*Please Read* Obstetric Cholestasis

[elle4]

any of you girls have advice for me? i have been having bad itching but my dr didnt seem concerned just told me to lotion more? i hadnt researched this until i got home yesterday after my appointment. should i ring her or i'm i just being paranoid? maybe she thought i had no other symptoms..?

My dr was same got double base cream and bath cream. Which never helped.

Mentioned it to midwife and she did blood tests to rule oc out.
I'd give your midwife a call tomorrow and mention it to her. Might be nothing hopefully. Itching has eased a lot over past 2 weeks.

 

[wishfulmom2b]

i will give a call, thanks! better safe then sorry

 

[babyoneill]

deffo call them make them do ur bloods better to be safe x

 

[Twister]

So I've had a bit of itching on and off for the past week or so, didnt think much of it and it hasn't bothered me, but couldn't get back to sleep this morning after oh left for work because my leg has been itching. Read some things on google about pregnancy itching and saw this thread so I'm worrying now. I see the midwife on Monday, (she only works mon and weds) should I wait till then and mention it to her and say I'd like a blood test? I doubt my drs surgery will have any appointments today as they usually fill up fast. Or could I just turn up at the hospital and describe my symptoms and will they test me there? I'm not actually booked in to give birth at a hospital atm as I had an assesments at my MLU but turns out I'm not suitable so been waiting for my mw appointment on Monday to sort that out... I'm just a bit concerned as I'm 38 weeks and from what I've read most people with cholestasis get induced around now. Can this cholestasis come on so late in pregnancy? Any help will be appreciated. I'd hate for anything to happen with my baby because I didn't get diagnosed in time.

Small update: went to the hospital, had bloods done. Should be getting the results tomorrow!

 

[pinkandfluffy]

Good stuff twister - mine came on as late as that, I was induced at 39weeks after lots of frequent monitoring and repeat blood tests. Hope your results go well xxx

 

[Twister]

Thanks, haven't heard from them yet, thought we would have by now tbh. Been trying to call them but no one answers. Guess we'll just have to keep waiting. They definitely said we'd get the results today :/

 

[pinkandfluffy]

Mine took a bit longer - the ALTs were back in a couple of hours but the bile acid levels took a few days as they were sent off to a lab elsewhere - hopefully no news is good news and chase em up if you don't hear soon? X

 

[Lotso]

At the moment, I'm 34 weeks and itching like mad after 3 weeks of Urso - I'm now on 1,500 mg per day. My LFTs are coming back normal, but bile acids are 74. The itching has gotten worse since Urso - does anyone have any experience of this? I had hoped the itching would improve after 3 weeks, but its still unbearable.

 

[poppykat]

I had OC with both my pregnancies. With my 1st (Chloe) I got it at 31 weeks, 2nd (Mia) at 36weeks.

With Chloe I had severe itching which did not improve with Urso or Piriton. My levels could not be controlled, they continued to rise and she was born very suddenly at 34+6 as she was in distress. It is great that your levels are starting to come down but I don't think ALT and BA levels have anything to do with the itching (correct me if I am wrong though!)

With Mia I got it at 36 weeks and was only on Urso for a few days as I had an elective section at 37 weeks so not sure if it would have had more effect this time or not.

Are you having extra monitoring? Have you got a plan in place about induction?

 

[Twister]

My itching hasn't been as bad the past couple of days, I still itch, it's just not constant if that makes sense? I think it's slightly worse at night. Still haven't heard from the hospital about my results yet but can the itching come and go with cholestasis? Hoping to hear about my results tomorrow, if not then I see my mw tomorrow afternoon so will see if she will chase them!

Another update: Had mw appointment, she got the results up on the system and called them up, she was concerned that one of the numbers was quite high but the hospital said they weren't concerned (wish they'd have called us to let us know!). Midwife didn't seem 100% convinced by them and said if i'm still itching to get another test done so I think oh is going to take the morning off work and we'll go tomorrow for more bloods just to be doubly sure.

 

[Lotso]

Poppykat, I was at the hospital today, and apparently my bloods are not improving. Ive to keep taking the Urso, and have a plan to induce at 37 weeks, so just under 3 weeks to go. I've been monitored very closely, so at least I can see an end now.

 

[Babybplz]

Hi Ladies
If you haven't already done so, i really suggest you join the OC Support UK facebook group, the founders are really supportive and have good medical knowledge.
I had OC with my first baby

 

[mummy2be1987]

Can anyone help,
I had itching early on in pregnancy and it stopped. but in the last few days it has come back really bad. To the point where I cut all my nails off to stop myself from cutting myself even worse.

My legs are a mess at the moment from scratching so much even with no nails.

The itchiness is a lot worse at night.. and my sleeping patterns are a nightmare with waking up etc and then struggling to get back to sleep.. I am tired but put this down to lack of sleep and also to having low iron levels..

People (non pregnant) have told me that "my pregnancy has been perfect" so far and there is no reason why I should develop something like this as I am still young(25)

Did anyone have a normal pregnancy and then develop this 32+ weeks onwards? Or am I just over reacting? x

 

[Twister]

I'd go and get your bloods tested, OC tends to come on in the third trimester, so even if you have had a perfect pregnancy it doesn't mean you won't develop something at some point. Don't listen to what people tell you, if you're worried do something.Better to be safe imo

 

[mummy2be1987]

I'd go and get your bloods tested, OC tends to come on in the third trimester, so even if you have had a perfect pregnancy it doesn't mean you won't develop something at some point. Don't listen to what people tell you, if you're worried do something.Better to be safe imo

I've tried contacting the doctor and been told by the doctor monday is the earliest appointment and i have tried all the numbers I have for the midwives and they are constantly engaged.. Who would of thought being pregnant could be so difficult to get an appointment.. xx

 

[Twister]

I had blood tests on Friday for itching, as far as i know results have come back clear. I just went to the hospital, they sent me to the day assesment unit in the maternity department. Didn't need an appointment, could you try that?

 

[pinkandfluffy]

Mummytobe - I was about 37wks when mine came on after a dream pregnancy. And I'm not too old at 28 either lol.

I rung the antenatal day unit at the hospital as can never get hold of my midwife. Told them my symptoms they told me to come up in the morning for bloods and monitoring.

Get it checked hun - worst case scenario they say you're fine I felt stupid asking but was do relieved I had when it turned out I had it as I needed inducing xxx

 

[mummy2be1987]

I have tried ringing the day unit at the hospital too and that has been engaged best part of the day... My midwife hasn't been kind enough to give me her number.. to be honest she isn't a very nice midwife.. I am going to try the day unit after I finish work at 4. and then going to try the out of hours doctor at the hospital when I finish too.. and NHS direct has also been suggested.. I need to get it checked out cause it's driving me mad.. and I keep worrying myself too..

OH said I may be over reacting but to get it checked out to be on the safe side.. he said he can see my concerns when I told him that I thought it may be OC.. I have had slight swelling in my legs too and only noticed this as my socks have started to dig in.. which they have never done before.. is swelling part of OC too? xx

 

[Twister]

I don't *think* swelling is a symptom of OC, i havn't read anywhere that says it is (someone correct me if i'm wrong). Swelling in pregnancy is relatively normal most of the time but it wouldn't hurt to mention it to them just in case.

 

[fraggle081112]

I noticed i'd been itching over the weekend... nothing extreme but was getting worse. i mentioned it my midwife on Monday and she sent me straight to Triage at the L&D ward. Had bloods done and ctg trace.... my Liver function results came back really high and now i am being monitoried at the Day Assessment Unit 3 x week with ctg's.
I had a growth scan yesterday and am having a liver scan tomorrow, bloods every Monday and Ctg's every Mon, Weds & Fri.
They have talked about delivering at 37 weeks (2 weeks time) and i am seeing my consultant on tues.