Fight the itch, save a life.

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When Ry and I had found I was pregnant, I was only about 5 weeks along and needed to visit the ER due to a light bleed. The physician found a small 11 mm sub-chorionic hematoma, which affects approx. 25% of pregnant women. I was placed on pelvic rest until 19 weeks. My pregnancy was going smoothly and no other big issues arose, until my 29th week. I woke up in the middle of the night to itchy palms and itchy soles. It was so severe that I had a very hard time falling back to sleep and since I am a slight (cough cough) hypochondriac, I did some Googling. As soon as I typed in itchy hands while pregnant, information about Cholestasis of pregnancy or ICP came up. The most common symptoms are itchy palms and soles of your feet. Speaking with Ryan the next morning, we had decided that it was just normal pregnancy itch since it had seemingly resolved. That night it came back 10 fold. I had itched myself to the point of tears and rashes, it felt like ants were crawling under my skin. I knew something wasn't right and as soon as I woke, I made an appt. with my OBGYN. I was seen right away and blood was drawn for a Bile Acids test. Results wouldn't be available for 7 days since only a few labs perform this specific test. So I waited and itched, and waited and itched for what felt like an eternity. I could barely work, sleep or even sit without the itch completely consuming me.

I had some relief (at least pleasant distractions) over the next few days, as friends starting coming to stay in prep for my upcoming baby shower. As ecstatic as I was having two of my closest friends in my living room, I just could not stop itching. I was giving myself rashes all over my body and at that point I had completely broken down. Ry and I headed to the ER to see if there was anything that could be done, any way to get medication for the ICP I just knew I had. Blood tests were done, ultrasounds performed and 4 1/2 hours later we were heading home. Still no formal diagnosis but an RX for the medication to help the itch with ICP, Ursodiol. The next morning my OB called and that official diagnosis came ringing over the phone. My normal pregnancy was now considered high risk. Over the next 7 weeks, I had fetal monitoring and my fluid levels checked every 3 days. I was on the medication every 8 hours and a follow-up blood panel was run. There is no cure for ICP, just close monitoring by your physician. ICP babies are delivered early due to the higher risk of stillbirth, so Hudson was delivered via C-section at 36 weeks 2 days. 6lbs. 7 oz., my little survivor.

Do not ignore any itching associated with pregnancy. I am so thankful that I listened to my gut and got checked out. For more information on ICP please visit www.icpcare.org

Until next time,

Beep Beep

Courtney