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Pregnancy causes a whole host of weird and wonderful changes to a woman’s body.
So when mum-to-be Christina DePino developed a strange itch all over her body, she assumed it was just another of those strange pregnancy quirks that no one ever tells you about.
Christina even took to Facebook to rant about her relentless itch, and it’s lucky that she did.
Three of her friends told her that such a relentless itch did not sound like part and parcel of being pregnant, and advised her to see a doctor right away.
This advice saved her baby’s life.
“I got the itch checked out & found out I had pregnancy Cholestasis, which is basically harmless for me — except for the crazy itching — But could have caused a still born after 37 weeks!!” the mum wrote on a Facebook warning to other mums.
“I was officially diagnosed last week and had to get her out this week! We are so blessed! Thanks guys for giving some amazing advice which may have just saved our precious girl’s life! Yeah We are SO BLESSED & in awe!!! 💕💕 (Made this public so you guys can share away!) (Now I will be the crazy lady running around telling all the preggie ladies to beware! 😆)”
Obstetric cholestasis, also known as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), affects the liver and causes bile salts to build up in your blood.
Some studies have found a link between women with OC and a higher chance of babies being born prematurely or stillborn. As a result, doctors think if women have their babies induced at 35 – 38 weeks, babies are very likely to survive, while the chance of stillbirth increases if the pregnancy goes on to 40 weeks.
The main symptom is itching which is normally worse at night, leading to insomnia and fatigue, such as Christina’s case.
The itching normally starts in the palms of the hand and soles of the feet before generalising all over the body, affecting some women so severely they scratch until they bleed.
The itching should completely disappear within a couple of weeks after giving birth, but during the pregnancy women describe it as constant and intolerable.
Rates of OC in pregnant women vary dramatically across the world. In Chile, the condition is very common, but fortunately it affects less than one per cent of pregnant women in Australia.
If you’re itching during your pregnancy, don’t freak out just yet – it’s a very common part of growing a little human inside you. But if the itching is barely tolerable, go have a chat with a medical professional.
