Hiya girls/ladies,

I thought it important that i start this thread as I had this condition when i was PG with Jack and there was very little information about it.

We all know the signs to look for with Pre Eclampsia but non of the baby books i was given explained about this.

This condition can be a threatening one to both mum and baby if not treated correctly (please don't be scared).

I started with mild itching on my arms at about 30 weeks, my MW sent me for blood tests and it was OC.

Basically it is a blood/ liver disorder flow of bile is restricted as the liver is not fuctioning properly which leads to a build up of bile acids in the blood which is what causes the itching.
I was given steroids and various other pill and potions (15 a day in all!!) and monitered very closly and the delivered Jack at 37 weeks

The main signs to look for are ITCHINESS, TIREDNESS(i know we are more tired anyway!) and FEELING INCREASINGLY HOT

I thought it important to post this now as it could be confused with the warm weather and it would be better to be safe than sorry.

I am going to put some links up for you if you have any questions please feel free to ask either on here or PM me

http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/...x?searchId=529

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068933/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditio...estasis1.shtml

www.itchymoms.com

http://www.ocsupport.org.uk/

Hi, Im new here & thought I'd have a browse around and I'm very pleased I did. I have been been having a problem with itching for about the last 2 weeks which has been all over but especially on my hands.
Altho I knew it wasnt right I haven't mentioned it to my midwife yet as didnt think it cud be anything serious?! Just so glad I came across this site just incase it is this?! I will be ringing her this week to mention it.

So, again, Thank you for advice xxxx

Ooh i'm glad you spotted it
how far along are you?

Oh and welcome to the forum

Hiya Jo, thanks for the welcome,
Well after last post here my itching has calmed down alot, so as of yet haven't spoken to midwife, mainly cause I couldn't get hold of her, but also have Anternatel app tmrw so will ask then.

I'm currently 30 weeks and feeling huge!! altho according to everyone else who doesn't know me I'm quite small for 30 weeks, but i have put on 3 and half stone it's just I was poorly for the best part of the last 5 years so was very tiny be4 falling pregnant.

This is my first baby, I had been ttc for over 7 years when i fell pregnant & was about to start IVF which i had put off for years as I suffer badly from Endometriosis so starting the IVF meant I'd have to take the Stimulant drug 4 my ovaries which would make the endo worse.

I've been having a couple of other issues if u dont mind me asking your advice, sorry?

First is my Hips and back been having terrible pain here for the best part of the last 2 months and its been getting worse, gp and midwife said its because of the weight as i was so tiny b4 but they sent me to a one off antenatel physio group session, which i finally attend last week (Been waiting 4 the app for about 5 weeks!) but found the group pointless 4 me as I couldn't actually do any of the exercises they reccomended cause of the pain? my hip is really quite bad now that i struggle to walk after only 5 mins and when I get out of bed now i cant actually walk properly 4 about 5 mins? Hmm its not nice & im really starting to worry as have another 10 weeks to go yet and more weight gain?

The other problem is my belly keeps going absolutly rock hard and altho doesn't hurt exactally it is uncomfortable and it seems to happen whenever I move which is alot. Thoughtout a whole day it seems more hard than not should i be worried?

Sorry to dump all this on you?

Thanks 4 reply anyway,
Love Abbie xxx

I'm not sure about your hips and stuff you would probably better posting in 3rd Tri board

The herdening is probably your Braxton hicks kicking in, all part and parcel LOL

I'm glad your itching as eased of but deff mention it at your appointment

I would copy a lot of what you have posted here into the intro section and 3rd tri, great grup of girls who will give you loads of advice.

Oh and get yourself a ticker
Jo x

Hiya Jo, thanks for that info, really usefull! Docs thought i had this a few weeks ago, i became really hot and itchy and when they took my blood it came back that my bile levels where high..they kept monitoring me but luckilly for me by the end of the week my bile levels returned to normal. But they are still taking my blood every week to make sure. Thanks hun x

So glad they have gone back to normal
It's good that they are taking bloods from you so often, well as good as can be LOL
Some MW/GPs just seem to dismiss as normal itching and you aren't really warned what to look for in pregnancy books

I have been having some itching on my arms. It seems to have come all of a sudden over the past few days. Not sure what to think of it. I have a MW appointment on thursday, so I'm not sure if I should wait to ask them until then or not.

I definitely mention it to your midwife, maybe give her a call before or make an appointment to see your GP if you can't see her before

Hi Jo,

Just thought i'd let u know my bile levels went back up again a few days after i wrote this post...noone actually said it was OC..they just said my bile levels where too high, gave me steroids and kept me in hosp..luckilly for me i had Oliver a week later. When i recently had my PN check my GP said 'Gosh it says here u had OC during your pregnancy..' So i did actually have it..but they seemed to have forgotten to mention it..as well as pre-eclampsia! I was sooo angry. I hope other readers that feel they may have it make a point of gettin tested-properly! xx