*Please Read* Obstetric Cholestasis

[Barhanita]

klcuk, unfortunately, this thread doesn't seem to be active anymore.

I think talking to your GP first is a good idea. Sometimes they seem to be not really educated, so I would print out this letter https://www.icpcare.org/images/Dear Healthcare Specialist2013.pdf

 

[Guppy051708]

I need someone's opinion! I am 34 weeks (tomorrow) and starting getting itchy hands and feet last night...like really itchy to the point that its waking me up at night. It seems worse at night but im ony on day two of this and it bothered me some in the day as well. ive been sleeping more than usual (even dh noticed) but I am on an antibiotic right now for a sinus infection and chalked it up to that. I havnt had issues w the sinus infection for about 5 days now so I can't confidently say I'm tired from that but anything is possible. For the last two days my face has been flushed and I've been feeling really warm. But it is also 90F outside too so maybe its related? But we have air conditioning so I don't know.

Sometimes the bottom of my legs get itchy and my forarms and breast/nipples are really itchy too. This all just started in the last few days. I started getting concerned thinking that maybe I am allergic to the antibiotic but the thing is I've been on this antibiotic many times since I was a young girl and never had an issue (its just penicillin). Also I had an allergic reaction from Reglan before and the itching wasn't my first sign. I had swollen hands and feet and tingling sensation. It wasn't until after that that I started getting mini hives and itchy. But this is different. I'm just itchy but don't have hives. I've been on this drug before and was never allergic and nothing else (besides the itching and tiredness) has arisen and I take this antibiotic 3x per day. I assume if I was allergic to the penicillin I would have more issues by now

Also I had read online that dark urine can be another symptom. I've been drinking a lot of water and even a couple of days ago I would go to the loo and before flushing I noticed just how dark my urine was. And before I knew dark ursine could be a sign (before OC was even in my radar) I was thinking how strange it was that my urine was that dark bc I've been drinking sooo much ice water lately.

I have my 34 week appt on Monday. Should I bring this up? I feel so embarrassed if his isn't it. I get a bit worried about all of this sudden itching and when I searched the Internet colitis appeared. This is my 3rd baby. I've never experienced this in my other two pregnancys. (Crazy itching etc)

 

[Barhanita]

Short answer: please do bring it up. No harm, no reason for shame. Easy test. Very important to diagnose if you do have it.

 

[MissMummyMoo]

Get checked hun, I had the dark urine which I didn't even notice as well as all the itching too. It doesn't harm to get checked, good luck x

 

[Guppy051708]

I have my 34 week MW appt on Monday, would it be okay to wait until then or is this something i should call up my MW and talk about right now?

Today my feet started getting tingly...well not exactly tingly (but kind of-hard to explain). They feel like they would if they were swollen except they arn't. I havn't had any swelling at all.

My back started itching today too. ugh.

I read about half of this thread last night. and one thing i noticed is that if it is OC, sometimes it doesn't show up in the blood work right away....how long after the itching starts can i expect a positive if i have this? I would hate for this to be something that i have that goes undiagnosed bc i got tested too early. Obviously i would rather not have this at all, but better safe than sorry!

I also noticed that more ladies from the UK seem to be getting this (at least in this thread) does that mean US care providers arn't likely to check? I really hope that my HB MWs dont write it off as "normal". As i said ive never ever experienced this in any of my other pregnancys. Something isn't right. IVe been drinking loads of water and the urine is still a dark orange color.

 

[MissMummyMoo]

Just leave it till tomorrow it should be fine. Unfortunately if you do have it you won't be able to have a home birth as you will be under consultant led care. You will need weekly blood tests and ECGs and you will be induced between 37 and 38 weeks (I was induced at 37+2) x

 

[Guppy051708]

hi ladies. I just wanted to update.

I had my 34 week MW appt today. I told her about the itching (never mentioned this disorder though) and first thing she mentioned was OC. So im really glad she recognized it, especially so quickly (as i know a lot of US care providers dont). Anyways, i spoke with her basically about everything i told you all. She doesn't know if i had an allergic reaction to the penicillian or if it is OC. It could be either. The itching has improved with each night, but its still def be there. She said if the itching continues throughout this week, then i need to go to my primary doctor and get the testing done for OC in one week. So thats the plan for now. It's hard to know if i had a reaction to the antibiotic or if its OC or what. But if it was from the antiB then i def should not be itching over the coming days. She did mark it in my notes that i am *possibly* allergic to penacillin though (in case i need an IV drip, antiB during labor if i get transferred to hospital, etc). And then also noticed the possibility of OC.

 

[MissMummyMoo]

Sounds like your MW has everything under control although I don't understand why she didn't just take a blood sample and send it off incase? Anyway I have everything crossed it's just normal pregnancy stuff x

 

[Guppy051708]

Didn't have any itching last night. Yay!
Does itching from OC come and go or does it pretty much stick around?

Sounds like your MW has everything under control although I don't understand why she didn't just take a blood sample and send it off incase? Anyway I have everything crossed it's just normal pregnancy stuff x

I sorta wondered the same thing myself, but here in the States out of hospital MWs are dictated by a bunch of dumb laws, and although she can run standard bloods, im wondering if this is outside of her scope. Not for sure but im guessing it has something to do with that.

 

[MissMummyMoo]

It pretty much stays with you so that's a good sign! X

 

[Guppy051708]

oh good!! thanks hon

 

[Guppy051708]

well its been a week since i stopped taking the AntiB and i havn't had any itching whatsoever since monday. So im thinking the issue was an allergic reaction afterall.

thanks for your help ladies x

 

[MissMummyMoo]

That's good hun good luck with the rest of your pregnancy x

 

[summer2504]

Hi there,

Been diagnosed with OC today at 32+3. So annoying to feel quite healthy except for the itching yet have this disorder which needs such close monitoring.

alt 32
bile acid 21

at the moment but im getting blood tests done twice a week from now on aswell as scans to check fluid levels around baby - is this normal?

Midwife says they will try to leave me till 38-39 weeks before booking section (I had previous EMCS and am not allowed to be induced)

The question I have is, is it not safer to deliver baby around the 37 weeks due to stillborn risk?

 

[babyhopes2010]

how bad does the itching have to be, iv been trying to avoid scratching too much but it feels like flies landing on me all the time. im getting really upset about if

 

[summer2504]

I wouldnt say that my itching is really all that bad. Gets worse at night but doesnt keep me awake or anything. Just annoying.
I had just happened to mention it to MW last week and she took blood straight away from me to test.

 

[MissMummyMoo]

The blood tests and scans are all completely normal hun so don't worry about them.

With OC they usually prefer to deliver between 37 and 38 weeks, maybe ask your consultant about it as I know they all induce at different times. I was induced at 37+1 x

 

[babyhopes2010]

i had mw appt monday so will ask her then

 

[HHenderson]

i had mw appt monday so will ask her then

Since you sent me here Ive been reading for an hour now!! Im so convinced its this. I cant believe were due the same day and possibly might have the same thing! Ugh. Im not sure what I should do, ring the doctor on a Saturday and they send me to the hospital or wait for my Tue appointment? By then Ill nearly be 37 weeks and dont want a stillborn obviously.

 

[NannyBird4]

I am in search of some help.... I am a type 1 diabetic, and am currently 34 weeks along. Sunday I noticed that my feet were swelling a lot more than usual. When I went to my OB on Monday I had developed blisters on the tops of my feet, where my shoes had been..the OB is trying to tell me that it is diabetic ulcers, but I know that it is not. My Endocrynologist is now concerned because I now have open blisters on the tops of my feet, and being diabetic it makes lower extremities longer and harder to heal. My OB just keeps telling me that it is normal, but this is my 4th pregnancy and I never had this with any of the other 3, please help me with some advice.