Pregnant with Rash...

Don't freak out, and I don't want to scare you, but ask the doc about PUPPP. It stands for something long and scientific like "polyuritic polyps and postules of pregnancy"...I think that was what they called it. I had it with my first baby and it SUCKED!!!

It started on my belly, much like you described, like a chigger bite. Anything tight or hot seemed to make it spread and get inflammed. It itched day and night and spread pretty much everywhere but my face. It is miserable and the only "cure" is to have the baby and it will go away shortly after the hormones die down. Again, not sure if this is what you have, and I hope it is not.

If it is PUPPP, then they will give you hydrocortisone creams, which didn't help that much, and Aveno bath which will help as long as you can stay in the tub. Sorry, there's not much bright side.

The only positive if you think it is positive is that I had it with my daughter and not my son. So perhaps your body is incubating a little boy and your skin is reacting to the different hormone levels.

CONGRATS on the pregnancy!!
As for the rash, it's really hard to say without seeing it, but certainly see your doc! It's likely not due to the pregnancy, although being pregnant can decrease your immune system. It could be viral, or allergic, but the "boil" concerns me that it could be a staph infection. Try your best not to scratch. For the small itchy bumps, you could try a low dose cortisone cream (over the counter) or benadryl cream (or even try an oral benadryl...safe in pregnancy).
Let us know how you're doing!

For your sake, I hope it's not PUPP, but it may be! Like the others said, it's fairly horrible, but you'll make it through! My best advice is to actually see a dermatologist. I had 2 kinds of PUPP (looked different), poison ivy and scabbies all in the last 2 months of my pregnancy and it was horrible! My point here is that although my OB sorta guessed what was going on he referred me to a derm and it was the best thing I could have done! I have a really great one who totally knows his rashes :) if you need interested!

Hi L.! I experienced PUPPS with my second child. I was miserable and could not sleep. It started on my abdomen and moved down my legs. My doc prescribed a cream clobetasol (not sure if that is the correct spelling) and it worked like a charm on my abdomen. I tried to put it on my legs, but it didn't work, so I tried: oatmeal baths, aloe vera and other lotions that I would chill in the fridge and apply with q-tip to minimize contact since it would activate the itching. I also remember one sleepless night in desperation where I dunked my feet in ice water - it was cold but I was able to sleep for a little bit. After two weeks of this and having very little sleep with a newborn on the way, my doc prescribed prednisone (steroids), which helped some. It was a low enough dose and safe for baby. Happy to say that after he was born, it went away!! Hang in there and best of luck!

You may find out it's totally something different, but don't rule bedbugs. The thought is gross. My step daughter is the cleanest on the planet, but somehow bed bugs crept in. She went to three doctors before getting her answer. Just a thought. Good luck.

Get to your doctor NOW this might be something you can treat without hurting your pregnancy or the baby-don't mess around!