioned it at my routine 38 week appt that my community midwife didn’t agree and referred me for blood tests.

So do push if you feel something is amiss.

Congratulations 💐

Thank you for the update and congratulations! X

Congratulations!

You probably don't feel like this now, but please feedback your experiences via PALS, the symptoms you had from the very start should have been investigated for OC.

Congratulations!

I agree with @Wowzel about contacting PALS. Some training is desperately needed. It worked out well for you, as it does for most women with OC, but severe OC poses an increased stillbirth risk, and they need to do much better in case they come across one of those women. It's just a blood test, and you should have been offered it immediately.

Congratulations on the arrival of your son.
Echoing previous posters, I’m so delighted to read that he arrived safely, but please raise this with PALS as it really is unacceptable that you were dismissed in this manner. Cholestasis can significantly increase the risk of preterm labour and stillbirth in the final trimester, and should be monitored with regular blood tests and early induction depending on the results.
Well done to your community midwife, but the hospital midwives you came across need to do better.