Just a PSA

PLEASE let your provider know when you’re having new symptoms, even if you feel silly bringing them up. Last week I had an appointment with my midwife and on the way to do my blood draw for the glucose she asked if I’d been feeling anything new. I kind of chuckled and said, yeah I’ve just noticed my palms have been itchy. Not bad but a little weird right?

She had the phlebotomist add checking my bile levels and said it was best to just cover bases. My levels came back at a 9, which is the highest level of normal it can be and was told I’d have to redraw but to call immediately if I started itching more.

Today it’s been awful (palms, thumbs, between my finger, soles and tops of feet) so I called the after hours nurse. She said she’d give a call back because they’d probably want me to retest earlier than my next appointment. Lo and behold the Maternal Fetal Specialist called back and we talked it over. He said that he is very certain I have Cholestasis which is a pregnant specific liver condition causing bile to collect in the bloodstream. I’m starting medication to manage it and getting blood drawn tomorrow when I’m in for my iron infusion to check levels. I already knew I’d be having weekly NSTs starting at 32 weeks because I’ve had COVID but he said he might want to start seeing me sooner and he’d be working aside my OB to monitor how everything is going.

Typically with Cholestasis they induce around 37 weeks so I’m not sure if I’ll even have a May baby at this point. There’s so many uncertainties but I should know more after he talks to my OB this week so they can come up with a care plan. This is my third pregnancy, both were low risk and I didn’t have any issues. So please, whether this is your first or fifth pregnancy, let your provider know if you’re having any new symptoms!