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

Original poster

Help! The most awful and itchy rash on my bump!

12 replies

Motherof1and2dogs · 08/07/2025 08:28

I am 39 weeks this Wednesday and started getting an itchy belly 2 days ago, it has now turned into a slight rash. I put sudocream on it last night which I think has made it worse! Really unsure what to do! I am already uncomfortable, let alone a rash on my bump now! 😩 it has been one thing after another for me this pregnancy. Any ideas what this is and how I can treat it? It’s so sore!

You can see it slightly is the photos, it feels a lot worse that it looks. The bit where my belly piercing used to be is the worst!

Help! The most awful and itchy rash on my bump!
Help! The most awful and itchy rash on my bump!
Help! The most awful and itchy rash on my bump!
OP posts:
Uphighseesky · 08/07/2025 08:36

There's a condition that can occur in the third trimester that causes intense itching, often without an awful looking rash. Please contact your midwife or triage today!

Original poster
Motherof1and2dogs · 08/07/2025 12:47

@Uphighseesky thank you, I just saw the midwife, she thinks heat rash but I’m not so sure. She said E45 and get air to it, I will try that but if it doesn’t get better I think a trip to the GP might be worth considering, it’s so itchy and uncomfortable!

OP posts:
EnjoyYourBaby · 08/07/2025 13:38

It might be PUPPP, which is a type of pruritis you can get in pregnancy, especially the later stages. I had this at 39 wks and it only went when DD was born (41wks) My midwife had never heard of it. I was also tested, as a precaution, for a more scary pregnancy itching thing called cholestasis, which affects the liver. So your GP might want to rule that out, although I think it doesn't usually present with a rash.

Anyway, you have my sympathies because it's pretty miserable. Is it worse at night? I kept a bucket of about 20 flannels wrung out in cold water by my bed and I would drape them all over my belly and periodically change them through the night. That really helped. Oat baths are supposed to be good, although I couldn't fit into my bath by this point, and besides it can make the bath a bit slippy. You could try Aveeno cream, I think that's oat-based. Maybe keep it in the fridge too. A GP might be able to prescribe a pregnancy-safe steroid cream or antihistamine.

Fingers crossed, the annoying itching will disappear as soon as your lovely baby arrives!

Uphighseesky · 08/07/2025 13:39

As if you need anything else to deal with at the very end of pregnancy!! Hope it clears up soon!

Squishymallows · 08/07/2025 13:40

I had this. It was itchy and hot. Went away when baby arrived. I think it was as my skin was stretching too fast

GlamorousBadger · 08/07/2025 13:49

I had obstetric cholestasis when pregnant and this initially identified as an itchy rash which looked similar to yours. Not wanting to alarm you but worth mentioning as a blood test can be done to rule it out. All the best.

Original poster
Motherof1and2dogs · 08/07/2025 16:53

@GlamorousBadger I had a blood test done today for gestational diabetes due to increase of growth of baby, do you know if this would be picked up in that same blood test?

OP posts:
Original poster
Motherof1and2dogs · 08/07/2025 16:55

@EnjoyYourBaby someone else just mentioned cholestasis as well, I think an emergency GP appointment is needed tomorrow. I did have a blood test this morning for GD but not sure if that would pick up any other issues other than the diabetes.

last night was horrendous and it’s gradually getting worse now but it is only 5pm. I am going to try an oat bath tonight! Thank you.

OP posts:
EnjoyYourBaby · 08/07/2025 17:15

I'm not sure about the GD blood test but I would think you'd need a more specific one or at least a full blood count. To be honest, I'm really surprised your midwife didn't pick up on the cholestasis thing. Mine referred me immediately for a blood test on the same day, even though she was fairly sure it wasn't that.

Another thing to try with the oats is to put a few tablespoons in an old muslin or pair of tights tie it tightly at the top, soak it in the bath water and rub it gently over your belly. It's a bit more concentrated that way. But please be careful getting out, it does make the bath really slippery! And try the flannels thing. Honestly. Or a few muslins or something. It was the only thing that enabled me to get any sleep at all. I was going out of my mind with the itching at night.

Sillybillypoopoomummy · 08/07/2025 17:16

if everything medical is ruled out, get some BioOil - saved me with my itchy bump!

Tulipvase · 08/07/2025 17:17

is any where else itchy, particularly hands or feet?

Uphighseesky · 09/07/2025 18:07

@Motherof1and2dogs hope you could get a GP appointment and everything is okay

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