Itchy foot (chlolestasis blood test came back fine)

[InN685]

Hi all! I’m currently 26 weeks pregnant and have been having an on and off itch in my left foot sole for two or three weeks. There’s no rash or anything visible to the skin and the blood test for cholestasis came back fine so it’s not that.

Has anyone experienced this? I find it really strange and while I’m glad it’s not cholestasis I’d like to get to the bottom of it!

From 28 weeks pregnant I had itchy feet and hands, and this then spread to arms and legs. Only at nighttime. Made getting to sleep so difficult. Like you, no rash and blood test was fine. The only thing that I found that slightly helped was aveeno menthol moisturiser (the menthol is cooling which distracted me a bit from the itch). Itch continued throughout rest of pregnancy unfortunately but completely disappeared as soon as baby born.

Meant to add that no cause was identified, but midwife said it's not uncommon (and likely due to hormonal changes etc). I did have two or three blood tests to rule out cholestasis, but they were always negative.

Thanks for your reply and for the tip on the moisturiser! I hope it doesn’t get much worse but good to hear it’s not uncommon!

When was your blood test done? I’d ask for another one as it can take some time after the itch starts before the bile acids in the blood rise.
Did you by any chance fast for the blood test? It’s really common to be asked to do this, but it’s important to eat around 60-90 mins before the test. You want to know what your bile acids peak at as this the risk to your baby, which occurs around 60-90mins after eating.

Hi! I actually did eat about 90min/2hours before the blood test and this itch has been happening for 2/3 weeks although some days it’s not there at all. The midwife didn’t seem too concerned as it’s only one foot but good to know and I will request another test if it gets worse!

I had this, incredibly itchy feet and hands, was almost ripping my skin off. Had various blood tests for cholestatis and some were bordering on issues, some were fine. Liver scan was fine but just very uncomfortable for last months of pregnancy. Baby came a month early, no idea if it was linked. Hope it eases for you!!

Oh dear, sorry to hear but glad it all turned out well for you in the end!