I feel like i have FLEAS!!!

[tears_of_joy]

OMG, My bump is sooooo itchy, the tops of my legs also, its driving me crazy!!!
Is anyone else getting this?

Its just another thing to keep me awake

I have tried moisturiser and powder, can anyone reccomend anything else??

I think someone said scratching to much can cause stretch marks, so i try to just rub, but nothing satisfies like a good scratch lol

TIA

[paradise lost]

I don't think there's anything you can do which prevents or causes stretch marks hon - your genetic code dictates how stretchy your skin is and the size of your bub dictates how much it will stretch, so IMO scratch away (don't claw the skin off though!).

I got this around the end of my pregnancy, and when the stretchmarks appeared it actually stopped itching as much. Silver linings eh....


H

[Sandy036]

Hi, i got itchy skin with my last pregnancy as well as this one. Mine was caused by the Gestational Diabetes. What I have is Cholestasis and I itch all over the place. I get it in the last trimester as well. A simple blood test done through my doctor detected it. It is a liver disorder in pregnancies. It is darn well annoying especially when you want to rest. The joys of pregnancy --- arghhhh!! lol. Try to resist the urge to scratch as much as you can. Hard to do I know, but you wouldn't want to have your skin get infected.

[Cherie]

I got intensely itching skin in the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy - it started in my stretch marks, then spread to the top of my thighs, ankles, behind my knees and elbows, and my feet and hands. It drove me insane, and had me in tears many times. It ended up being diagnosed as PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy) by my OB.

I suggest that you should mention it to your OB/care provider, just to rule out anything like obstetric cholestasis.

In terms of helping the itch, what worked for me was a combination of Phenergan (anti-histamine) tablets, Betnovate cream (a corticosteroid), and the best thing .... cold Pintarsol baths. The Phenergan was prescribed by my OB ... it did slow bubs down a bit (less kicking), so I mostly only took it at night time, so that I could get some sleep, otherwise the itching kept me awake.

The other thing I swear by was drinking dandelion root tea - you can get it from health food shops. It made an immediate difference to my itching - almost overnight.

Warm and especially hot baths or showers made the itching so much worse. And scratching definitely made it worse. Whenever I got the urge to itch (even if it was 3am), I would run a cold bath and sit in that.

HTH

[jess32]

Hi,

I've had the same issues with my legs and boobs. The best thing I can recommend, it has been a life saver for me is:

**Pinetarsol Gel available from your chemist, this is the form that you can put on a loofer in the shower and rub all over.
combined with
**Dermaid cream (Category A so safe in preganancy) which you put on once you get out of the shower. (also available @chemist)

This was the best advice and such a god send, after two days I was so longer waking up with scratches all over my body from where I had gone to town overnight!

Good luck, I know how bad the scratching can be!

[JessieLee]

I've had a mild case of the itches on my belly, but I already have stretch marks so I haven't been too concerned. I just give it a gentle scratch. As for recommendations, all I can suggest is what you're already doing or maybe an oatmeal bath?

[Alan]

One other thing you could try is an oatmeal bath.

[sunshine_sieben]

Yeah, oatmeal works wonders for itchy and dry skin. I have psoriasis pustulosa on my feet and swear by the stuff. I buy dermaveen from the chemist.

I do also get a very itchy belly occasionally. I even had a rash a while ago. But now it's just plain itchy. No stretchmarks so far, though.

If you're trying to increase skin elasticity, a diet high in zinc can help. Try things like corn or kiwi fruit. They're great. It might even help the skin on your perineum to stretch more during birth. If you choose to use a supplement rather than fresh food, don't take it at the same time as your prenatal vitamin or an iron supplement as zinc can interfere with iron absorption.

I also find that if I keep my belly skin well hydrated, it tends to be less itch. I think all the stretching tends to make it a bit dry, so I use Bio Oil. But I'm sure any moisturiser will do the trick.

[Baby~amore`]

I had intense itching for a few days and mine was obstetric cholestasis -liver disorder . The day before it got so incredibly bad .. I told the Ob reg ay my appointment and he said it was stretching in my twin pregnancy - it wasn't.

I agree with Cherie- I would advise you strongly to tell your Midwife and oB , asap if it gets worse. I ended up having my babies a month early because of the cholestasis but they were well and fine at birth. A friend of mine went to 33wks her #1 preg and #2 - 37wks with it and she had it a for few weeks with her last boy.

[kungfubecca]

I've been pretty lucky so far, but have had some itchiness near where the stretch marks are developing.

I've always been taught that itching is the skins way of reparing it's self, so I guess soothing it is the best option, I'd try the oat meal bath.

But I also agree that if it's really unbearable you should ask a midwife or Doc to make sure it's not serious.

[Ngala]

I used to have really itchy skin a few weeks back but now it has settled down since I have started moisterising all over and using St Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter body wash. The body wash smells sooooooooo yummy too!!

[tears_of_joy]

Thanks all,

Im still suffering from the itches quite bad, but have a recipe for an oatmeal bath so will be trying it out tomorrow, tonight i have put some sorbolene cream on my tummy and its feeling ok!

[Beccas]

hi there, you should probably mention this to your dr and have a blood test to rule out cholestasis if the itching is really bad. i had cholestasis in both pregnancies and i remember the itching was just awful. if it is cholestasis, there are certain things the dr can give you to ease the itching.

beccas