Obsteric Cholestasis

[Bee7]

Hi ladies,

Hope you don't mind me tri-hopping here but just wondered if any of you had any experience of obsteric cholestasis in the last stages of your pregnancy and if so, how it was dealt with?

During a routine midwives appointment last week i mentioned that i'd had some itching on my legs, arms and tummy and they did a blood test to check for OC. It came back that my bile acids were high and i was called to the hospital to discuss my results earlier in the week. For now, they're just going to monitor my blood on a weekly basis and they gave me some vitamin K and other tablets to help with the itching. But it seems to have gotten worse, particularly at night.

2 years ago, my OH's sister suffered from the same condition and she was induced within 2 days of it being discovered (think she had an extreme case though). Now, they say that the risks of stillbirth etc aren't significantly higher than in a 'normal pregnancy' and haven't said for definite if they'll be inducing me early or not. Really quite worried because the itching is driving me mad and to be honest, there seems to be very little info out there about the condition at all. Even the doctors said that they still don't know a great deal about it.

Anyone had any past experience on this? Thanks xxx

 

[Hunnie]

Mine was found at 39 weeks and I was induced 2 days after my due date which resulted in a c section due to foetal distress xxx

 

[Maybe_mummy]

Mine was found out at 28 weeks so I was on tablets to reduce my levels and then induced at 37 weeks. My induction was sucessfull and you are monitored regularly to check baby. I think the induction is done for safety more than anything as you say they dont seem to know much about it and it seems all been done to air on the side of caution. Have they just given you vit K? I was given acid tablets and also anti hystamine to help the itching! X

 

[Bee7]

They've given me vitamin K and another tablet which is supposed to help with the itching, but it seems to have gotten worse since i've been taking it! I'm back at the hospital on Monday so i'll mention this then and see what they say. I'm presuming that the OC has only recently developed because all of my previous bloods came back fine and the itching has only started in the last few weeks.

I just don't know whether it's safer to go full term with the condition or to look into being induced earlier (i know induction carries it's own risks). I guess it's down to my consultant. All i know is that this itching is driving me mad and it's annoying not knowing much about the condition xx

 

[Hunnie]

Just sit on your hands and I used lots of double base and e45 cream to stop the area being as red. I only really got it on my belly at first

 

[Maybe_mummy]

For me it was my hands and feet and worse at night, I didnt actually take the anti hystamine cos itching got better with the acid tablets they gave me. I didnt mind the induction to be honest to cos felt she was safer out than in and as I say you are monitored its just better to be able to go into labour on your own obviously. It is one of those conditions where you dont really get what the effect is on you or your baby other than the itching but it obviously is something that they seem to take seriously. As mine was a bit earlier on I had to go every week to the hospital for babys heart beat monitoring and bloods taken so they could check my levels as long as I took the tablets this lowered my levels almost back to normal but they still induced at 37 weeks. As you say your consultant will advise what is best its upto you at the end of the day but I felt more people have had sucessfull inductions so decided to go ahead. Good Luck XX