*Please Read* Obstetric Cholestasis

[natty1985]

I had oc in all 3 pregnancies I have 3 v healthy children now as it was controlled brilliantly but I had to push a lot of the testing myself as staff at my hospital were not really aware of oc crazy eh x

 

[sailorsgirl]

Hey I'm after some advice. I had cholestasis in my last pregnancy and it resulted in my dd being born at 38 weeks. She's perfectly healthy and had no complications.

I have been worried about getting it again. For piece of mind I request blood tests be done a few times throughout. They agreed and said that even if they come back low they will continue to monitor. So I had a test done at 22 weeks and it came back at 6.7, Fab. They said they would use this as a basis as to what is normal for my body and if there were signs that it was increasing they would continue with tests.

I was tested again at 28 weeks. When I called to find out the results I was told they were 6.7 again. So nothing to worry about. At my 30 week appointment it became clear that my results had gone missing.

Today I had my 34 week check this morning. And my blood tests (a reprint) where added into my notes without so much as a mention. I have just looked at my results and they were 9.4. Still good I know, but the test was done 8 weeks ago now. I am losing all confidence in my midwife and I am wondering if I should request another test. Just to make sure my levels arent still increasing?

I am itchy in a morning and when I go to bed but its not as extreme as it was with my dd. I am worried that I will just assume all is fine, then get to 37/38 weeks and miss my levels sky rocketing? Am I just being paranoid?

Xxx

 

[duckytwins]

I was told about this thread by someone in another thread I belong to. I mentioned that I am really itchy and she told me to check it out. My itchiness is mostly my face, hands and arms. My face is the worst, though, it's red and raw from scratching (mostly my cheeks). I checked out some of the links on the first page, and I don't seem to have the other symptoms, so I'm wondering if it's nothing to worry about. I'll be sure to mention to my Dr. when I see him on Thursday, but I just wondered if you can still have this OC and not have any other symptoms other than the itching? TIA!

 

[tryingg]

The past couple of days the bottoms of my feet and the palms of my hands have been sooo itchy...especially at night time. right now i can't even sleep because of it so i have my feet on ice to relieve the itchyness. I googled this not even know what Cholestasis even was and that is how i came across it. I have a doc apt in the morning so am going to deff mention this to her because it is just getting worse. worried about baby too because although she is moving enough she's not moving like she normally does. can't wait for my appointment!!

 

[duckytwins]

I went to my Dr. for a regular checkup yesterday and told him about my itchiness. He is having me tested for cholestasis. Now I'm getting nervous!

 

[tryingg]

I had the testing done yesterday, my doc office called me today and left a message to call them back and now I am waiting on them to call me back!!! I am anxious to find out what all they found..they were testing my liver, for anemia, and tested my urine

 

[Wandering]

After itching constantly for 2 weeks I have just found out I have obstetric cholestasis and am being induced this weekend at 38 weeks. If it wasnt for this thread I wouldnt have pushed to have a second lot of blood work done so thankyou BNB!!!

 

[Wandering]

Ps for people who have blood work done and it comes back normal, make sure you get re tested a week later if you continue to itch because it doesnt always show up at first which is what happened to me xx

 

[duckytwins]

I'm waiting for my dr's office to open. I got a message on my machine yesterday, saying to call the office back. Fingers crossed!

 

[lulalula]

Hi girls,
I have been itching for about a month. Had my bloods done and my first reading was 10 at 36 weeks, then 5 at 38 weeks. Itching has since got worse and I got re-tested yesterday and it came back raised at 16. I have to go in on Monday, my due date is Tuesday/ what do you think they will do if its raised again?
Thanks
Xxx

 

[naganta]

Shortly after I fell asleep last night I woke up with INTENSE itching in my left arm (the one I was laying on) so I put a cold cloth on it after scratching didn't help AMD switched to the other side. I woke up not long after with sever itching in my right arm and leg. It's now morning and hubby rubbed the inside of an aloe plant on which is helping atm...but the itching is unbearable. Worth skipping work over to go get checked at? I don't have another apt for a few weeks and I'm 31 weeks tomorrow

 

[fraggle081112]

My bile acids have gone from 10 to 29 in 6 days, and my ALT's are now 318

Was given 2 steroid injections to help mature babys lungs and been started on Urso tablets too... back tomorrow for more bloods.

c section booked for 38 weeks but if the levels keep rising they will do it earlier... scared

*******************
Just thought i would write an update to this post for anyone wondering whether to see their GP/ L&D ward.... 2 days after writing the post above My Baby Boy was delivered by EMCS at 35+5 weeks due to me having OC. He was in intensive care and then scbu for 5 days following his birth but is now 3 weeks old and home with us doing really well. His due date is actually still nearly a week away!

i was diagnosed with probable OC at 34+4 and as you can see from the posts my main symptom was itching which was fairly mild in the beginning. They said probable as my ALT's were rising steadily (138 in the first test) but my bile acids seemed to be within the normal range (below 14) for the 5 days that followed.

My itching was NOT on the soles of my feet & hands. By the end It was the tops of my feet and hands, my face (mainly my chin), chest, arms, legs.
Occasionally i felt hot & nauseous, but i only mentioned the mild itching to my midwife because of this thread. Im so glad i did!!!

My hospital were great and tested my bloods every other day over an 8 day period.
On the 8th oct, the day after my post above & what turned out to be the day before my little boy was born, i received a call from the hospital to say my bloods id had taken that day had gone through the roof and they needed to deliver him asap. My ALT's had risen to nearly 500 and my bile acids to 109.

The day previously, my bile acids were only 29 which is why i wanted to write this update.... if your levels are remotely raised please please push for repeat testing. based on my original levels, i had been booked for a cs at 38 weeks however i never actually got that far. Given the risks associated with OC, i feel very lucky to have had such a fantastic medical team looking after me.

if anyone is unsure whether to contact their gp/ midwife, just do it... its a simple blod test that will be have the results within hours.Its really not worth the risk!!!

 

[sailorsgirl]

Hey I just want to say to anyone unsure about whether to see a gp or midwife about possible cholestasis, please please do. And if your results return as "normal" please make sure you go back for repeat bloods.

I have had a constant fight with my healthcare professionals about OC. The last time I convinced them to test me was at 35+2 and my bile acid was 12.5, over the last week I have been arguing with people to get a repeat blood test done. I was finally tested yesterday and the results have come in today reading at 48.5 at 37 weeks. So finally they are agreeing that I need medication etc.

Please follow your own instinct, if you know something is wrong, keep pushing for checks.

Xxx

 

[jojo1972]

I was tested yesterday for this as I've been having burning and itching on the soles of my feet and my palms, I've also been itching on my face, chest arms and legs. Is it normal to have the itch in other places other than feet and hands? Also I'm only 25+3 weeks along. Hoping and praying it comes back negative. Any advice or thoughts would be great x

 

[Jenster]

I have had my bloods done today due to excessive itching. But what is normal level? And what is it called in your maternity notes? It's all abbreviations!!!

 

[sailorsgirl]

Can I ask some advise?

I am 37+2 weeks, I had bile acid tests done at 37 weeks and they came back at 48.5. My hospital has told me that they will not induce for cholestasis at all. I tried arguing and even broke down but they point blank refuse. Do I have any options left?

Xx

 

[Wandering]

Can I ask some advise?

I am 37+2 weeks, I had bile acid tests done at 37 weeks and they came back at 48.5. My hospital has told me that they will not induce for cholestasis at all. I tried arguing and even broke down but they point blank refuse. Do I have any options left?

Xx

Thats ridiculous! My hospital told me they HAD to induce me because of the associated risks and my levels werent even as high as yours. Can you try speaking to anyone else.. your local midwife or a different hospital because thats so out of order in my opinion!

 

[sailorsgirl]

It turns out that the midwife I saw in the day unit that day got it wrong. As a result she got me to worry unnecessarily. I finally saw a consultant this afternoon and have been booked in for a c section on Monday. So relieved

 

[Chieri]

I got diagnosed with this on Friday. Now taking meds and sorting out an induction date with the doctor.

 

[shocker]

Just wondering if I should call ny doctor or not? I have an appointment at the hospital next week but today my sister mentioned to me that my skin is yellow and when I looked in the mirror it was quite noticable, I have really annoying itching all over but this is something I always have as I suffer from eczema so really couldnt say I'd noticed any difference in that sense, Should I call them for an earlier appointment or just wait til next week?