NON-STOP ITCHING! Your tips wanted, please???

[CurlyCasper]

I'm in my seventh week of pregnancy and have a crazily itchy belly, lower back and nipples. There's no rash or anything, and from googling I believe it to be hormone/blood flow to the uterus-related. It wakes me up in the middle of the night - I wake up scratching. And I spend a lot of time at work trying not to claw at my itchy nips! Tried moisturising, calamine, lanacane... - very little relief.

I'm going to go insane or do some serious damage to my skin if I can't get any relief. Has anyone experienced this? And do you have any tips for coping? I'm desperate - all help will be most gratefully accepted.

[FluffysBeenBittenByAVampire]

It goes away, it should stop soon.

[CurlyCasper]

oh I hope so!

[brockleybelle]

You do need to get checked by a doc. Excessive itching in pregnancy can be a liver problem (obstetric cholestasis).

[FluffysBeenBittenByAVampire]

Isn't this in in later pregnancy brockley?

I had the itching in very early pregnancy, the GP said it was normal, it did stop. It would be a good idea to get it checked though.

[brockleybelle]

I did suspect that it was a later pregnancy thing, but wasn't 100% sure (the site I looked at didn't say) so thought I should mention it. Hopefully you're right!

[FluffysBeenBittenByAVampire]

It should be checked out by the GP anyway, it's best to make sure. I'd give it a few days and see if it gets any better though.

[CurlyCasper]

thanks

[MaryBS]

It is in later pregnancy normally, it IS possible in a few small cases for OC to start early. Best get it checked. And re-checked and re-checked as your pregnancey proceeds, if it carries on. The itching in OC is normally worst on palms of hands/soles of feet.

[clam]

I had this, but very late on. Agree with brockleybelle that it can be linked to liver.

The only relief I could get was to wallow like a hippo in a bath full of Oilatum. But that's not going to help you at work. Sorry.

See the doc again.

[CurlyCasper]

thankfully symptoms not like OC (read up on various causes of itch in PG). As I'm also suffering from a skin infection (affecting different areas to the non-rash itch) I'm going to wait for the anti-bs to do their job there before seeing GP again.

For now, I'm just desperate to hear any hints for soothing the itch, because i don't make to make a mess of my belly with scratching.

Everything above my nipples is already a mess with the infection, everything below and including them itches without visible signs! nothing on hands and feet though. yes, I am a mess...

[spicemonster]

Try not to scratch with your hands (not easy I know - I ended up bleeding ). I bought a really soft bristled baby brush which I used to scratch. You can also buy itch relief cream at the chemist (Eurax?) which helped a bit. I also found a hot water bottle filled with chipped ice cooled a bit. Mine went away at about 20 weeks (they did check me for OC and my liver salt levels were high but then dropped again thankfully).

[MamaLazarou]

You poor thing - I started a thread about my uncontrollable itching a few weeks back. It drives you potty, doesn't it? Slathering on lots of camomile moisturiser was the only thing that worked.

[CurlyCasper]

Thanks spice - think I'll use those tips. I'm considering buying some soft cotton gloves to wear at night (must cut my nails again too) because as much as I can stop myself scratching while conscious, I'm terrible for doing it while half asleep (reckon this would not be a problem if I wasn't such a light sleeper).

Time to invest in a hot water cold ice bottle...

[CurlyCasper]

oooh x-p mama. will go hunt out your thread - thanks!

[MamaLazarou]

Bumped it for you! x

[CurlyCasper]

great - thanks!

[CurlyCasper]

Delighted to report that it has passed now! thanks all