I'm 37w+3 and I'm itchy as hell - correct to be worried?

[saltyseadog]

Since mid-week I've had an itchy bump - I suspect that this may be connected to the baby suddenly engaging and the bump dropping - after 36 weeks of no stretch marks I now have some . However I can't stop scratching my bump, and the skin feels very tender. I went to the docs on Friday as I was worried about OC; she didn't seem too concerned but I can't stop worrying.

Please come and tell me to stop being ridiculous...(please be gentle with me though - I had a sad outcome to a previous pregnancy so I really am hyper anxious at the moment).

I think OC is overall itching rather than just itchy bump and if you have already been scratching then the skin may well be irritated and it's in a viscious circle.

I would make an appt with the midwife though and ask if you can be tested for OC, certainly if it gets worse then ring the labour ward perhaps?

Thanks Cargirl. I'll give my midwife a call in the morning. I'm really struggling with anxiety at the moment, and I'm not sure whether I'm being rational or not any more!

If you're worried, always call, but OC usually manifests itself on the palms of hands and soles of feet, so I wouldn't be too anxious! (They thought I might have this earlier in my pg). But the good news is there's a simple blood test so you can stop worrying for tonight and get the test tomorrow.

It doesn't sound like OC to me - i had it so badly i was in hospital.

There is another itching condition which is itching of the skin on your bump whereas OC is "itchy blood" and starts as itching on soles of feet and palms of hands.

Personally, I would phone the delivery suite directly and ask for a day assessment. Try not to worry about it, OC does usually manifest as itching everywhere (as it is to do with stuff in your blood which is travelling all over your body), but all the same it is worth getting checked out.

They should take you in and do a blood test that should give an indication of how your liver is functioning that day.

When I was diagnosed with OC, I went to delivery suite, they ran tests, results took a few hours and booked my induction for 37+0.

Thanks everyone. It doesn't feel like 'itchy blood'. I will still call, but try to stop the neurotic behaviour .

I had OC too and one if the key symptoms is really itchy hands and feet. You could also have pupps which normally breaks out with stretch marks.
dermatology.about.com/cs/pregnancy/a/puppp.htm

But eitherway OC is very, very treatable especially at your stage. I wouldn't worry at all.

I'm no expert, but I did get a very itchy bump at this stage with both DCs - and nothing was wrong. Try not to worry, but of course get it checked out .

Aloe Vera gel helped with this.

Aloe Vera gel sounds like a very good plan. The GP gave me a script for mentholated emollient cream - sounds great except no pharmacist in town appears to be able to make it up for me. Hopefully I should get it tomorrow, but I'll also buy some AV gel too.

I have just been told I have OC such a shock as I thought everything was going really well, until the itchy hands and feet started. I'm now hoping everythings going to be ok with baby, Im on tables now though and geting monitored carefully ...

oh poor you mummytobe - hope it's starting to ease following the tablets.

I spoke to my MW just now, as I'm still itching. Off for bloods tomorrow morning, so fingers crossed it's just stretching/ hormonal changes in the skin.

It is starting to ease but at the hospital on Monday they told me my bloods are going up instead of going down, back there tomorrow for scans and bloods so hopefully everythings improving ... fingers crossed it is just stretching for you saltyseadog.