Severe itching at night

[ShivWesker]

Hello all.

Title says it all really. Recently developed severe itching on my ankles at night to the point where I've chicken scratched my skin. Is this something I should worry about? There's no rash or swelling and it's only my ankles that are affected. My urine is also fairly dark. Could this be Cholestasis even without ever having it before or nobody in my family having it?

Thank you.

Forgot to mention, I'm 36+6 weeks.

I've had cholestasis in both pregnancies and it sounds quite late to develop it but you can only find out by getting in touch with whoever covers your maternity care and seeing if they think it's worth you being tested.

The itching often is on hands and feet!

Chances are if it is anyway and has developed late they may not choose to induce or take any action as it won't be progressed enough to cause more problems than letting you go full term anyway.

They'd most likely prescribe you some type of antihistamine which may be worth buying and taking anyway if it's really bothering you!

I hope you find answers and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

Thank you so much! I'm seeing my midwife tomorrow so I'll mention it to her too ♥️

Can I just suggest calling your midwife today and explaining the situation. Your midwife is there to monitor your pregnancy and pick up on things you haven't noticed yourself. But a symptom that you suspect may be Cholestasis may warrant a blood test referral today.

You need to call your midwife or dr and get tested for ICP (obstetric cholastasis)

I got cholestasis at 36+2 in my last pregnancy I was itching all over not just hands and feet so it isn't always just in those spots. You should always get it check out asap don't leave it until tomorrow

I had ICP and the only places that didn't itch were my hands and feet! Dark urine was also a symptom.

Best to get checked out but don't worry if you do have it, as long as the HCPs know you've got it they can ensure you have the right medication, monitoring and if necessary an early induction

Itching at night is a tell tale sign of ICP. The severity of the itch does not reflect the severity of your elevated liver enzymes and bile acid level. Nor does your gestation come into it as it can develop at any stage, but more often than not it's in later pregnancy. Very important to get your bloods done and go from there. I'd ring your maternity unit to make sure they're happy for you to wait till tomorrow.
Your bile acid levels will dictate your plan of care in terms of whether or not IOL is recommended. Best of luck!

So I called maternity triage and they basically said that cause it's not happening on my hands and feet, it's nothing and just to get some E45 for it :/

The only advice i can give you tonight is to cut ur finger nails as short as possible and try to rub and not scratch , as hard as that is

Mention it to your midwife tomorrow

I wouldnt just let this go, its so easy for them to arrange a blood test

Honestly I’d absolutely insist on testing, when I was tested triage were all sceptical and were like, ‘oh it’s rare, you won’t have it’, lo and behold I did. I itched all over my body not just hands and feet but it was so so much worse at night. I developed it at 35ish weeks with no family history and had him at 37 weeks due to how high my numbers went.

That's really unfair of them. I'm a midwife and by the books they'd days palms of hands and soles of feet would be itchy. But in fact it can be itching anywhere! Insist on having your bloods done today. Hopefully they're fine but advocate for yourself and insist

Oh I'm definitely insisting on a blood test today. I've not slept so I'm in no mood 😂

Push back. A poster up thread didn't get palms and soles itching with cholostasis and neither did I. It started.on my bump, but arms were bad too. I have no family history ofnit, but had it in two pregnancies. One I was nearly to term when it kicked in, the other earlier. You deserve to be safe and monitored.

How did it go?

I was diagnosed with cholestasis at 36 weeks after noticing my hands and feet itching. Once diagnosed the itching pretty much stopped - typical! I was booked in for induction the week after at 37+4 and delivered at 37+5.
I’m 28 weeks pregnant and have had 3 blood tests so far just to be sure after my inner thighs started itching. Even the NHS website states that the itching is often more noticeable on the hands and feet, but can be all over the body. And it’s worse at night. I also have pale poo and jaundiced eyes.
I would absolutely insist on a blood test given the risks and seriousness which I didn’t realise at the time but found out once he was born. You and your baby deserve to be safe and monitored, not fobbed off with E45.

I meant had pale poo and jaundiced eyes not have.