Pic & Question - is this PUPPS?

[~Kaz~]

Hi,

Up until a couple of days ago I didn't have any stretch marks on my belly - only a few small ones on my right hip.

A couple of days ago I noticed these lines but because they weren't great big angry red welts, I wasn't sure if they were stretchies (it's a bit hard to see atm and at first I thought they might have been more spider veins or something). Almost simultaneously I found my belly was itchy - usually when cooking or in the shower. It hasn't been itchy all pg.

Anyway - here is a photo https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...6&ppuser=12805

Does this look like PUPPS? The heat factor and look of them tell me maybe it is but since I have started to think this I have made a conscious effort not to scratch. I have been mostly successful in ignoring it which makes me think it's not PUPPS because from what I have read, it drives people to the brink of insanity and it's impossible not to scratch.

[{sarah}]

Oh Kaz hun I think it's the start Mine looked like that & wasn't too itchy in the first few days, but then it became unbearable.

Hopefully bub will arrive before it gets any worse.

[Shanti]

If you are itchy all the time then I'd say it is..... I got PUPPPS it was bl@@dy awful....

I hope it doesn't get worse for you. Mine was alot worse than that (as in dark red welts) and very painful. I found cold showers helped and cold packs and cold wet towels on your tummy.
Hope bub arrives very soon for you!

[~Kaz~]

Oh dammit!!!

Thanks for your quick replies girls. I suspected it was from my googling yesterday but was kind of hoping it wasn't

I have just been debating in another thread about whether to be induced on Monday night or whether that is too early for this baby and had thought I would wait another few days (if a hoped for u/s tomorrow comes back with no problems).

Aaarrrggghhhh!!! Now I don't know what to do. At the moment the itchiness is bearable because I am staying distracted (BB is great!) and not letting myself itch. I know from my early itching that scratching doesn't make it go away.

I shouldn't whinge too much though because I know many women (yourselves probably included) have this for weeks whereas I will only be putting up with it for another 2-5 days as I'll likely be induced by the end of the week if bubs is still a no show by then.

[AliBaby]

you poor thing I hope that the itch doesnt get too bad or that baby decides to arrive very soon so you don't have to put up with it for very long.

[{sarah}]

If you can bear it, I would hang on. It might not get any worse & giving birth sometimes isn't enough for it to go, there was one BB member that got it after birth.

[~Kaz~]

after birth - oh the poor thing.

Yeah, I think I am leaning towards hanging on. What's a few days in my whole life? I've actually had a pretty "easy" pregnancy up until now - everybody gets something don't they??

Thanks for the hug Ali - I'm hoping Dot decides to arrive sooner!

[roses]

Hi there,

I have had a very similar rash start (32 weeks) for the last four days or so. I have started using Lucas Paw Paw Ointment on it and it's helping. The ointment is quite sticky but it definately takes the itch away for me. You can get the ointment at most chemists - no scripts needed. Hope it goes away soon!!

[~Kaz~]

Ta Roses. Will definitely look into that if the itch gets worse. I am not keen to take corticosteroids at this point or even start other types of oral treatment as I don't have long to go (I just keep telling myself that ).

Are you using the one in the red tube or the yellow? I think the yellow one is more natural and not based on petroleum?

I hope it continues to work for you darl. Some of the stuff I was reading on the net indicated that some women find a remedy that works for a while and then stops working so they end up cycling through a heap of different creams and lotions and stuff.

[roses]

I am using the one in the red tube. Funilly enough I have excema (have had it all my life) so I tried some low dose cortizone creams and they were useless. Also tried a daily swim at the beach as that helps excema but was useless with PUPPPS. I have found also that I am drinking way more water in the last few days. So far today I've drunk 3 litres! Don't know if that's helped aswell.

[~Kaz~]

Mis_tree - I know. Compared to the photos I have seen on the net mine looks very tame. I have managed not to scratch at all today (only a few light rubs) because I have it in my head that the more I scratch the worse it will get. No idea why or even if that's true. I'll be one happy girl if it stays at this level and doesn't spread! I'm going to bed with a cold wet face washer to see if that helps.

Roses - Drinking that much water has to be good for you even if it doesn't help with the PUPPPS. From what I have read, it is worse if your skin is dry etc so staying well hydrated makes sense. I have also had excema before but it was a reaction to perfume I think. Wonder if the two (prone to excema and PUPPS) are related?