Teen Pregnancy Forum

My friend always use to tell me when I itched that it was because I was going to get tons of stretch marks, lol. I found that coco butter helped with itching.

Is it normal to feel itchy during pregnancy?
It's not uncommon to feel itchy in some areas, particularly around your growing belly and breasts as your skin stretches to accommodate them. Pregnancy hormones may also be partly to blame. About two-thirds of caucasians and one third of african-american women will also get red and sometimes itchy palms during pregnancy, a condition experts think is caused by an increase in estrogen. It may also affect the soles of the feet and usually disappears right after delivery. Finally, if you have dry skin or eczema, you may find that it gets worse during pregnancy.

How can I get relief from the itching?
Avoid hot showers and baths, which can dry out your skin further. Use mild soaps and be sure to rinse it off well and towel off lightly. Then slather on the moisturizer, preferably a non-scented one, since some scents can cause irritation. Try an occasional warm oatmeal bath (you can buy pre-mixed oatmeal bath preparations in drug stores). Wear loose cotton clothing and avoid going out in the heat of the day, since heat can intensify the itching.

What are these itchy bumps I have on my abdomen?
Some women develop itchy red bumps and welts on their bellies in the second half of pregnancy, usually in the last month or two. These irritations are called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (puppp for short) or polymorphic eruption of pregnancy. They usually show up first on the abdomen around or in the stretch marks and then spread to the thighs, buttocks, and sometimes the arms. They're harmless for you and your baby, but they can itch like crazy! Your doctor or midwife will want to see you for a diagnosis and will likely prescribe a topical ointment to give you some relief. Puppp should disappear within a few days after delivery for most women. It seldom reoccurs in subsequent pregnancies.

In rare cases, a pregnant woman will develop very itchy eruptions that may start out like hives and then turn into large blistering lesions. This rash is called pemphigoid gestationis (or herpes gestationis, although it has nothing to do with herpes virus). The eruptions usually start on the abdomen, often around the navel, and then sometimes spread to the arms and legs. This disease is considered more serious than puppp because it's been associated with an increased risk for preterm delivery and fetal growth problems. It usually begins in the third trimester but can start anytime (even in the first week postpartum). It can come and go throughout pregnancy and often flares up after delivery as well. It usually recurs in subsequent pregnancies and tends to be worse.

Can intense itching ever be a sign that something is wrong?
Severe itchiness in the second or, more commonly, in the third trimester can be a sign of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, a liver problem that affects up to 2 percent of pregnant women and may spell trouble for your baby. It happens when bile doesn't flow normally in the small ducts in your liver, causing bile salts to accumulate in your skin and make you itch all over. The itching can be quite intense. There's no rash, but you may end up with irritated and reddened skin with little cuts in areas where you're scratching a lot. Call your doctor or midwife immediately if you think you have cholestasis. If you do, you'll need to have blood tests to check your liver and ultrasounds to check on your baby. Depending on your health and your baby's condition, you may be induced before your due date. This problem goes away after you have your baby, though you may get it again with your next pregnancy.

-kristin

Tummy Rash