During pregnancy we experience many symptoms and discomforts that we do not feel when we are not expecting a baby. Many of them are automatically attributed to our pregnancy, but we must be attentive to any sign of something that is not common.
A mother shared her story by experiencing a strange itching that occurred during your pregnancy and that fortunately he attended on time and saved his baby's life.
Christina dePino was in the third trimester of her pregnancy when began to feel severe itching in hands and feet. He became so strong that he woke up at night and could not fall asleep again, and his arms and legs were bleeding from how hard he scratched himself, for he could not stand it.
At first she believed that it was a normal symptom of pregnancy due to the stretching of the skin and also the fact that they had just moved to a warmer city. Desperate for not being able to sleep, she told some friends and fortunately they knew how to tell her what it was: intrahepatic cholestasis.
After going to his doctor and undergoing some tests, they confirmed that he suffered from the disease, and that although nothing was wrong with her - with the exception of severe itching in hands and feet - her baby was at risk of being born without life. The doctors gave her several options and she decided that it was best to induce labor and so in the 37th week of her pregnancy her baby was born.
Now, she tells the story on Facebook to alert other pregnant women about this rare but dangerous disease.
If you are pregnant and you have VERY itchy, don't ignore it! I began to have severe itching a couple of weeks ago, (I kept awake at night) and thanks to that I complained a little on Facebook and to the pressure of Jennifer, Britney and Monica, I went to have this discomfort checked and I discovered that I had cholestasis of pregnancy., which is basically harmless to me - with the exception of severe itching - but it could have caused my baby to be born lifeless at 37 weeks! I was officially diagnosed last week and we had to take my baby out this week. We are very blessed! Thanks to my friends for giving me these valuable tips, which probably saved my baby's life! Yes, we are very blessed and we are amazed!
In addition to telling her experience, she comments in the text that she will now be the crazy woman who runs to prevent all pregnant women, and shares a link to a place where more is said about this disease.
What is intrahepatic cholestasis?
Is a rare disease that occurs inside the liver in which the flow of bile is reduced or obstructed and causes itching, sometimes very intense. The exact cause of this disease is unknown, but it is believed to influence genetic, hormonal and environmental factors.
The main symptom is the very intense itching on the palms and soles of the feet. It can become so intense that some women, as in the case of Christina, bleed because they find it inevitable to scratch. Itching regularly increases in the afternoon, causing the mother who suffers to not sleep at night and feel more fatigued than usual.
Among others uncommon symptoms Jaundice (which causes your skin to turn yellow) is included and your urine may be dark in color, while your stool is pale. In addition, nausea, malaise, loss of appetite and mild depression may occur.
The only cure for cholestasis is the birth of your baby. Depending on the test results, doctors may recommend something to relieve itching or induce labor at week 37, as the risk of sudden fetal death increases from that week.
It is important to remember that it is about a rare disease that occurs in 1 or 2 pregnancies of 1,000. However, at the first appearance of severe itching, it is best to go to the doctor for the necessary studies.
