Itching During Pregnancy

Hi B., I actually found that instead of lotion. I took some vitamin E capsules. I figured the itching was from my skin stretching soooo fast! It really worked well for stretch marks too. I only got the smaller ones. B. G.

I have a friend that use's tea tree oil for her itching problem's and swear's by it.

I used Palmer's cocoa butter, it is the most awesome lotion I was able to find. Good luck to you!

Hello-

You might want to mention this to your doctor, I suggest this only because I casually mentioned to my doctor with my first pregnancy how much I was itching and they drew some blood and found out that I had what is called obstetric cholestasis. It's something to do with your bile duct and is fairly rare. They can't really do anything for it, and nothing will help the itching, but it can pose a risk to the baby so they will normally keep a closer watch on the babe, and will usually induce you a week or two before your due date. I developed itching with my second baby too, but the blood work was negative. I'm sure you probably don't have it, but it might be worth mentioning.

I also had PUPPS when I was pregnant with my son, and yes it is horrible. Even now six years later I can feel your pain. The doctor gave me Benadryl (I would go to your Doc and not get it over the counter just to be safe) and I tell you that worked GREAT!!! I literly cried when I thought my RX wasnt refilable HAHA. Hope this is helpful and congrats on the baby!

I had PUPPP during my pregnancy and it was awful. I've never been so itchy in my life. Oatmeal soaks helped. Aveeno anti-itch also helped (but only for 20 minutes or so). You can also go to your doctor and get a steroid injection if it gets extremely bad. Good luck.

I used both the Palmers and Walgreen's brands of cocoa butter. This worked wonders! I put it all over.

B.: as someone already suggested, please mention this to your health care provider as it can be a sign of cholestasis-a very serious condition in pregnancy that I think presents itself after week 28, and can result in stillbirth. While I think it is not common, it's worth mentioning.

I always used edible oils especially during pregnancy. Apricot kernal oil and almond were my favs. Lanolin might work but leaves a bit of a residue behind. Might be worth it if you are scratching your skin off! A brand of lotion I like to use called Egyptian Magic worked wonders (it is olive oil and royal jelly, etc)You can find on Amazon or at one of your health food stores.

If you itch everywhere I would suggest drinking dandelion root tea several times per day. It detoxifies at the liver and prevents the toxins building up in your body that can cause the itching. I have 5 kids and only with the last pregnancy did I get itching everywhere- dandelion root tea really helped me.

Palmers worked great for me!

Hi B.!! I itched all of the time when I was pregnant, starting right at my 36th week. I asked my doctor's nurse about it because it was horrible and I had bruises from itching so much. She told me to take benadryl, yeah right. I did not do that. When I had an appt with my dr. she saw the briuses and asked what they were from, I told her. She did blood tests and I was in the next day being induced. I was 37 weeks, my liver had started failing and my bile salts in my liver were dangerously high. She told me that if I didn't have the baby she could possibly die because she was being poisoned. She was perfect and healthy. I don't want to scare you but I would get checked out. That was the most scared I had ever been in my life!!! Good luck!!

C.

Hi B.,
I would have your doctor look at the rash, the doctor will be able to tell you if it is PUPPS or something else. I had PUPPS with my first Pregnancy and it was terrible! I would not use Palmers if it is Pupps. Pupps gets worse with sweat and mositure so it does get worse by the end of the day usually. Anything cooling helps with PuPPs, like aloe with mentol, sarna, calamine (sp) lotion, oatmeal baths, could try baking soda baths too but I liked the oatmeal better. Ice packs on the rash worked great too. Cold shower and bath, etc... these all helped me through the PUPPS until I delivered but I still had many sleepless nights because it continue to get worse until I delievered. For your sake I hope it is just dry skin but if it is PUPPS it usually goes away soon after delivery, mine took a week. Also if it is PuPPs you can get steriods but I was to scared because of the potential risk to the baby. Also PUPPS occurs 80% of the time with a boy, I had a boy and now am 24 weeks pregnant with my second and praying I don't get it again, to me it was worse than the labor or delivery.
Good luck and Congratulations,
M.

The regular Aveeno cream worked wonders for me! It has colloidal (?) oatmeal and is pretty thick, but not greasy and it lasts all day. I used it when I was pregnant with my first and then bought it again as soon as I found out I was pregnant with my second.

Ooh, watch out! I became suddenly itchy around 35 weeks and several days later my son was born premature. I could not find anything in my baby books, but I later found in a mid-wife book that sudden itching happens with some women just before they begin to go into labor. My itching accompanied sudden swelling, particularly of my ankles, but really everywhere. Swelling of course can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, which apparently I was in the very early stages of as well. So if your itching is accompanied by swelling, request to come in to be monitored for a few hours just to be on the safe side. I also itched everywhere, and really a lot on my tummy. You didn't say if your itching came on suddenly or if it has been longer term, but if it was sudden, be prepared for early labor. The doctor I spoke to the night I suddenly swelled and itched told me I had eaten too much salt. (Not true). He said it wasn't a sign of anything else. But the mid-wife book said otherwise, and turned out to be true in my case. I hope your case is different and your baby goes full term! love,jen

Have you tried Sarna? It's a over the counter lotion that is used in sunburns, excema, etc. I had terrible itching during my second pregnancy - so much so that my OB sent me to a detmatologist and this is what they recommended. It didn't take the itch away totally but did take the edge off. Not the best smelling stuff though. Good luck...only a couple more weeks!

One of the Aveeno products with Menthol in it helped me.

However, make sure you mention it to your doctor if you haven't already. Itching can be a sign of something negative too. I can't remember what it was, but it had my doctor a little concerned until she asked me a few more questions about the itching and then she said it was fine. I'm sure it is fine for you as well, but just ask.

Hey B.-I had something called a PUPS rash with my 1st pregnancy. I used Gold Bond for relief but when it got so bad I wasn't sleeping I began to do more research on line and found myself on a Hollistic website. They recommended Dandelion Root and it worked. They have capsules or tinctures just check your local hollistic store or online. good luck...I hate itching!

My sister had PUPPS with both her pregnancies. It was so bad with her second one that the creams and medication the doctor prescribed didn't help. Her doctor ended up inducing her earlier than scheduled because she was in so much pain. Your doc should definately give you something....

vitamin E oil, cocoa butter or shea butter

Palmer's for pregnancy is WONDERFUL. Actually works for stretching skin. If it is just dry skin. Have you brought this up to your OB/CNM though? It could be PUPPS, very common and harmless but uncomfortable.....

I used Sarna lotion. It was recommended by my OB and it worked great. I had been using Renew by Melaluca but it didn't even touch my itching. My itching was caused by stress from anticipating labor. I had a traumatic first labor and was very stressed from 35 weeks on. I don't know if that is the case with you but it helped me to identify it and knowing helped me be able to try to relax myself so I didn't itch as much. It sounds crazy but my mom has the same reaction to extreme stress.
Congrats on your growing family!

I have used the Neutrogena sesame oil. It seems to do the trick.

Best wishes to you with everything that is just around the corner.

A.

I developed allergies while preganat and had horrible itching and welts. The things that worked for me were Sarna lotion and Aveeno oatmeal baths. The Sarna comes in a white container with blue letters. The Aveeno oatmeal bath comes in a box with individual packets. You use one packet per bath.
J.