Obstetric Cholestasis (itch)

[Sheba]

Hi

I am wondering if anyone has or is suffering from the above condition (oc). I am positive i suffered from it with my first pregnancy (my doctor was unaware of the condition and i was never treated). I have since moved towns and have fallen pregnant again. My doctor this time is so good and she conducted a liver test with my first lot of blood tests. My results have come back and my liver test is already higher than normal. I am off to see a specialist.... This condition is when in the last 10 weeks of pregnancy you get an all over body itch, i could not sleep more than an hour at night and i was forever taking baths at midnight to ease the itch. I was so exhausted, nearly ready to scream when my DD came 5 weeks early (another symptom, premature labour). I am wondering what the specialist will do this time round, if i need drugs and how it will affect my baby. Anyone who has any info , could you please pass it on....

Thanks

[BellyBelly]

Bathsheba has this, I supported her at birth, hopefully she will pop in to share her experience with you. I don't think she was prescribed any drugs? But she didn't have to have them in labour if that's what you mean. She was induced, but it wasn't a severe case, they scheduled her in after a public holiday weekend. Sounds like you have a nasty case of it I do know though that its a condition even Obs don't understand very well.

[Bathsheba]

Hiya, what a co-incidence! ie our usernames are similar and we both had/have cholestasis! Kelly is right... my case wasn't as severe as what yours sounds however it drove me crazy as well... lost ALOT of sleep scratching my hands and feet... it didn't progress to my whole body.

My baby is running amok but I'll come back and post more when I can.... how is it going ATM?

[chloe]

I had cholestasis with my ds, my GP did not take itch seriously and didnt 'bother' with blood test. Luckily OB did blood test at 34 wks after itch was unbearable, insomnia, losing weight & starting to feel very sick. OB was serious about it & had me admitted to hospital at 35 wks on obs every 4 hrs & had c-section 5 days later as liver bile levels were getting worse each day. I was also seen by a physician who advised the OB & decided waiting until 36 wks too dangerous, the baby could die. It was so scary being told by drs that in this situation scan shows baby's heart beat one time and next time it doesnt.
So, i was lucky to have a good OB & glad i went private as my GP would've let me go on the way i was which was the most uncomfortable time of my life.
Anyway, it was a fantastic result, I had steroid injection for ds lungs & he only spent 2 hrs in special care and was perfect weighing 6lb 15oz quite big for over 4 wks early.
Now our ds is 14 months and we are trying for another. I am worried about the high chance of getting cholestasis again but at least this time i will know what to look out for & will demand blood tests often.
I have also heard of a medication that is now used to lower bile levels & symptoms but is not on medical list so not sure if you can get it.

[avanliamsmum]

Isn't it funny how doctors don't know much about obstetric cholestasis? I was itching like crazy around 30 weeks, so I told my Dr and she just told me if it got worse to let her know. She never mentioned OC, I looked it up myself on the internet. Next time I went for my appointment, I mentioned it to her and she did the bile acid/salts test. I wasn't even called when the results came back, I found out the next week I went my appointment. I wasn't very happy! Anyway, I was 38 weeks by then, so she told me I was to be induced.... THE NEXT DAY. Anyway, I got pregnant again later on down the track and this time around, I didn't get it. But my GP was very good, getting me tested early in the pregnancy, it showed I was fine, but to get it re-done if I did get itchy. I too have been told they have some medication to help with it, I think its if they find out earlier rather than later (as in my case, it was too late!)

[SueB]

I am 24 weeks pregnant and have had a severe itch for the last few weeks . I haven't thought much of it but it has got to the point of my waking myself every few hours at night due to scratching and now i have found i am waking myself from scratching and i am scratching to the point of bleeding!!

I have tried many creams but with no real relief. The scratching is mostly my trunk .. legs back arms and now i have started to itch and scratch my breasts as well...

After reading the posts above i am off to get checked out ..

[avanliamsmum]

Yeah probably best to ask the doc about that itching! Make sure you get a blood test for cholestasis. My hands and feet were quite bad, I remember sitting in the bath rubbing at my hands and feet with a pumice stone they were that itchy!

[castle]

OC is a very serious condition. Doctors used to think it was annoying but benign and it's not...the most important proven intervention is to deliver the baby early.

[SueB]

I have been to see my GP this morning and she immediately sent me for blood tests BUT in trying to have the bloods taken my veins collapsed 3 times so i am going to have another try tomorrow.

I have read everywhere and on sites from ladies all saying the delivered early... what has me concerned is how early will they deliever if i do have OC? I am only 24+4 weeks?

[avanliamsmum]

Around 38 weeks is when they induce, but I have heard of some being induced 36-37 weeks. If you do end up with OC they might put you on medication. I hope everything goes well for you!