Intense itching in pregnancy - any remedies?

[happynappies]

I'm almost 35 weeks, and for the past 6 weeks or more I've been itching. I've seen the GP and have now had blood tests for choleostasis (haven't got that) and have tried steroid cream for two weeks with no effect. I started on antihistamine tablets earlier this week but they just make me feel really groggy in the day (which is particularly difficult as I have a two year old to look after) so I'm knocking those on the head. I've got an appointment with a dermatologist on Thursday, which seems like a long way off at the moment!

The main problem with this itching is that I can't sleep. If I can get to sleep initially I can guarantee that I will wake up an hour/hour and a half later and will be itching like mad. I can then be awake for two to three hours scratching, and last night didn't actually get back to sleep at all. I find myself crying hysterically because I just can't take it any more. The itching starts in the evenings, so I can't sit and watch tv/read, can't have a bath - can't relax in any way. I dread getting into bed as just the feel of the sheets against my skin sets me off.

I've tried:

calamine lotion
bicarbonate of soda (applied with flannel in water, added to lukewarm bath)
ice cubes/ice packs/cold flannels
cold showers
tea tree oil in bath
lavender oil in bath
using aqueous cream instead of soap
Wearing loose clothing

Does ANYONE please have any other suggestions? I feel absolutely desperate. When dd was born I didn't sleep for a couple of months beforehand because of SPD, and ended up exhausted by the time I went into labour. This time so far I've been fortunate not to get SPD, but never guessed I'd be even more sleep deprived. The worst thing is that there is just no relief - when I wake up I can't read/make a hot drink/watch tv or anything, I just have to stand there scratching and crying. Horrible. Sorry to moan on - I'll try anything, anyone got any suggestions? Thank you so much!

oh no, i had this and it was hideous; i used to wake up crying at night, it was so uncomfortable. The flannels from the freezer worked a bit for me but my main thing was to go in the sea ( it was summer and we live on the coast!!) every evening. maybe salt water or something might help in a bath? piriton helped at night a bit too.

so sorry i have no good suggestions, i really feel for you. good luck.

aloe vera gel (but only try a little bit)

I had this in pregnancy 1 and I saw a midwife who also happened to be some sort of homeopath in her home country (think it was Finland, somewhere like that!).

She told me I was eating and drinking too much citrus. I was incredibly sceptical but cut out orange juice and anything that was very acidic (like tomatoes) and for some reason it worked.

probably won't help but just in case

it is horrid, I hope it goes as quick as it arrived

Have you tried changing what you wash your sheets and clothes in? Reactions to things can get worse in pregnancy. Maybe see if you can get an unscented non biological liquid? (rinses out better than powder). Poor you, it's absolutely horrid being itchy. Oh and ditch the fabric conditioner if you use it!

Thank you - I'll try salt in the bath, and will def. cut out orange juice. I don't use fabric conditioner, but do use non bio powder so will look at switching to liquid. I've got to try everything!!! Thanks ladies for your quick replies!

Hi,

I had the same - drove me mad! Pure Aloe vera gelly - takes down the inflamation/heat caused by the scratching and therefore makes you less itchy!

Try to get an unperfumed one too if you can, I have eczema and find surcare good but boots and MandS etc do sensitive ones too I think. Similar steps might help re whatever you shower with etc? Hope it settles down!

Try a urate containing moisturiser. Or aveeno. LASHINGS of it. In this weather everyones skin is dry, so whatever is going on will be exacerbated by being dry.

Wear cotton gloves.

Or, bizarre suggestion. Try wearing TIGHT clothing. Tights. So there is no material wafting against your skin.

Right- try all this, its really not too bad to do:

Cut out wheat and if you can gluten, just until birth. Dove Farm do a great wheat free flour and rye bread is good too and also they do a rice pasta that you'd never know wasn't normal pasta.

Restrict citrus and cooked tomato.

Avoid all red meat apart from lamb.

Avoid sugary food inc sugary fruits like mango.

Eat lots of seeds, oats, fibre and pears, chicken and vegetables, rice etc. (esp seasonal like purple sprouting broccoli).

Drink plenty of fluids.

Fill the foot of an old pair of tights or stockings with pinhead oatmeal, tie a knot in the tights and hang under the bath tap pouring warm water. The resulting gunge is marvellous for your skin. You can squeeze the oat foot over your skin releasing the gunge.

Get a massive tub of aqueous cream from the docs or chemist and slather on your skin when you get out of the bath and wander round naked as it sinks in.

Do this twice a day. No soaps, no perfumes, no biological washing powder and stop using fabric softener. Wear natural fibres (hard I know.

Good luck x

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Make sure you get another blood test done for chloestasis - my first bloods came back normal but itching continued - had more done and they showed I had it unfortunately.. Being induced in two days.

i had very itchy skin when I was pregnant with DD - i put a handful of porridge oats into a muslin square, tied it up and put it in the bath. It was incredibly soothing and lasted all night.

leaves a very creamy residue in the bath though, careful you don't slip!

I use eucerin lotion. I've had itching in all my pregnancies and this is the only thing that works for me.

Get tested AGAIN for Cholestasis! PLEASE! I had Cholestasis with both of my children.

Good luck with the induction terf.