Pregnant wife is having itching on her belly, hands and feet. Should it be something to worry?

Question

Hello doctor,

My wife is 37 weeks pregnant. She has itching on her belly, hands, and feet. I read on the internet that, it may be PUPPP or cholestasis or neither both of them. Is it something to worry?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

If the itching is present with rashes, it can be PUPPP (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy). But you need to see a gynecologist or a dermatologist before we can come to a conclusion. Itching alone without any skin rashes can be cholestasis in pregnancy. But few tests need to be done before we can reach the diagnosis. More important is to keep an eye on the baby's movements. If it is PUPPP, then usually there is nothing to worry.

If it is obstetric cholestasis, we will deliver the baby as soon as possible, as the benefits of continuing pregnancy after 37 weeks are less compared with the unpredictable risks to the baby due to cholestasis.