OMG itchy belly is driving me CRAZY!!!!!!

In the last 6 weeks I've gotten stretchmarks on the bottom half of my belly and they are just so fricken itchy!!!!!!!!! I haven't actually tried anything to put on them except I did rub some cocoa butter on my belly, i thought rubbing would be better than scratching apart my skin, but now there are little bumps all over my stretchmarks like little pimples (actually more like mozzie bites but YKWIM) which is just making it doubley itchy and almost impossible not to scratch. I have been using the cocoa butter all pregnancy but its like i've had a reaction to it!

I have a midwife appointment today so I'll be asking her if theres anything i can put on it, but thats not until 2 and I was hoping someone could help me NOW because I can't not scratch any longer.

Leah, sadly it sounds like PUPPPS & I swear it has to be one of the worst things ever. I tried so many things to stop the itching & nothing really worked for long.

Aloe Vera might help a little if you've got some, I had a gel & a spray, I found nothing else helped & I tried absolutely everything as I had it for 8 weeks. Once I had my Dr appointment & said I was going to rip my skin off he suggested I take an antihistamine, so I was on Polaramine for the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy. Apparently the antihistmines that make you drowsy are ok in pregnancy, the new types aren't. The Polarmine was a god send, I used that in combination with the aloe vera gel to get some relief.

Other suggestions would be cool baths with pinetarsal, having your belly out in the sunlight & aqueas menthol (it's a solution the chemist has to make up).

Good luck hun, try not to scratch it only makes the stretch marks bigger & the itch worse.

:hug: Sarah's given you some great advice Leash, I remember for me, the killer was when my skin got too dry, so I had to moisturise pretty religiously.

I just remembered -- Dandelion Root! It helped the horrid bumps & redness go down & that in effect helped to ease the itching a little bit. You can get it as a tea, but I had it in capsule form.

Thank you so much guys, I didn't even think of aloe vera :doh: And will defiantely try the dandelion root!!!!!! It gets so horrible I wake up at night to it itching, I never knew I could be so itchy!!!!!!!

I have heard cold milk from the fridge works really well on cotton wool!

I feel your pain Leash, I really do. I would wake up to find I had been scratching in my sleep & my belly would be bleeding :( Try to keep your hands busy as well, the computer is always good!! Silly as it sounds as well, tell Shel & anyone you're around to let you know if you're scatching. I found I'd be doing it unconciously so needed people to remind me not to scratch.

if it is really really dry, then go into your kitchen, grab some olive oil and rub it on your belly

can't help with the itching etc

I found bio oil helped (its expensive though) I had a really itchy back and putting bio oil on it stopped the itching. Putting it on your tummy will help get rid of stretch marks too.
Good luck and i hope you find something soothing soon.

How'd you go with the midwife Leash?

She looked at it and said yes some people get that but didn't have any suggestions except not scratch :wall: which is a bit frustrating. I didn't get anything for it, we didn't end up going near a shopping centre, but putting something cold on it works really well so I've been doing that. Probably not great during winter but hey it works

How's it going now Leash? Are you managing not to scratch?

No thats impossible! I cut my nails REALLLLLY short (well, had to anyway Shel kept at me about it cos she doesn't want me to have long nails in labour :lol:) which really didn't do all that much because I still scratch but at least I'm not breaking the skin.
I got some Aloe spray which helps ALOT! And it smells good, like milk bottle lollies lol! But the itching is now also on my forearms and my feet and ankles, and my shoulders, I don't have a rash or anything on my arms legs or shoulders, and I haven't changed soap or washing powder or anything so am going to call the midwife tomorrow and talk to her.

My deepest sympathies for anyone who has to go through this for more than a few weeks!!!!!!!!! It's hell!

Keep a close eye Leash, if it goes to your palms or soles of your feet, get to the doctor as it could be Obstetric Cholestasis which is quite serious. Otherwise, hang in there, not much longer to go.