*Please Read* Obstetric Cholestasis

[Nessicle]

I'm due tomorrow and the last week or so I've had itching on my arms it's not severe itching though. I've started getting really warm and dripping in sweat during the night too but don't knownwhat to think of it?!

 

[JA1988]

I'm due tomorrow and the last week or so I've had itching on my arms it's not severe itching though. I've started getting really warm and dripping in sweat during the night too but don't knownwhat to think of it?!

Go to the antenatal day unit and request blood tests and fetal monitoring, as you are due anyway you should hopefull give birth very soon naturally, however it is important for you to have a blood test to make sure you do not have OC as if you do it is most likely they would induce ASAP rather than waiting the full 14 days from due date. Liver function blood tests will normally get results back in 24 hours or less so it is worth doing hun x

 

[JA1988]

I could really do with hearing from anyone who is currently going through this or has now given birth following the diagnosis of OC.

I have spoken to 2 midwifes who BOTH fobbed me off and just told me to use E45 (this all started around 3 weeks ago), on Friday just gone I decided enough was enough as the itching was still affecting me and I just had a feeling something wasn't right so I rang antenatal day unit and demanded a blood test.

I was called 24 hours later (yesterday evening) to say the results show an abnormally raised level and to come in first thing this morning for further tests. Today they took more bloods, urine, did BP and alo fetal monitoring and came back with diagnosis of OC.
Fetal monitoring was fine, ie movements and heartbeat both good and they have prescribed me a menthol cream for the itching as well as tablets to reduce the bile level and then they have scheduled me for a scan this tuesday to check my gall bladder and also to check growth and wellbeing of baby. This is all good however I am really concerned by the fact that when I questioned induction, she merely said that I would be monitored every week and no need to induce which is worrying the hell out of me as I notice a lot of people with the condition are not left past 38 weeks which is what all info online says aswell.

I am supposed to be having an appointment this week with a consultant once I have had the ultrasound so I really want to know what I should be doing or asking as I am scared to be left past 38 weeks.

Any advice would be really greatly appreciated ladies xx

 

[abstersmum]

I have not been offered induction I now have monitoring every 2 weeks and see the consultant once a month

 

[JA1988]

I have not been offered induction I now have monitoring every 2 weeks and see the consultant once a month

thanks for replying hun...so it seems to vary by hospital as to whether we are offered induction or not as I see a few other ladies on here were all induced around 37-38 weeks so it worries me that we are just gonna be left?? Are you worried or what have they said to put your mind at ease in terms of being left until baby comes naturally?

 

[Nessicle]

Thank you very much - I'm seeing the Mw tomorrow for a sweep sonwill ask her also if she's not helpful I'll call the hospital, I hope you get some answers for your problem!xx

 

[mrs_km]

I think speaking to the consultant is best hun. Thats how I got an induction date. She also checked to see if my cervix was favourable to be induced at the date given. x x x

 

[abstersmum]

I have not been offered induction I now have monitoring every 2 weeks and see the consultant once a month

thanks for replying hun...so it seems to vary by hospital as to whether we are offered induction or not as I see a few other ladies on here were all induced around 37-38 weeks so it worries me that we are just gonna be left?? Are you worried or what have they said to put your mind at ease in terms of being left until baby comes naturally?

I have no problem being left I had it 9 years ago and had no extra treatment Abby was 11 days late and I had no problems I was induced at 10 days late as that was the cut off point for being late I think it's 12 now but I don't want to be induced this time

 

[JA1988]

I think speaking to the consultant is best hun. Thats how I got an induction date. She also checked to see if my cervix was favourable to be induced at the date given. x x x

Thank you for the message and replying on here aswell, really appreciate it. I've got my scan tomorrow evening to check baby is ok and then I have an appointment first thing on wednesday morning with a consultant who specialises in OC so by then I wil be 37 wks 6 days, so am hoping that by that point he will be able to discuss the possibility of an induction, even it means not letting me go overdue as it's only 17 days until am due anyway. The antenatal day unit have said that I can pop in at any point if I feel movements are reduced at all but I am finding it all very stressful and can't get much sleep at night as am panicking about being asleep and then not noticing if he doesn't move. I know it all sounds ridiculous but if he was here then I know he's ok and I hate the not knowing!! xxx

 

[poppykat]

A bit different for me hun because Chloe arrived early anyway (not OC related) I got diagnosed at 32 weeks with OC and I am glad my hospital took it very seriously. My plan before her very sudden arrival was inducement at 36-37 weeks. But I did have a huge amount of reduced movement through my whole 3rd trimester. I also had twice weekly ctgs and weekly scans, that is policy for women with OC at my hospital.

My hospital guidelines is to induce at 37-38 weeks because there are studies that show a higher rate of still birth in women with OC going over 38 weeks. However stupidly every hospital has different guidelines and policies.

I hope your meeting with the consultant goes well. Here is a link to OC support website which will give you some more information https://www.ocsupport.org.uk/about.html

Feel free to message me if you want anymore info xx

 

[louise1302]

i recently had my little boy at 37+6 i was diagnosed with oc at 33 weeks. All consultants have differing views of oc for example one of my consuktants understudys told me i wouldnt be allowed to pass 38 weeks due to the stillbirth risks, the nettime i went and saw anothe rone she booked me for induction at 39+2. then the third time i went back and told the consultant i wasnt happy with being left(i was 37+4) she gave me an immediate sweep and booked me induction at 38+2, thankfully the sweep worked

recently the risks of oc and stillbirth have been questioned as research has shown the risk is no higher than women without oc who are being treated for the condition for example tsking the urso tablets regularly. for me i still wasnt happy with the risk and like you spent hours worrying abut it. after speaking with the consultant i found they took my fears seriously

good luck hun x

 

[Nessicle]

Well I spoke to my Mw about the itching on my arms and the backs of my hands she said unless I had itching on palms of hands and soles of feet that it was just pregnancy itching so she's not concerned x

 

[origin]

Well I spoke to my Mw about the itching on my arms and the backs of my hands she said unless I had itching on palms of hands and soles of feet that it was just pregnancy itching so she's not concerned x

personally, I would ring ante-natal day unit and ask if you can go in for blood test - you could always lie a bit and say started itching on your hands and feet. I'm sure your MW is right but i think for the sake of a simple and easy blood test it's always better to be on the safe side. I never asked my MW but phoned hospital and they were lovely and told me to pop in and have my bloods done. i gopt the result within an hour and all was fine. x

 

[Foxy89]

Well I spoke to my Mw about the itching on my arms and the backs of my hands she said unless I had itching on palms of hands and soles of feet that it was just pregnancy itching so she's not concerned x

So it is palms-

Thats where I get mine, they then swell and go red... but it doesnt happen everyday.

 

[JA1988]

i recently had my little boy at 37+6 i was diagnosed with oc at 33 weeks. All consultants have differing views of oc for example one of my consuktants understudys told me i wouldnt be allowed to pass 38 weeks due to the stillbirth risks, the nettime i went and saw anothe rone she booked me for induction at 39+2. then the third time i went back and told the consultant i wasnt happy with being left(i was 37+4) she gave me an immediate sweep and booked me induction at 38+2, thankfully the sweep worked

recently the risks of oc and stillbirth have been questioned as research has shown the risk is no higher than women without oc who are being treated for the condition for example tsking the urso tablets regularly. for me i still wasnt happy with the risk and like you spent hours worrying abut it. after speaking with the consultant i found they took my fears seriously

good luck hun x

Thanks for all the info and advice hun, saw the consultant today and they gave me a sweep straight away and am being induced first thing on xmas eve if he isn't here by then!! Scary stuff but very excited!!! How long did it take from you being induced to actually giving birth?? xx

 

[Nessicle]

Well I spoke to my Mw about the itching on my arms and the backs of my hands she said unless I had itching on palms of hands and soles of feet that it was just pregnancy itching so she's not concerned x

personally, I would ring ante-natal day unit and ask if you can go in for blood test - you could always lie a bit and say started itching on your hands and feet. I'm sure your MW is right but i think for the sake of a simple and easy blood test it's always better to be on the safe side. I never asked my MW but phoned hospital and they were lovely and told me to pop in and have my bloods done. i gopt the result within an hour and all was fine. x

Thank you hun if it keeps happening I'll call them it's calmed down a bit now, just have horrendous swelling in my feet to contend with now... Lol x

 

[Foxy89]

Well I spoke to my Mw about the itching on my arms and the backs of my hands she said unless I had itching on palms of hands and soles of feet that it was just pregnancy itching so she's not concerned x

personally, I would ring ante-natal day unit and ask if you can go in for blood test - you could always lie a bit and say started itching on your hands and feet. I'm sure your MW is right but i think for the sake of a simple and easy blood test it's always better to be on the safe side. I never asked my MW but phoned hospital and they were lovely and told me to pop in and have my bloods done. i gopt the result within an hour and all was fine. x

Thank you hun if it keeps happening I'll call them it's calmed down a bit now, just have horrendous swelling in my feet to contend with now... Lol x

If you have got swelling in your feet now too then I wouldnt say it is calming down, isnt that another symptom? becareful hun! x

 

[louise1302]

i recently had my little boy at 37+6 i was diagnosed with oc at 33 weeks. All consultants have differing views of oc for example one of my consuktants understudys told me i wouldnt be allowed to pass 38 weeks due to the stillbirth risks, the nettime i went and saw anothe rone she booked me for induction at 39+2. then the third time i went back and told the consultant i wasnt happy with being left(i was 37+4) she gave me an immediate sweep and booked me induction at 38+2, thankfully the sweep worked

recently the risks of oc and stillbirth have been questioned as research has shown the risk is no higher than women without oc who are being treated for the condition for example tsking the urso tablets regularly. for me i still wasnt happy with the risk and like you spent hours worrying abut it. after speaking with the consultant i found they took my fears seriously

good luck hun x

Thanks for all the info and advice hun, saw the consultant today and they gave me a sweep straight away and am being induced first thing on xmas eve if he isn't here by then!! Scary stuff but very excited!!! How long did it take from you being induced to actually giving birth?? xx

awww im late seeing this, my sweep worked and i didnt need inducing thankfully,
good luck xx

 

[sparkle05]

Hello ladies, I too have OC and am being induced on 6th january at 37 weeks. I would tell anyone with any kind of itching to get it checked. I only had very mild itching when i mentioned it to my midwife. It wasn't on the palms of my hands or the soles of my feet. I was shocked when OC was confirmed. The itching has increased as the weeks are going on and if my levels rise much more there is talk of an earlier induction for me. Please please get checked out if you itch.

 

[ALeAhZ.MoMmY]

Hi im 17 and 34 weeks pregnant. I started having some itching on the palm of my hands n soles of my feet at 28 weeks. It got worse at 30 weeks it spread all over my body. I went online and I came across this condition. I called my dr. And asked him about it he told me "itz a symptom of pregnancy" but I went to the E.R. Cuz I knew this wasnt normal. They asked me if I had any body rashes. I said "no I think I mite have O.C." he said watz that I was like what the... I couldnt believe they didnt know wat I was talking about I had to explain everything to them. I told them I had to have a LFT and a test to check how my bile acid levels were. So they took blood tests, did an ultrasound on my liver and monitored my babygirl. They told me I had gullstones! So that mite be causing my liver malfunction.. I went to my dr. Showed him the paper work from the E.R. He juz told me to take benedryl!! I dont know wat to do anymore im itching like crazy! And my skin is all messed up all over.. What should I do?