*Please Read* Obstetric Cholestasis

[mikababy]

Really??

That surprises me. As your SBA tests came back high I would have thought they would have put you on it. Unless your Obstetrician doesn't advocate it perhaps? I noticed you are in Essex. If you don't mind me asking, which hospital are you booked in at?

Although, even within the same unit different Obs/Midwives seem to treat things completely differently it seems. It's all very arbitrary! Last week I was pretty much told over the phone that everything was o.k with my bloods and the Senior Midwife/Obs both agreed that I didn't even need to be coming in as regularly as once as a week, and they were really quite dismissive of me and made me completely doubt myself. Now all of a sudden it's twice a week for monitoring, vitamin K supplements, and an induction date of the 21st of June (1 week early), but I've not suddenly taken a turn for the worse. Just different Midwives/Registrar!

Sometimes I think you do have to be a pain in the butt to get things checked/progressed, especially as the NHS is so cash strapped and under resourced (I was told today that's why I wasn't offered the SBA test - it's too expensive!)

I was told to take Piriton when I first phoned up the Daycare Assessment Unit about the itching and it didn't do a thing (hence the reason they asked me in, as if it had been an allergy the Piriton would have helped the itching). I have been on the URSO (twice daily) for a couple of weeks now and it has helped a bit (although it seems to get worse in the warm weather and then better on days like today when it's cooler).

Hope it goes O.K tomorrow and maybe the Consultant will recommend the URSO?

xx

 

[dt1234565]

Yea, strange thing is they were almost as high as that the first time i went and midwife said they were all normal, which is why i left it two weeks before going back.

Second midwife on second visit was a lot more concerned and spoke to a consultant before booking me an appointment for tomorrow.

I am under Queens hospital in Romford.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[mikababy]

I've had a couple of friends go there from the Brentwood area (I'm booked in to St. Johns, Chelmsford). At least the second midwife seems to be taking things more seriously. I'd stick with her!

Think from having read on here there are some midwives and even Obstetricians who haven't got a clue, but your results are outside the normal range and there's not much arguing with that!

Let us know how you get on.

xx

 

[dt1234565]

Will do, thanks again xx

 

[carlyflower]

Hi everyone

I had oc with my last pregnancy and was induced at 37 weeks, I am 35 weeks pregnant now and found out on Monday that the oc has returned. This time round they dont seem as bothered my bile acids were 109 and she said 9 was normal! I have suffered with spd since 12 weeks and now with this on top was really hoping to be induced soon but at the moment it isn't looking that way. Also my baby is showing very large. Is anyone else being induced early? The oc this time seems to be making me more ill too, feel sick all the time and don't fancy eating. Need peeps in similar situation to talk to noone undersands feeling really down

 

[mikababy]

Bless you. When you say 'they' do you mean your Community Midwife, GP, or the Maternity Daycare Assessment Unit?? I'm really surprised they aren't taking this more seriously as you have a previous history.

I found out yesterday that I'm being induced at 39+2 (I am 36+4 now), but I really think this was down to the normal Consultant being on leave and a different set of midwives being in. Last week over the phone I was made to feel like I was just making a fuss and being silly and now it's all being taken more seriously and I have to go in twice weekly, have vitamin K, and have an induction and even the Consultant has admitted that my weekly Liver Function Tests don't really mean that much when it comes to diagnosing & monitoring O/C and the midwives told me the real reason I couldn't have an SBA test was the trust couldn't afford them. A real 'about turn'!

I have had SPD for a while too and know how painful it can be. Since I've been off work it's helped because I can walk it off a bit more, but even if I have any energy I can't do much and I'm stuck indoors because driving is too painful. Have lost weight because rubbish appetite too due to the O/C. I look tiny, which I find embarrassing when I go into the Maternity DAU and see other women and their lovely big bumps.

xx

 

[poppykat]

It really annoys me when consultants and midwives dismiss OC as nothing serious.

I was diagnosed with OC at 32 weeks and was monitored closely with the plan of being induced at 37 weeks. However my bile acid levels never really stabilised and I kept having episodes of reduced movements. Luckilly my hospital took me seriously and admitted on to the antental ward for closer monitoring me because my baby got distressed one evening (heartbeat was 70-80) and was born by crash c-section at 34+6 weeks. They think the distress was caused by the OC and she would have died if I had not been in hospital being monitored It still haunts me now.

I don't want to scare anyone because what happened to me is rare. But to just dismiss OC as nothing serious makes me really angry because complications do happen becuase of it.

 

[mikababy]

You poor thing. I'm really really glad your little girl is O.K. xxx

I had this same discussion (rant) with my Husband recently, as they said they would need to keep a check for 'fetal distress' and 'maternal condition', but I countered that unless I was on a monitor 24/7 how would I know if my baby was in distress?? I know there's always reduced fetal movements (less than 10 in 12 hours I was told) but I'd rather not get to that stage thanks very much. At least now I can go in twice a week for monitoring and thankfully she is more active than ever.

Just goes to show, medical 'experts' aren't always right. I'm afraid that I listen to them, but I don't always believe everything they have to say.

 

[carlyflower]

Bless you. When you say 'they' do you mean your Community Midwife, GP, or the Maternity Daycare Assessment Unit?? I'm really surprised they aren't taking this more seriously as you have a previous history.

I found out yesterday that I'm being induced at 39+2 (I am 36+4 now), but I really think this was down to the normal Consultant being on leave and a different set of midwives being in. Last week over the phone I was made to feel like I was just making a fuss and being silly and now it's all being taken more seriously and I have to go in twice weekly, have vitamin K, and have an induction and even the Consultant has admitted that my weekly Liver Function Tests don't really mean that much when it comes to diagnosing & monitoring O/C and the midwives told me the real reason I couldn't have an SBA test was the trust couldn't afford them. A real 'about turn'!

I have had SPD for a while too and know how painful it can be. Since I've been off work it's helped because I can walk it off a bit more, but even if I have any energy I can't do much and I'm stuck indoors because driving is too painful. Have lost weight because rubbish appetite too due to the O/C. I look tiny, which I find embarrassing when I go into the Maternity DAU and see other women and their lovely big bumps.

xx

39+2 omg I hope they don't leave me that long I feel so depressed and its so unfair on my 2 year old. Got a liver scan tommorow and pdc and their goona take my bloods again. I'm on vit K and some other tablet but itching still the same at the moment. My husband is away so not helping being on my own. Hopefully will know more 2moz xx

 

[mikababy]

That's the earliest they do it at my hospital and they won't do it at 37-38 weeks. Baby is head down now and I'm hoping she comes before then.

Make sure they do a Serum Bile Acid test and not just a normal Liver Function Test (see previous recent posts) so they can actually measure the level of bile acid in your blood and not just second guess like my Obs have been doing.

Big hugs. My Hubby has been away recently and even though he couldn't really do anything I know it helps just having them there. Try not to let it get you down too much (I know it's really difficult not to get anxious, especially when you feel rubbishy). At least you are getting someone in the medical profession to listen to you if they are doing tests.

Hope it goes O.K and don't be afraid to make a 'nuisance' of yourself and ask lots of questions if you feel you need to. They're Doctors, not Gods!

xx

 

[poppykat]

The week before I was admitted I was at the hospital being monitored everyday because I had reduced movements. The doctors kept telling me everything was fine and on the monitor she looked fine but I just knew something wasn't right. I am pleased I listened to my body and kept going up there otherwise I dread to think what the consequences would have been.

Remember it is your body and your baby and if you are not happy go in. The midwives knew me by forst name in the end because I was there so often but it paid off and I am so glad I persisted.

Wishing you all very happy and healthy pregnancies xxx

 

[carlyflower]

Went to hospital yesterday, my liver scan came back ok but my bloods were higher than on Monday. They have increased my medication which still doesn't seem to be working. I've looked on the internet (bad idea I know) but with my last pregnancy I had my gall bladder removed and apparenly these ursodeoxycholic acid tablets only work if your gall bladder works? Rang the hospital again to see if this is true and bascically all I get from them is put up and shut up! Should be induced though at 38 weeks will find out next friday! It was my 4th night last night with about 3 hours sleep, i'll be ill be next friday xx

 

[mikababy]

Sorry to hear this. It certainly doesn't help with the heat. Really obvious, but take a cool bath or shower before bed, throw some prickly heat powder on yourself whilst still damp https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LARGE-150-g-tin-SNAKE-PRICKLY-HEAT-Clasic-talc-powder-/190399392308 (I used this a lot when living out in Asia to help cool me down on humid nights and it made me feel deliciously cool) and get the window open. This should help with the itching. Camomile cream can also help.

Not sure about needing to have your gall bladder intact, but I think they do take a few weeks to kick in. Try getting a second opinion if possible. I got treated completely differently by different Obstetricians and am relieved that they agreed to monitor me twice weekly and induce me at 39 weeks, so at least there's no chance of me going overdue.

 

[carlyflower]

Hi again

Itching still awful i've got scabs all over my skin. I'm 36 + 3 today, been to the hospital for more blood tests which came back higher again but still no induce date given they have just upted my ursodeoxycholic acid from 500mg 3 times a day to 750mg 3 times a day! I'm sure this is to much, the stuff makes me feel really ill to but their not bothered about that. Thanks for the advise, I've tryed camaline lotion which soothes but not for long and also on piriton but because of spd can't get into the bath which is bummer. Got hospital again all day friday so will have to wait and see x

 

[meganb]

I'd just like to add a HUGE THANKS to Jo for posting this thread. When I joined 3rd Tri I had a quick scan through it and visited some of the links, saw the statistics that it only affects around 1% of women and automatically thought 'oh, it won't happen to me'.

A few weeks ago I had the worst itching ever on my palms & soles of feet - so bad it kept me up all night and I ended up clutching a bag of frozen peas in each hand in a bid to get some sleep at 9am the following morning. The next few nights I was up and down all through the night trying all sorts of creams, powders etc to stop the itching. Then, of course, it spread to my arms, legs, back, abdomen - everywhere....by this time I hadn't had a full night's sleep in weeks - just the odd 30 mins here and there.

Then I remembered this thread and came back and read in more detail and the penny finally dropped. I mentioned it to my consultant at my last appointment and was immediately diagnosed with OC and booked in for a c-section at 37+5 (this Sunday).

If it hadn't been for this thread, I'd have put the itching down to hormones and would probably have battled on. Having read the risks to the baby if you're left to go to term, I'm sooooooo grateful for this thread's existence.

Wishing everyone with OC well - here's wishing us all healthy deliveries!!

 

[Jake_1]

I too would like to thank Jo for this thread. I have had ridiculously itchy legs at night only for the last few weeks and Friday night was the final straw for me I couldn't even sleep. I got up and googled itchy legs and found a bit of info on Cholestasis but they made it seem so uncommon until I started reading this thread and realised it can be a little different for everyone. I went to the doc the next morning who suspected OC and did a liver function blood test. My results came back with quite elevated ALP so the my OB requested a full blood picture and fasting bile acids and confirmed today that I do have OC. I was already booked for my caesar at 38+4 (had to have one this time due to the same complications I had with my son that resulted in an emergency Caesar at 37 weeks) but have now had my date brought forward to 37 weeks and will have weekly monitoring.
Thanks Jo for the thread and for all the other contributions by all you ladies out there that made me realise it wasn't something to dismiss!!!
BTW Polaramine (antihistemine) is helping a little with the itching as well as cold flannels but it is soooo annnoying!!!

 

[Jchihuahua]

I've said this before and I'll say it again, it is thanks to this thread that I knew about OC. Without it I would have put the itching down to being big or something and I'd probably never have been diagnosed. Thanks Jo, I'm grateful everytime I look at my baby girl .

 

[poppykat]

It is also because of this that I knew about OC. So thank you from me too. You literally saved my daughters life xx

 

[MRSRICHRS2K]

i had OC with my dd now 5 (born 2005) but never had it with my son (born 2003) after having my daughter thy told me i would have 80% chance of getting again.. was anyone else who's had this told the same? as we will be ttc baby no 3 soon... thanks

 

[carlyflower]

i had OC with my dd now 5 (born 2005) but never had it with my son (born 2003) after having my daughter thy told me i would have 80% chance of getting again.. was anyone else who's had this told the same? as we will be ttc baby no 3 soon... thanks

Hi everyone, I'm just letting you know that was induced because of my OC and SPD on Monday and Tyler Anthony was born wed 16/06/10 23:25 7lb 9oz and he was 37 weeks + 4 early.

To your question about repeat OC, I had it with my other son and got it this time the exact same week but it came back 10 times worse, sorry thats not good news for you, and they also said they don't induce now until 40 weeks! There is no way on earth I would have suvived that long cause my medication never worked this time so the itching was unbearable. Good luck I hope it goes better for you

xx