*Please Read* Obstetric Cholestasis

[qwerty310]

AHHHHH I'm kinda devastated. They are inducing me tomorrow and I have to spend the night in the hospital tonight ripening my cervix.

THey aren't even waiting for results of the bile test which should come in Wed or THurs!!! I am feeling really pressured here... my ALT test came back "a little high" - but I don't have any numbers

3 weeks early poor little guy. I really wanted his brain to get the best shot in there as long as possible. even three weeks have significant effects on development in brain mostly and lungs

 

[Tashiee]

GoodLuck! Hope everything goes well, as I am sure it will. Very soon you will have your little one in your arms!

I am still waiting for my results. I am only 30 weeks now so I think I have a bit more time before induction would be considered!
Well atleast I hope so as baby is suppose to be a tiny little one. Such a pain waiting on the results though. The doc said could take 2-3 days so hopefully will know by the end of the week.

 

[Tashiee]

Some bloods are back but it doesn't sound good. Apparently my liver function is really bad, still waiting on bile acids. Having a liver scan tomorrow but doctor says I will deliver early likely before 34 weeks. Freaking out a bit as this bub is small already. Has anyone delivered this early before. How did the baby go, did they stay in hospital long before coming home?

Thanks
Tash

 

[MissMummyMoo]

Did they give you a reason why they are delivering that early?! That's not generally the protocol, they usually won't deliver before 37 weeks as it can cause more complications. Can you not discuss with your doctor about medication, you can get medication to reduce the ALT and bile acids. Mine were really high when I was diagnosed over 10 times the normal limit, I was put on tablets which brought my levels down dramatically.

If baby is already small I can't see why they would even consider inducing you before 37 weeks ... it's not a huge complication and can be managed with medication, baby needs to spend as much time as possible inside to grow.

I would ask your doctor about medication (Urso to be precise) x

 

[Tashiee]

I am seeing a obstetric physician tomorrow so will be asking then. I didn't really ask much as I was thrown off by the mention of very early delivery and it was all a bit of a shock. They haven't got my bile acids back yet, but the liver function tests were apparently very bad. I will find out more tomorrow now that I have had time to think about it.
Not sure if there is more going on as to why he is thinking delivering that early. Hopefully tomorrow will bring more information

 

[Tashiee]

So I couldn't end up getting an appointment with the Medicine Dr however she has prescribed me urso and spoke to me on the phone. She think baby will hopefully make it to term as in 38 weeks or so all going well. Thank goodness! Such as relief. Bile acids are back too and elevated also. Have more bloods to be done on Monday.

 

[qwerty310]

Had my son this morning at 37 weeks 2days. Induction was rough as every part of my body was not ready for him to come out but he was perfectly healthy. Got bile results after I was already admitted to hospital and they were elevated so OC was officially diagnosed.

 

[Tashiee]

Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy! Glad he is going well and healthy.

 

[Dime Cuando]

Had my son this morning at 37 weeks 2days. Induction was rough as every part of my body was not ready for him to come out but he was perfectly healthy. Got bile results after I was already admitted to hospital and they were elevated so OC was officially diagnosed.

Congratulations...I had my baby at 37 weeks 2 days too due to OC as well as she is now s big healthy and happy little 8 month old. Being 'forced' into the world has not had any negative effects on her whatsoever.

 

[aspiringmum]

Hey everyone-
Is OC an emergency? I'm 35 + 2 and the past two nights have lain awake most of the night from horribly intense itching on the soles of my feet. Seeing as it's Sunday, my doctor's office is not open. Is it ok to wait until tomorrow to call about getting a blood test? Or do I need to phone labor and delivery to see if they can get me in?

 

[qwerty310]

Hey everyone-
Is OC an emergency? I'm 35 + 2 and the past two nights have lain awake most of the night from horribly intense itching on the soles of my feet. Seeing as it's Sunday, my doctor's office is not open. Is it ok to wait until tomorrow to call about getting a blood test? Or do I need to phone labor and delivery to see if they can get me in?

Call on Monday. They don't induce in the US at least until 37 weeks for two reasons
1- cost benefit of baby having healthy development in you vs potential risk of stillborn doesn't make sense to get him out before lungs are fully done at 37
2- levels go up sharply and dangerously after 37 weeks

This is what my docs told me last week. Good you are getting tested and are preparing in advance though.

 

[Incubus]

Hey everyone-
Is OC an emergency? I'm 35 + 2 and the past two nights have lain awake most of the night from horribly intense itching on the soles of my feet. Seeing as it's Sunday, my doctor's office is not open. Is it ok to wait until tomorrow to call about getting a blood test? Or do I need to phone labor and delivery to see if they can get me in?

I rang the maternity assement unit and they made go straight in within the hour for a blood test, if you do have oc the faster you can get on the meds the better!

 

[qwerty310]

Hey everyone-
Is OC an emergency? I'm 35 + 2 and the past two nights have lain awake most of the night from horribly intense itching on the soles of my feet. Seeing as it's Sunday, my doctor's office is not open. Is it ok to wait until tomorrow to call about getting a blood test? Or do I need to phone labor and delivery to see if they can get me in?

I rang the maternity assement unit and they made go straight in within the hour for a blood test, if you do have oc the faster you can get on the meds the better!

This is a good idea because the bile test takes a few days to get back, but unfortunately data hasn't yet shown the meds help protect the fetus at all. Just don't think you'll find a lab open for blood draw on a Sunday. The drugs will only help yr symptoms.

 

[Incubus]

Hey everyone-
Is OC an emergency? I'm 35 + 2 and the past two nights have lain awake most of the night from horribly intense itching on the soles of my feet. Seeing as it's Sunday, my doctor's office is not open. Is it ok to wait until tomorrow to call about getting a blood test? Or do I need to phone labor and delivery to see if they can get me in?

I rang the maternity assement unit and they made go straight in within the hour for a blood test, if you do have oc the faster you can get on the meds the better!

This is a good idea because the bile test takes a few days to get back, but unfortunately data hasn't yet shown the meds help protect the fetus at all. Just don't think you'll find a lab open for blood draw on a Sunday. The drugs will only help yr symptoms.

Risks to the baby from OC is actually still unknown and they are now saying that it may not increase the risk of stillbirth at all. I took the standard dosage of urso along with antihistamines and vitamin K, this made my levels come down quite significiactnly, a growth scan and weekly monitoring showed Keelan was happy and healthy and I wasn't induced, my waters broke naturally at 38+4 and I had a very easy labour with them just doing regular monitoring on Keelan to make sure he was ok.

 

[Tashiee]

Just wondering if anyone has been prescribed prednisolone (steroids) if URSO is not working at getting your levels down? My initial ALT and ALP was in the 800's, and bile acids only mildly elevated at 12. Repeat test of ALP and ALT is slightly higher but they didn't repeat bile acids. Specialist has increased my urso dose to the maximum and if that doesn't work has said steroids. Will have more bloods Monday also. Some of my autoimmune blood tests have come back partially and are positive, and initial bloods when I just got pregnant showed small ALT elevation (52) so I may have potentially had a underlying autoimmune condition making me more prone to developing ICP. However question is has anyone ever been put on steroids if URSO doesn't work?

 

[Tashiee]

And by steroids I mean oral steroids not just topical creams.

 

[GeLiNeisMe]

Hi everyone,

I got diagnosed with Cholestesis at 28 weeks with bile acid levels at 34.8 and started taking 300 mg of Urso three times a day. Last week at 32 weeks, I started by twice a week non-stress testing and had an ultrasound and spoke with the Perinatologist, who told us that based on the ultrasound, the baby looks good and is of normal size, amount of amniotic fluid is fine too. Got another lab test done to check and see if my bile acids have improved and found that it had actually ELEVATED to 56.8! I was shocked as my itching had improved to even becoming non-existent. I emailed my OB to see if she had any insight as to if anything needs to be done like changing the dosage/frequency of the Urso or what not...

Just wondering, has anyone had this happen to them where after taking the medications for at least a month, your bile acid levels actually increased instead of decreased?

 

[Rachie004]

Today I have been diagnosed with obstetric cholestasis. I'm quite an itchy person anyway so I was expecting labour ward to tell me that I'm just itchy because why would I be prone to it?

If you have any doubts, please get checked out!

 

[teenpregnant]

Since last night my hands and feet have been itchy.. Not really severe just I notice it even when I'm busy. I have an appointment tomorrow morning at 9. Shall I call at or just wait for my appointment tomorrow as it's at the hospital?

 

[Kittycakes]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has had any experience of this.
I'm 37 weeks today an over the last few days I've had really itchy tops of my feet and backs of my hands (my palms and soles aren't horrific, but itch a little). It's worse at night, but today it's as bad as last night.

I was at the DAU yesterday (after phoning about symptoms) and they took bloods. The results today came back negative for OC.

Anyone had itching hands/feet (and ankles!) with a negative OC test? What did it turn out to be?

I'm worrying as I've read people with OC have initial negative results but then test positive a week or two later (obv found earlier in pregnancy). I've also read they induce at 37 weeks to reduce risk of stillbirth, but as I'm now 37 weeks I'm worrying that baby is in danger!

Bubs seems to be giving us a worrying few final weeks!!