Itching During Pregnancy

Mild itching is common during pregnancy. It occurs when there is an increase in the blood supply on the skin. As the baby grows, the skin of the abdomen gets stretched, and so there is itchiness. When there is severe itchiness during pregnancy, it can be a sign of a liver disease called obstetric cholestasis. Wearing loose clothes helps to prevent itching. Avoid using synthetic materials, and using cotton clothing helps to provide air circulation in the skin.

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I am 32 weeks pregnant with severe itchy rashes in my belly and legs, along with yellowish discoloration in the eyes. Please help.

Query: Hello doctor, I had my bile acid levels, and liver function checked for about four months ago. The doctor said both returned to normal but was not told about the values. I have extreme itching. My belly appears reddish, and have a severe rash on the belly. So the doctor said that itching was normal ...  Read Full »


Dr. Uzma Arqam

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your query. Obstetrics cholestasis need strict symptoms, blood test, and fetal monitoring as this can harm the baby, so take it seriously. In addition to symptoms, keep checking on fetal movements if you feel reduced, or you have to report to an obstet...  Read Full »

Can Atarax be taken for itching during pregnancy?

Query: Hello doctor,I am 8 months and 10 days pregnant. I am having itching in my whole body from the last eight days. I also tried Aloe Vera lotion for it. Is taking Atarax tablets safe for me at this time?  Read Full »


Dr. Nadia Khan

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Do you have itching with rash or without rash? And do you have itching palms and soles as well? You may have obstetric cholestasis and you must see your obstetrician immediately and do not self treat the condition. You need liver function tests. Get checked to see if...  Read Full »

I am 28-weeks pregnant, and I have gestational diabetes along with itchy rashes all over my body. Is it safe to take Polaramine tablets?

Query: Hello doctor,I am currently 28 weeks pregnant. I also have gestational diabetes. I had a very bad rash on my belly in my stretch marks. The doctor has done blood tests to rule things out, and it all came back good. However, she does not know what the rash is, and I was given DermAid cream to help. I...  Read Full »


Dr. Uzma Arqam

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. From your history, it seems symptoms of obstetrics cholestasis along with gestational diabetes. It needs strict monitoring as both can be hazardous to the fetus and you. You should have serial assessments of liver function tests along with bile salts and electronic f...  Read Full »

What causes the entire body to itch during pregnancy?

Query: Hi doctor, I am pregnant, and my entire body is itching. What could be the reason? Please help.  Read Full »


Dr. Gowrimeena

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. If there is itching alone (especially involving palms and soles) without any skin rashes, it could be a condition called obstetric cholestasis. In obstetric cholestasis, the liver is unable to send out the waste product called bile acids, and they accumulate in the blo...  Read Full »

How can itching be effectively and safely controlled during pregnancy?

Query: Hello doctor, My wife is 35 years old and is four months pregnant now. She is suffering from severe itching which is not responding to any medication. Her doctor advised to take Udiliv 150 and Cetirizine, but there is no relief. We changed the doctor, and this doc advised to take Udiplus 300, capsu...  Read Full »


Dr. Neha Rathod

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through your query and reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Yes, it is obstetric cholestasis. During pregnancy, Udiliv (Ursodeoxycholic acid) 300 mg is the best and effective treatment for cholestasis. Your gynecologist has prescribed yo...  Read Full »

My daughter is 32 weeks pregnant. She has itchy hands and feet at night, and her bile acid level is 10. Please suggest treatment.

Query: Hi doctor, My daughter is 32 weeks pregnant. Her hands and feet have been itching badly at night. She took the bile acid test last week and was a level 7. They said they do not prescribe treatment until she is at level 10. She retested today and was at level 10. Should they put her on medicine for t...  Read Full »


Dr. Uzma Arqam

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Bile acid over ten mu mol/L indicates ICP (intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy). But it is well documented that it is not at all associated with the risk of itching. Means no correlation of itch in intrahepatic obstetric cholestasis with bi...  Read Full »

Is it safe to get injections for severe skin itching during pregnancy?

Query: Hi doctor, I have red bumps on hands, lower back and legs. It is also itching a lot. In some body portion blood patches had happened due to itching. For this itching Estrogen, LCZ and Lobate are used as current medication, but no use. I am going for liver function test as soon as possible. Are inj...  Read Full »


Dr. Gaurang Gupta

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through the pictures (attachment removed to protect patient identity). These are looking like PUPP - Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy or it can be AEP - atopic eruption of pregnancy. In both cases the treatment is the same and there is...  Read Full »

My vagina is itching since my pregnancy and does not respond to any antifungal medications. What is the reason for it?

Query: Hello doctor, The labia area of my vagina has been extremely itchy with an occasional burning sensation and mucus discharge for the past year. There are a few bumps on my vagina that the doctor has not seen yet. The itchiness began when I was six weeks pregnant, and I was tested for almost everythin...  Read Full »


Dr. Reetika

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern, and I will surely help you. I have gone through all the details presented by you (attachment removed to protect the patient’s identity). You are following all the right medicines. Is there any odor associated with the discharge you experie...  Read Full »

How to manage severe itching during pregnancy?

Query: Hi doctor, I am 35 weeks pregnant and have itching all over the body except on the palm and feet. Doctor gave me Cetirizine for six days, and the itching is still there. I have got the LFT done as per the doctor's advice, and the reports are normal. As itching still exists, the doctor suggested m...  Read Full »


Dr. Sravanthi Nuthalapati

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Itching in pregnancy can be due to either pregnancy-induced hormonal changes, which usually get relieved post-delivery. Sometimes a condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy can also cause such kind of itching, which is more specific on palms and soles t...  Read Full »

Is Udiliv recommended for severe itching during pregnancy?

Query: Hi doctor, I am 27 weeks pregnant and have been detected with high SGPT 117. I have full body itiching which is getting worse, and my doctor has prescribed me Udiliv 300 mg five times a day for one month. Is it safe to take Udiliv 300 mg five times?  Read Full »


Dr. Sravanthi Nuthalapati

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Based on the description you mentioned, it appears that you have this condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), which can cause elevated liver enzymes or bilirubin along with itching. But however, it is important to rule out other causes of eleva...  Read Full »

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