Anyone Experience Cholestasis

I started getting itchy around 37 weeks. First on the palms of my hands, bottom of my feet and then all over! Most of the articles I read on "being itchy" and pregnancy said it was a fairly common symptom. I also let my doctor know and they agreed that it was common and not to worry.

I was pretty miserable, and kept researching on the internet day after day. Then, I came across http://www.itchymoms.com. (It's a website dedicated to Cholestasis). One of the symptoms of Cholestasis is pale stools. Well, I was taking 3 iron pills a day and I had a pale stools (that's when I knew something was up)!

By this time, I was at my expected due date...I called the nurse and explained about the itchyness and the stool. They told me to come in immediately for a blood test. The test came back "abnormal" so I was told to pack my backs and come straight to the hospital for an inducement.

As soon as I had the baby, the itching was gone within hours. I was never technically diagnosed with Cholestasis because everything happened so fast, but my doctor said they were pretty sure that's what I had.

The only thing that helped me is Na-PCA by Twinlab (you can buy it at health food stores, and Super Supplements. It's a natural spray that contains Aloe Vera and it's supposed to help with dry skin and itching. Also, don't take too many hot showers.

Good luck and hang in there, the itching will go away as soon as the baby is born!

L.,

I had the itchy mom's syndrome, but it was not diagnosed until I was 37 weeks and could not stand it anymore. I kept telling the doctor I was itchy and he kept telling me it was normal dry skin, as I had just moved to that area and my skin was stretching. I used every cream known to man and took lots of warm showers to soothe my itchiness. When they finally realized what it was, they quickly scheduled me to be induced and I had a wonderful healthy baby girl - now almost 2! I can tell you that the itchiness stopped immediately after she was born and it felt great!!! Sorry I do not have any advice on medication for it as I did not take any. I know that in all my reading, they want o get the baby out early as to prevent stillbirth. I had gestational diabetes as well, so they had conflicting factors. The best thing I can tell you is that the itching will stop eventually!

I hope you medication starts working for you and take care. If nothing else, take stock in lotions and they will give you a temporary relief!

K.

My best friend's little sister just lost her baby this morning because of intraheptic cholestasis. I do not say this to scare you, because I am sure you already are. Her biggest regret is not monitoring the baby via ultrasound on a regular basis. Some doctor's will monitor the baby twice a week and she wishes she would've done this. I wish you all the luck in this challenge.

It's been 12 years but I was diagnosed w/ cholestasis at 24 weeks when I was pregnant w/ my daughter. Sarna lotion, which is a menthol-camphor lotion, helped w/ the itching. It was the swollen burning feet that drove me crazy, especially at night. I kept a bucket of ice water at the bedside and stuck my feet in it every time I returned from the bathroom, which was frequently. I carried my daughter to term and the itching stopped almost immediately

I wasn't diagnosed with anything specific (probably cos I didn;t say much about it - I thought it was just my dry skin/eczema coming back) but I got really really annoyingly itchy with my 2nd. I found amazing relief by keeping my skin brush by my bed. Scratching it was irritating and didn't help at all. The skin brush was oh so satisfying. Try it! Seriously!!!

Just a quick note. Check the itchy moms site. I think there is some info about the importance to deliver before or about the 37th week.
I had Cholestasis and I know it is really hard, specially at night. I got temporary itchy relieve cutting a potato in slices and putting the slices on my skin. I think the starch is what it helps. Obviously it is a little bit messy and it is only temporary but hey everything helps.
I had a planned c-section and deliver a beautiful healthy boy.