Itchy Legs

For me, it was simply my skin stretching. I am a petite person and when my skin started stretching it itched like crazy! It was the worst on my thighs/hips/and then later on my stomach. It was really bad. I kept a bottle of soothing aloe lotion at my desk all day and tried to conspicuously apply it to my stomach anyway. The other places were too difficult to get to without making a scene! LOL

mention it to your doctor and see what he says. I had the itchiness on my thighs legs and ankels when I was carryng my son. My doc told me I had PUPPS, he prescribed some ointment to ease the itchiness of it and the rash went away when I approached my 3rd trimester.

I had itchy legs, thighs, abdomen and arms when I was about six months pregnant. I scratched so bad I caused bruising to myself from the intense itch. I tried so many creams and remedies but nothing worked. Eventually it went away after having my daughter.
In my case I was told it was something called PUPPS. I was sent to a dermatologist and had several tests ran on me. In the end, they told me it was like my body was having an allergic reaction to the baby's placenta. The odd thing was that usually this only happens when you are farther along in the pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about it.

I just read something on here a couple days ago. Someone who was pregnant had the same thing. Call and tell your dr. about it they can help you your gyno. Also check back I believ it was two days ago there was post about it.

I agree with Susan. You should check with your OB and possibly rule out cholestasis. I had severe itching in my third trimester that would keep me awake at night. Mine began on the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet so my OB took it very seriously and did the tests necessary to rule out cholestasis. The itching took over my knees and my abdomen and starting producing a rash in those areas so I was eventually diagnosed with PUPPPs. Good luck with everything -- you likely just have dry skin but it's best to rule out more serious issues if for no other reason than peace of mind. : )
As a side note, if it ends up you have PUPPPs you'll most likely deliver a boy! : )

With #3 baby, I had itchies ALL OVER. I felt like I had fleas or something. I itched inside my mouth, ears, nose and all over by body. My feet were the worst. It was summer and nothing helped except going in the pool or soaking in a tub with baking soda. My doc said I was becoming allergic to the pregnancy and that when I went into labor the itchies would go away. He was right! Labor started/no itchies. By the time I went into labor, my feet were pretty scratched up. After delivery the nurses said it was very common...I had never heard of it. My sister had the same thing...it was wierd.

I am not sure if this could be anything related to your pregnancy, dry skin or the need to increase more water to keep your moisture balance up. I don't recall anything in the books from when I was expecting - but that was some time ago.
I'd say check with your OBGyn to play it safe; and watch the ingredients on the lotions as some contain Vitamin A (this is a Vitamin that you do not want to overdo in pregnancy - and many lotions contain it.).
In place of the lotion - try olive oil. It's super hydrating and at night, will soak in better especially if you take a soothing warm shower before turning in to the bed. (I always put lotions or oil on after I wash hands, shower or bath as it hydrates better and relieves dry skin effectively. Also - Lotions with Mineral Oils/ Lanolin/ Patroleum only make dry skin worse if this is the case - no matter how much you use.)

Good Luck!

During my pregnancies, I usually get "Pufts Disease"-my first Dr (idiot) kept telling me it was my underwear-I usually get it around my bikini line, creases of my elbows, and torso. My 2nd OB suggested it was this affliction. She wanted to run a little extra bloodwork to check my liver, as Pufts can be an indicator to problems with it. I was fine, delivered both girls without incident, just itchy. Gold Bond medicated helped the most with its "cooling" ingredient to the lotion. Good luck!

Not to send a huge alert but if you itchings proceeds I would have you doctor test for Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy, also referred to as Obstetric Cholestasis.

I'm currently 29 weeks and have started intense itching especially at night. I'm going to my doctor today to be tested for this. I also had itching with my previous pregnancy but delivered my twins before they could verify the cause. Below is some more information and the website that I reference. This condition is very rare, so your doctor may never have heard of it, however it's better to be safe then sorry.

Dear Healthcare Specialist,
This letter has been printed by your patient out of concern that she may have an uncommon pregnancy condition called Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy, also referred to as Obstetric Cholestasis.
This uncommon condition of pregnancy may be overlooked because the main presenting symptom, pruritus, is often considered to be a normal side effect of pregnancy. Although itching is common during pregnancy, it is important to consider ICP as a possible diagnosis as it carries an increased risk of fetal distress, premature labor, maternal and fetal hemorrhaging, and most importantly, stillbirth.
The following guidelines have been provided by Mrs. Jenny Chambers who works as a research assistant with an ICP team in London. Mrs. Chambers has lost two babies due to cholestasis of pregnancy and is now working with some of the best specialists in the world to provide more information to the doctors and the general public. Current research includes trying to identify the gene(s) involved in the condition (it is known to be familial) and looking at the role of bile acids.
Please keep in mind, these are only guidelines to assist you with a possible diagnosis of this rare condition. Also, please keep in mind that anti-histamines are of no clinical value for the elimination of excess bile salts, as you are probably already aware.
Here are the current guidelines as set forth by the team in London:
Diagnosis:
The mother will normally complain of generalized pruritus (itching) from around 28 weeks (although we have had presentations as early as 6 weeks pregnant) and she will generally report that it is more noticeable on extremities (particularly hands and feet) and is worse at night. Urine can be quite dark. If cholestasis is suspected the following tests would be performed:
Serum Bile Acid Test:
This is considered the definitive test for ICP because it can confirm the condition before AST or ALT levels become elevated (we have experienced false negative results with liver function tests). Tests in the USA typically take a week or longer to return. Normal range values for bile acids may differ depending on the lab where the results are evaluated. If the above tests are normal but the mother continues to itch they should be repeated. A PT should also be performed to check vitamin K absorption.
Liver Function Test:
The AST or ALT is the key indicator here, anything above 30 U/L is outside normal range for pregnancy (Girling et al: 104 pp###-###-####) although this can depend on what reference values each laboratory uses. If your local laboratory uses a different reference range to that quoted by Girling et al. it is suggested that 80% of the upper limit is used i.e. a laboratory using 60 as an upper limit would be adjusted to 48. The mother does not have to be jaundiced as it thought that around only 20% of women with ICP will develop jaundice, usually a few weeks after the pruritus starts. It should also be noted that although Alkaline Phosphates is elevated in ICP it is also elevated in pregnancy and is therefore of little clinical value in the diagnosis.
Treatment & Management:
This can vary depending on the unit but in the two specialist centers in the UK it will usually involve regular monitoring by way of CTG’s and weekly Doppler scans, the use of medication and early delivery. Once ICP has been confirmed, women will be offered Ursodeoxycholic Acid (Actigall in the USA - Urso/Ursofalk in other countries). Prescribing is usually based on 300 mgs three times daily but again this can also vary. Some units also prescribe oral Vitamin K for the mother - 10mgs daily. Cholestyramine is not considered to be a suitable drug to use in the treatment of the condition because of it effect on vitamin absorption, which is already at risk during ICP. It is thought vital that delivery of the baby is carried out by no later than 36-37 weeks even if the condition has been ‘controlled’ by the use of drugs and all biochemical results have been brought back to normal. Consideration should be given to an even earlier delivery if the condition cannot be managed i.e. serum bile acids/LFT’s continue to remain elevated or if the pruritus is becoming increasingly difficult for the mother to tolerate.
If a mother has had the condition liver function tests should be performed at about six weeks after the birth to check that all levels are back to normal and repeated if they remain elevated. If these raised levels continue for too long consideration should be given to an alternative diagnosis because in ICP liver function should return to normal relatively quickly.
To view the website this information was printed from as well as a list of medical journals that may be of some clinical value, please visit us on the web at www.itchymoms.com

not sure what the medical reason is beyond being pregnant... :-)
With my 3rd munchkin starting about 5 months into it and until the delivery my legs ITCHED like crazy!!! Mainly at night and when wearing certain pairs of fabric pants. I went thru many bottles of lotion since it helped.

Every night I would slather on the lotion. Who knows why... But it did help AND I had the smoothest legs for the delivery... lol

Part of it could be vericose veins that are closer but not on the surface... Some of it could be the skin is dry because of the hormones... Add in the colder weather... possibly some nerve sensetivity from the hormones... etc... Like I said I dont' know... FIgure out what works for you. That was the only munchkin I had that with...

Good luck!!!