General Chat

Im so worried about my daughter shes 13 weeks pregnant and she has been itching all over her body driving herself to distraction and getting little sleep,(creams etc have had no effect) but then she started with severe pain under her ribs on the right hand side that lasted for about an hour and sometimes longer mainly at night. shes always had from time to time stomach probs which resulted in many tests including 2 bowel biopsys to test for (ceoliac disease) when she was only 2 years old all proved negative. shes been pretty well for years until now. we went to the docs yesterday and she is going to have a fasting blood test done on friday morning he thinks she may have gallstones or more worryingly a liver problem as the whites of her eyes do sometimes appear to have a yellow tinge to them he said if she gets the pain and her skin or eyes go yellow she has to go straight to hospitol by the way shes only 16.
anyone out there whos had this in pregnancy?
sorry to go on but im really concerned about her health.
Thanks.

so sorry to hear this sharm, but she is doing the right thing by going straight to the doctor. You will know more when the tests come back - try not to worry too much before then.

Hope everything turns out ok for her and the baby.

love
Joy

thanks joy i cant help worrying like you said we will wait for the blood test to come back i think it takes a while im not sure though dont know anyone whos had one done. he gave her some more cream to try and see if it helps relieve the itching so she can get some rest from it.
thanks
Sharmala.

There is a condition that can occur during pregnancy that has the symptoms you describe.

If you want to read about it I have posted the link below, but it seems your daughter's doctor is doing all the right things, and nothing will be clear until the blood test results etc. come back.

http://www.rcog.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1931

Dee
x

Hi Gail the itching is apparentley a sympton of gall bladder probs according to the doc but could also be due to something else, its really bad shes making her skin bleed she was given E45 cream and eumovate neither has helped so this new one hes given her to try i really hope it works ive told her to give it a few days though.

Sharm read the link above from Dee - when you go to the doctors on Friday ask him to test for this disease, one of the main symptoms is itching skin during the night.

Joy

Thnks dee and joy i have read it, ive never heard of this condition before but the symptoms shes having may well be that. but she is having pain under her rib so the doc thinks its gallstones so the blood test shes having is for the gallbladder i think.

Yes Sharm - try not too worry - and congrats to you and daughter a lovely little one on the way. Hope she soon is feeling better.

Joy

Hi Sharm,

Obstetric cholestasis affects the liver and causes the symptoms your lass is suffering from. Im sure it wont be this rare condition but the consultant will check for it.

I remember itching quite badly with my last two pregnancies.

Lots of love to you and her,


Caz xxx

Thanks for that caz i really hope its not that condition like you said it is rare.
ill keep my thread updated whan she gets the results
Thanks for all your best wishes
Sharmala.

Congratulations Sharm about to be a granny .
Try not to worry we all say but it's natural isn't it. When I was having my son I got red wheels for want of a better word all over my body with itching which turned out to be an allergy the only thing I'd had different was chocholates and picalilli not together but with antihistamine tablets it soon cleared. very worrying though. I had a fasting blood test recently it took a week to get the results back. May

Sharm, my first attack of Gall Stones trouble was AFTER I had my third baby.

he was a week old and I woke up in pain.
Pain actually does not cover what Gall stones pain is!!

The pain was so bad, I was vomiting for hours.
The doctor came out and 'thank God' stopped the pain!
I have every sympathy for your girl, but she is doing the right things.
I hope she is well soon and the baby too.

I don't remember having any itching, but everyone is different aren't we?

God luck Sharm, and try not to worry too much.
Stupid thing to say.... you are a mother nothing is going to stop you worrying.

Deanna X

Hi Sharma,
Can't comment on the stomache pain, but
I have mild eczema, and over the years have worked out that certain foods make it worse - the itching can be unbearable. (E45 didn't work for me either.) I'm not saying that is what causes your daughters itching, but it could be an allergy just the same. I searched on the internet as I wasn't allowed to use my steroid cream while pregnant and breastfeeding. Sounds daft, but it suggested nettle tea. (you can get nettle tea bags!) Tastes quite nice, and cleared up my itching within hours. I didn't start drinking it till my daughter was 8 months old and I was still breastfeeding, so had to check it was safe to drink. She had had a sticky eye since birth, and that cleared up within two days. Obviously do everything the doc says and hopefully that sorts everything out, but if it is an allergy type itching, it might work for her. I am not a health nut or anything, I don't do vitamins and supplements and alternative therapies etc, I was just desperate try something to sort out the itching. Make sure if she does want to try it she clears it with her midwife/doctor. Also, three cups a day maximum, or you can get a bad stomache (does say that on the internet too. I agree from experience.)
Best wishes

What are the symptoms of obstetric cholestasis?

Typically, symptoms occur in the last third of pregnancy when the hormone levels are at their highest. However, it sometimes develops earlier in pregnancy.

Itch
This is the most common and typical symptom. The itch can be 'all over', but it is often worst on the hands and feet. Commonly, itch is the only symptom. It tends to get worse until you have the baby. The itch can become severe and affect sleep, concentration, mood, and can become distressing.
Note: mild itching from time to time is normal in pregnancy. However, if you develop a constant itch that gets worse, tell your doctor. A blood test can confirm if you have obstetric cholestasis.

Other less common symptoms include

Tiredness.
Poor appetite and feeling sick.
Mild jaundice. You may go 'yellow' and have dark urine and pale faeces (stools). This is uncommon and due to an increased level of bilirubin (a constituent of bile) leaking from the bile ducts into the bloodstream.
Is obstetric cholestasis serious?

Usually not. The symptoms can be unpleasant for the mother, in particular the itch. However, whether obstetric cholestasis causes an increased risk of harm to mother or baby is still being debated. If there is a risk, it is small,.

Nttel tea is safe during pregnancy and Breastfeeding. I was borderline anaemic in my last pregnancy and it was suggested by my midwife as it is great for adding iron to the diet. I would advise taking it with orange juice for 2 reasons. 1st its foul tasting- I waited until it was virtually cold, swigged it down followed very rapidly by the orange and 2nd orange juice contains vitamin C which is vital for a good uptake in the body of iron.

Steriod cream when pregnant or breastfeeding is ok if it turns out she has excema however most doctors will advise you dont take anything at all.

I was at a conference last week where we were told of a doctor who advised his breast feeding mums to stop feeding whilst they were taking paracetamol!!!

Got to say I am lucky and have an excellent GP who is up to date on current research as he specialises in obstetrics.

Obstetric Cholestasis is extremely rare so please dont over worry (easy said, I know!).

I had my first at 17 and got extremely itchy when I was pregnant. I did the same as your daughter and itched til I bled. My rather unsympathetic doctors at the time (well I was only 17 lol!!) said it was because I was young and my skin was stretching in a way it was not supposed to until I was actually old enough for my body to manage to carry a baby.

Hope all goes well.

love Theresa

I have heard that having a bath, water not too hot, with a bag of oatmeal hung under the tap so the oats stay inside and the soothing water comes out, can help itching. Don't know if it would in this case but might be worth a try.
You can add a few spoons of porage oats on to a j cloth and scrunch it up so they are all inside, then tie an elastic band round to keep it tight and tie it to the hot tap.
Hope she feels better soon, Sharm. It must be worrying for you.
Lizx

Sharm - how is your daughter now, hope it all turned out well for her.

Joy

nudge

n

Hi Sharm, I just saw this thread at the top of the page, and thought you had some good news for us.

How is your girl now?
Hope all is well and let us know wont you?

Chin up,
Deanna X