SO ITCHY!!! What is it and wha might help?

This is driving me NUTS. every night for the past week I've gone to bed starting to feel a bit *****ly and itchy, particularly on my legs and lower back. Then I wake up on the night and I'm clawing at my skin like I'm trying to get it off. I've got scratches and raw bits of skin all over my legs and a big gouge across my belly. I've got no history of eczema and I'm not allergic to anything that I know of. No change in washing powder, soaps or anything. And the same thing happened at about the same stage last pregnancy so I assume it's pregnancy related.

I called nurse on call the other night as I felt like I was going insane and wanted to know if it was safe to use cortisone cream. Her answer... not sure, probably not, see your doctor. I saw my GP about the same thing last pregnancy and she said 'don't know, that's weird, maybe moisturize more?'. Good. :rolleyes: I have a midwife appt in two weeks but I don't know if I can wait that long. Planning on trying a different doctor when I can cope with dragging two kids there, but in the mean time, putting it to the panel:

Has anyone had this or know what might be driving it!
Any thoughts on safe remedies?

I get extra itchy in pregnancy. Something to do with extra histamines in the body. I found the best thing to deal with it is not get too hot. So that means lukewarm showers, keeping away from itchy clothing and not having the heater up too high.

To deal with skin when it's really itchy, I wipe it with diluted apple cider vinegar then moisturise with coconut oil. Other products may also work but I find chemicals make my skin worse.

if you start getting a rash over your belly, you may be developing PUPPS. The main concern is if your palms and soles of your feet start itching, it can be a sign of obstetric cholestatis, which is dangerous. It wont hurt to get your liver bile levels checked.

Yup I got it last pregnancy and this pregnancy .. Awful isn't it .. I make sure I use moisturizer all over my body really well a few times a day and always after a shower.. I alternate with Coconut oil, bio oil and body butter ...

There is a condition in pregnant woman and i cant think of what its called, maybe look on the internet....i would go to the doctors...

Pupps. It's a good idea to see your dr to rule out any issues with your liver/kidneys.

I has awful itches, too, and with a history of eczema, I tried everything that would normally help my eczema and NOTHING WORKED! Pinetarsol, oatmeal soaks, moisturising like mad, even my strongest corticosteroids did nothing for it. It kept me awake at night, and I basically didn't stop scratching one bit of me or another ALL DAY! My liver tests were fine, and my obs advised phenergan 10mg (the only safe antihistamine) at bed time, which makes me drowsy, but helped enormously at night. I expected it to go away after birth, and it didn't, so I eventually saw a dermatologist who diagnosed urticaria, and I am now on a triple dose of Claratyne long term.

I suggest you go to a pharmacist and ask about phenergan. Good luck, I know how awful it is. :(

Go see your dr. There is a condition that causes stillbirth that makes you very itchy especially at night.
Get to the bottom of it without delay.

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Go see your dr. There is a condition that causes stillbirth that makes you very itchy especially at night.
Get to the bottom of it without delay.

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Whilst I appreciate that if you think something is serious and requires immediate attention, you don't want to mince words, I guess I'd prefer that that kind of feedback came with more detail so I could assess the situation, symptoms and risk for myself. I DO want to know if this could be indicative of something more serious, I just don't respond well if it seems vague and alarmist. What condition are you talking about?


Thanks for your feedback ladies. Researching and hoping for a less itchy night.

While yes it can be to do with liver function , and pupps you can get a rash on your belly etc
But it is also very common to have itchy irritated skin during pregnancy , it's happens both times for me .
So please don't get to concerned or worried , by all means go see your dr to make sure it's nothing serious , but just know it can e very normal as well x

Are your palms and bottom of your feet itchy also?

I got horrifically itchy skin that was just itchy, but with no visible rash. Drove me absolutely up the wall to the point where I would be almost in tears because of it. My OB prescribed hydrocortisone cream with menthol and omg the menthol felt amazing. SO nice and cooling though it def only provided temporary relief so I spent half my time slathering thick layers of the stuff on. My GP also prescribed histafen liquid which is another safe and slightly sedating antihistamine to use at night.

No itchy feet or hands - I know that's a bad sign.

My midwife did reccomend a moisturizer with menthol in it. My issue is that it's got all sorts of other interesting long-named chemicals in it so I feel uncertain about slathering it on.

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No itchy feet or hands - I know that's a bad sign.

My midwife did reccomend a moisturizer with menthol in it. My issue is that it's got all sorts of other interesting long-named chemicals in it so I feel uncertain about slathering it on.

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That's a good sign then.

It sounds like its just dry skin. With the weather cooling and drying off now, it can cause dry skin in most people.

If your not comfortable with using creams with chemicals, try natural moisturises like organic coconut oil which you can buy from woolies, Coles or an organic produce store.

If the itch does get worse, and does spread to the soles of your feet and hands, I would definitely contact your care provider.

The condition that can cause stillbirth is obstetric cholestasis. Symptoms can include itchy soles and palms. Measuring liver bile levels can give an indication of it. It's actually quite rare, but obviously it's worth checking.

Otherwise, itching is very normal in pregnancy. The reason I use ACV and coconut oil is to avoid chemicals.

I had terrible itching with DD2. I had to stop wearing anything synthetic and had to avoid all soaps/bath lotions and stop swimming at the pool from the chemicals...always made it worse.

it's so horrid, i hope that it passes xx

Did your GP check for PUPPS?

Been itching like crazy all day - unusual as it's mostly only at night. I took DS in the pool for his swimming lesson today so I'm thinking that's def a trigger.

GP did not check for PUPPS as there is no rash or any change to the skin. I am starting to think maybe I should pursue a liver function test just to be super sure...

Haven't gotten to the health food shop yet but have been using my menthol moisturiser plus extras sparingly and it does seem to help a bit. SOOO much worse at first because I have to rub it into my skin which makes it itch everywhere, but I think a bit better over night.

Thanks again. xoxo

Chlorine makes me itchy when not pregnant so it's likely to be that. Try some barrier cream if you go again (swimming teacher trick).

How frustrating!

Have you tried moogoo? Nice and gentle and natural.

In addition to checking out the stuff to do with more serious possibilities, just to be on the safe side, I recommend having a not too hot shower and then slathering on some moogoo. Particularly after the pool - have a sluice shower and moisturise before going so the chlorine doesn't sit on your skin.

With the tingling stuff, I've been told to do a wall sit for a while, to try to wear out the legs and get the last of those niggly wriggles out. Not sure if that fits here, but worth a shot?

So sorry to be vague and alarmist. I hope your itching is not something to be alarmed about.