Itching during pregnancy is common and can have different causes. These include allergic reactions, eczema, heat rash, puritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPP) or hepatosis (intrahepatic cholestasis). Here we go through the two most common causes!

PUPP

The cause of PUPP is not fully understood, but it is an allergy-like condition that causes itching during pregnancy. The rash is similar to hives, i.e. the rash that appears during an allergic reaction. PUPP is harmless to both the pregnant woman and the fetus, but it is important to rule out other conditions such as hepatosis.

Hepatosis

Symptoms of hepatosis is severe itching, often on the hands and soles of the feet, especially at night. It is most common in the third trimester and it is common for it to recur in the next pregnancy. Hepatosis does not cause a rash but you may get scratches after scratching. The itching disappears as soon as you give birth to your baby or babies. In severe hepatosis, there is some increased risk to the fetus. If you seek care for symptoms of hepatosis, tests will be done to give you the right care and treatment. Itching can be difficult to treat, but there are medicines that can help.

If you have hepatosis, you are at greater risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. If you have had hepatosis during pregnancy, there is a small increased risk of liver disease later in life. Depending on the severity of your hepatosis, you may need to have your liver values checked by the maternity hospital some time after giving birth to your baby or babies.

Talk to your midwife about your problems to get the right help for the type of itching you suffer from!