Don’t ignore itching.

Hi ladies, I’m not trying to scaremonger or anything, but rather, raise awareness.

Last week, one night I woke up with very itchy feet, I put it down to the heat and pregnancy. I ignored it.

On a separate day, I was at work and I’m constantly busy. Until the end of the day I realised I had scratch marks and nail indents on my hands, I hadn’t realised I was scratching, never mind that hard.

Then a few days later, I woke up at 4am with severe itching on my feet and hands which then spread to my arms and legs.

I decided to google to see it to see if this much itching was normal for pregnancy... I came across a condition called Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) which can lead to preterm labour or still birth if not treated in time. I was scared shitless, as I had this for a week and just ignored it, there was no rash or anything just itching. I decided to call the midwife for advice, she confirmed it sounded like I had ICP and that I should get blood tests done asap, which I did. Blood results came back and it’s now been confirmed I have ICP and will now need to be induced within the next week, I’m also on medication. They said they won’t let me go full term because it’s too risky.

Ladies, this is my first pregnancy and it has been perfectly healthy up until now (36 weeks) I had no idea itching would be so serious as I wasn’t told. Apparently it effects 1 in 140 pregnant woman in the UK!

Please don’t ignore it, any concerns, do not hesitate to ask a midwife or doctor, no matter how silly it seems.