Itchy skin during pregnancy

[c.shallow]

I am 11 weeks pregnant. For the past 2 or so weeks, I have been itching ALL over (back, chest, tummy, legs, feet, arms, hands, scalp, privates, etc.) I haven't changed soaps, laundry detergents, etc. Nothing works. Does anyone else have this problem? What causes it? What did you do to treat it?

[mountainboo]

Hi shallow, congrats first of all. Itching is very common during pregnancy due to the increased blood supply to the skin. The only thing I can recomend is to wear loose clothing. I am 21 weeks and sometimes my tummy gets itchy but I think thats due to the expansion of my tummy.

[Psychick]

Congrats c.shallow!

Itchy skin is very common in pregnancy and like mountainboo has said, its normally the tummy as the skin stretches.

My guess would be its the hormonal changes you are going through thats casuing your itching. Have you tried using an all over body moisturiser?

If it gets too much or you are worried at all, talk to your midwife about it and she may be able to say what it is exactly causing it and how best to ease it :)

[daffy654]

There is also a condition of pregnancy called Obstetric Cholestasis(sp) that causes itchy skin.It is a serious liver disease and needs treatment.I would go to your GP or midwife and ask for their advice just to be on the safe side.

[unrulyjulie]

yes, i agree with daffy, i remember reading about it when i was expecting.
Im sure it is just a general itchyness due to your skin stretching but worth getting it checked out!

and congrats! X

[helliebobs]

Congrats on your pregnancy!
My sister in law had obstetric cholestasis when she was pregnant and it can be very serious leading to an early delivery. I was tested for it in my final weeks but was given the all clear, which was nice to know but doesn't help when you are scratching til you bleed :(
It's to do with the bile salt levels in your blood, but it usually only occurs later on in the pregnancy - check with your midwife to be on the safe side.

[blu3wave]

In future, can you post all pregnancy and baby related issues in "Family" on LHS of the page <--------------------------------------------

[redcrx]

its a body and soul question blu3. (nice to see you back with old name, short term ban was it?)

pregnancy may only be frequented by pregnant women whereas B&S is frequented by mothers, as well as trolls :)

[Pippa68]

I had the same thing with my last pregnancy, c.shallow.

Once the liver test had been ruled out, I was informed it was hormonal changes. It was bloody annoying, and lasted until little Pippa was born..the relief was tremendous! I tried cool cabbage leaves on my belly, which eased it a little..as did cool baths.

As a side note, all the women I have known to suffer this have had baby girls. I even managed to guess a womans babys gender the other week..and was correct ;o)

Not that I would like you to quote me on it!

[redcrx]

Im getting some itching too, driving me mad
oooh pippa, i shall tell you if your predicitions are right this time lol. My legs and back have been very itchy this time around. last time it was just my legs and very late in pregnancy in hot weather.

[Psychick]

Dont get too excited red lol Apart from the normal itching, towards the end, on my tummy, I had little itching in my last pregnancy......she was a girl. Not really having any itching with this one........another girl!

[Pippa68]

That's that theory out of the window then...lol.

I have got a 50/50 chance of being right though ;o)

[yinyang]

I had very bad itching in early pregnancy which seemed to level out then came back with a vengence at 30 weeks, especially on my legs and feet. I would scratch with a bristle hairbrush until it was bleeding. My midwife had the liver test done and i did have cholestasis which some of the others have mentioned.
It's not at all likely that you have this and even if you were to have it as long as it is diagnosed early and carefully monitored you will have a happy healthy baby.
Like I said, chances are you just have hormonal itching and you're absolutely fine but I would still mention it to your midwife and keep an eye on it as your pregnancy goes on.
Just wait till the heartburn starts! : )