Oh, how it itches! Here's how to deal with bothersome pregnancy itching

When you are expecting a baby, you will experience, in addition to happiness and excitement, a number of bodily inconveniences. Itching is common and it’s due to different reasons. When the belly stretches out, the skin becomes dry and sensitive when you are pregnant. Moisturize your body carefully and regularly, it will soothe the itching. If you have eczema and rashes, you can try a mild, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, but consult your midwife first.

Another type of pregnancy itching is something abbreviated as PUPPP (Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy). It’s an intensely itching rash, often starting in the stretch marks. The PUPPP rashes spread from the abdomen to the breasts and thighs. It’s harmless but the itching can be very unpleasant. The symptoms can be treated with antihistamines or cortisone cream prescribed by a doctor.

A more severe form of itching can be caused by so-called cholestasis in pregnancy (intrahepatic cholestasis), also called ICP. This condition comes from buildup in the liver, which excretes more bile acid into the blood. Typical symptoms are intense itching under the feet and in the palm of the hands, but also other areas can be affected. On rare occasions, the level of bile acid can be harmfully high, but if the condition is discovered in time, the doctor can give you medication to lower the level of bile acid. If the pregnancy has gone far enough, the delivery might be induced. If you have major and persistent problems, you should talk to your midwife to get help with the itching. In some cases, you might have to have a blood test to find the cause.