*Please Read* Obstetric Cholestasis

[Samemka]

good for you for speaking up! i'm sure 38 weeks would be fine as that's still in the safe realm, but i would be insisting on 37 just to be safe too! maybe print out the research from the medical journals to take with you?? i know it all says 37 weeks. you can find the links on the first page of this thread.

This is what I'd do too. I'm sure the moment Dr's here 'I've looked online and....' they switch off, but these are proper medical journal articles which shouldn't be ignored.

I know how you feel because last time I saw quite a few Drs and one of them mentioned 39 weeks - I nearly shot through the roof! My bile acids were a lot higher last time so there was no way....esp after other Drs saying to me they'd do it from 37 weeks. It's a worrying time but I'm sure everything will be ok

 

[KellyC75]

So last nite, I awoke about 5/6 times...needing a pee & having indigestion

But I also had another sypmtom, lots of itching

Its not mega bad, but was enough to make me think 'hmmm, this is strange'

Im still a little itchy now...mainly arms, in between breasts & on my legs

Im seeing midwife Weds, but should I ring her now?

 

[Samemka]

So last nite, I awoke about 5/6 times...needing a pee & having indigestion

But I also had another sypmtom, lots of itching

Its not mega bad, but was enough to make me think 'hmmm, this is strange'

Im still a little itchy now...mainly arms, in between breasts & on my legs

Im seeing midwife Weds, but should I ring her now?

I would, just because the bloodtest (bile acid) takes a few days to come back (your hospital will most likely have to send it off somewhere to be done) so if you wait til Wednesday you won't get an answer Wednesday, more likely to be Friday/Monday and you're close to 37 weeks.

 

[KellyC75]

So last nite, I awoke about 5/6 times...needing a pee & having indigestion

But I also had another sypmtom, lots of itching

Its not mega bad, but was enough to make me think 'hmmm, this is strange'

Im still a little itchy now...mainly arms, in between breasts & on my legs

Im seeing midwife Weds, but should I ring her now?

I would, just because the bloodtest (bile acid) takes a few days to come back (your hospital will most likely have to send it off somewhere to be done) so if you wait til Wednesday you won't get an answer Wednesday, more likely to be Friday/Monday and you're close to 37 weeks.

Thanks for replying here & on my thread

What happens at 37 weeks then? (sorry havent read the whole of this thread yet)

Can you describe your itching please, how it started etc....Mine isnt so bad I cant stop, but its there & my cardigan (that ive had for ages) is irritating my arms

 

[Samemka]

If you do have cholestasis, it's recommended that you are induced between 37 and 38 weeks because after this stage, there's a risk that the bile acids which build up in your blood (causing the itching) can rise very suddently and affect the babies heart. This is why if you google (I don't recommend it cos there's a lot of nonsense on the internet about it - if you want to read up there are some very good links on pg1 of this thread which are reliable) some sites will WRONGLY say you have an increased risk of stillbirth with OC. If you are monitered by your hospital there is no higher risk of a stillbirth than with a regular pregnancy. Not trying to scare you by mentioning stillbirth but I know when I had it the first time round I googled and scared myself senseless because of all these stupid websites, until the consultant explained the risk is only higher if you were to have OC and have it left untreated.

My itching started one night basically everywhere - I know they say soles of feet / palms of hands, mine was there, but it was everywhere too. I couldn't sleep, had to have a bath, didn't help...it was hell. Went into hospital the next day, they did LFTs (liver function tests) which came back rasied slightly, which prompted them to do the bile acid test (more specific for OC). I had to wait a few days but when this came back I was put on meds to bring my bile acids down and I was then monitered (scans, CTGs - where they put you on a monitor to check babies heartrate/movements) and then induced at 37 weeks exactly.

This time around my bloods are borderline and personally I'm not convinced I do have it again but because I've had it before and I do have some itching, they are going to induce me on Wednesday (39+1).

Hope this has helped - if you have any more questions ask away xxxxxxx

 

[KellyC75]

Thanks so much saml1... Great information

I have just been to my doctor with my Son & thought id ask her whilst I was there....She was really great, checked babys heartbeat, my BP & urine...all was fine

She is sending me for a bloodtest tommorow & they should have results by Weds...

 

[louise1302]

thats brilliant that theyre taking you seriously and testing you

ive not been itching too bad since i went on the urso did it work well for anyone else? just got to worry about a massive transverse baby now but thats a whole new thread lol

good luck with the induction tomorrow hun xxxx

 

[abstersmum]

Urso is working well for me I had no itching from day 2 and my levels are coming down at the highest my lft was 1000 now 300

 

[louise1302]

thats brilliant theyre coming down, i think they caught mine really early the highest mine has gone is 155 and it seems to be holding around that, ive no clue what my bile acids are like they never tell me im at the consultant next weds so i can ask again then along with getting a firm date for induction sorted

 

[KellyC75]

thats brilliant theyre coming down, i think they caught mine really early the highest mine has gone is 155 and it seems to be holding around that, ive no clue what my bile acids are like they never tell me im at the consultant next weds so i can ask again then along with getting a firm date for induction sorted

Good luk with your appointment next week Louise....

 

[Samemka]

She's here - sorry it's took me so long to update!

Hi ladies! I went in to be induced last Wednesday & little Katie Ava was born at 23.05pm on Wednesday 17th November and weighed 7lb 6oz

Some piccies here

She's amazing!!

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=247235&id=513258610&l=de88248f3c

 

[mrs_km]

I've finally been diagnosed with OC again (had it with my first also). What did your consultant do at your appointment? I seem to have forgotten what happens (was about 2 and half years ago lol). Will they talk about induction dates or will it be too early?

Hope someone can help..

 

[louise1302]

i was diagnosed at 33 weeks and was told theyd induce me at 39 weeks in keeping with hospital policy, i think every hospital varies between 37 weeks and not inducing at all
theyll probably start you on medication to help reduce the bile acid and monitor you twice weekly to make sure babba is happy x

 

[K12B]

Hello Ladies

....Just wanted to say a little thank you to the ladies who gave me advice on this thread when I first found out I had OC!

I have seen my consultant today, and will be induced somewhere between 36 and 38 weeks depending on my LFTs and bile levels. Not long to go.......

Sooo Thankyou again for your support and advice xxx

 

[louise1302]

thats great news!

my consultant is being an arse and because i had a failed induction last time is refusing until 39 weeks, im booked in for dec 17th but am not happy about it

what are your lft and bile acid levels atm. mine are alt 73 and bile acids 7 they seem to be on the way back up as they were 63 and 2 last week

 

[K12B]

Really? That seems a very unreasonable attitude! Have you told them your not happy to wait that long?

My consultant said there was no way they would let me pass 38 weeks and if there were any issues from my scan on Monday, she would be happier to have baby here at 36 weeks.

My LFTS are gradually coming down but still way above normal and my bile acids seem to be sticking quite low so thats not too bad, although the consultant said sometimes they can begin to rise again in the latter weeks?

xxxx

 

[mrs_km]

My LFT came back at 126 and am just waiting on my biles to come back which should be ready next Thurs when I next see my consultant. She told me I;d be induced 37-38 weeks all depending on what my bile levels come back at and how favourable my cervix is. I'd defo let your consultant know your not happy waiting until 39 weeks. Could you maybe not see another consultant? Did you have OC previously? x x x

 

[louise1302]

im seeing my consultant again at 37+4 im going to be asking for it to be brought forward, they dont want to induce me as o had a failed induction with my son 2 years ago but i didnt have oc with him and could afford to wait

i see a different person every time i go my main one i dont see but one of his underlings one told me they wont let me go past 38 and then the next one said theyl not do it until 39
but they miht give me a sweep at my 37=4 appt

gah i wish i had a decent consultant and the guts to speak my mind

 

[K12B]

I can sympathise with that....I don't think i've ever seen the same consultant twice! lol
They all seem to have totally different opinions too, and I wanted to go in and be brave and tell them exactly what I wanted.....but I didn't have the guts either!! haha

Maybe if you made a point about your failed induction and that you're worried coz theres more urgency due to the oc this time? They might listen to that....?

I hope it goes okay xx

 

[emzky90]

Has everyone on here who's got OC had itching on hands and feet then? Ive started itching tonight but only on my legs and arms and it's not dead bad like they describe it, gonna give it a mention to the mw when i go on the 7th...