If you’ve been wondering what exactly cholestasis of pregnancy is, the professionals at Trogolo Obstetrics and Gynecology in Jacksonville can help you.
This condition affects one in 1,000 pregnant women in the U.S, and if it’s untreated, it can lead to severe problems for the baby. That’s why it needs constant monitoring and adequate treatment to reduce any potential risks.
If you have been struggling with this condition or suspecting something, this article will help you clarify anything that’s been bothering you while learning more about cholestasis treatment.
What is Cholestasis of Pregnancy?
It is a severe liver condition that can cause unbearable and unpleasant itching. So, if you are experiencing itchy hands and feet during pregnancy, you should get checked to rule out the cholestasis of pregnancy.
Also, if you’ve encountered the abbreviation ICP, it stands for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and it’s the same illness.
To better understand this whole process and this condition, you need to know more about how your liver works. We will briefly discuss it and then explain why you can experience itching during pregnancy.
Our liver is a crucial organ in our body that helps with many processes. And its most important function is to clean out anything that’s not useful for the body. And the essential thing that helps the liver do its job is bile. It is a fluid made up of water, electrolytes, cholesterol, acids, and bilirubin. And why is it essential when it comes to cholestasis? We’ll get to that in a moment.
Bile is activated and released from the gallbladder into the small intestine whenever you digest food. It’s because it’s supposed to help your body break down fats easily. And if you are healthy and don’t have any health conditions, everything functions perfectly, as we explained.
But when you have an illness like this, the explained process doesn’t function as it should, and bile acids can end up in the bloodstream and tissues and cause itching during pregnancy.
Causes of Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Unfortunately, the precise cause of this condition isn’t known. However, researchers say genetic and hormonal factors are the main reasons for this disease.
As we all know, the gestation period is when women’s hormones act differently than usual, and many changes happen inside a woman’s body. Pregnancy hormones differ from regular ones, and the higher levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause a buildup of bile inside the liver. And if it happens, it typically occurs during the third trimester.
Normally, women with a history of this condition in their family are also prone to developing cholestasis. And if you had it once, there’s a chance you’ll develop it in future pregnancies as well.
Also, women that already have problems with the health of their liver are prone to developing cholestasis.
Cholestasis of Pregnancy – Symptoms
This health condition has various symptoms, but most are easy to notice. You should talk to your OB-GYN or your midwife if you start experiencing some of these symptoms:
- Severe itchiness
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea
- Jaundice
- Changes in your urine and feces
Severe Itchiness
One of the most common cholestasis of pregnancy symptoms is itchiness. And it’s not a simple itch that you’ll be able to scratch, and it will stop. It can be highly irritable and often mixed up with other less severe conditions. You can be almost sure it’s this liver illness if you have itchy hands and feet during pregnancy and you don’t have a rash. And it often happens during the third trimester.
The parts of your hands and feet that will itch the most are your palms and soles, but other body parts can be affected. This symptom often worsens during the nighttime and can cause trouble with sleeping.
You should know that this condition doesn’t cause a rash. However, you can develop one from too much scratching the itch.
Lack of Appetite
Often women having a problem with this illness experience lack of appetite. You may feel moody, and you won’t have the willpower to eat. Also, sometimes there’s a chance you’ll experience abdominal pain, where the liver is located, after eating something.
Nausea
Besides lack of appetite, you may also experience nausea while trying to eat or when smelling something.
Jaundice
Jaundice is a common symptom in liver illnesses, and it’s caused by an increase in the bilirubin in the blood. It’s a symptom you’ll quickly notice as the eyes or the skin turns yellow.
Changes in Your Urine and Feces
Lastly, you should contact your doctor if you notice any changes in your urine and feces. You should do it as soon as possible, especially if the urine looks too dark and the feces look gray.
Diagnosis
The first step is to contact your health care provider if you experience any of the previously mentioned symptoms. To rule out other illnesses, it’s necessary to have a physical exam as well as various blood tests. The blood test will provide more insight into the health of your liver and the level of bile acid in the blood.
The Cholestasis Treatment
The proper cholestasis treatment is essential as the main goal is to prevent any possible complications that may happen to the baby. And, of course, ease the unbearable itchiness so the future mother can feel better.
You can soothe the itchiness with the help of cool water and soak the body parts that are problematic in the water. Ice cubes can also do a phenomenal job of easing this problem. If you are not having luck with this method, a doctor may prescribe you an anti-itch medication and creams.
Also, the most common practice is taking the prescription drug Ursodiol, which will help lower the levels of bile in the blood.
Potential Complications
One of the critical things concerning ICP is to monitor the baby’s state constantly, as this illness can cause complications for the baby. The potential risks include:
- Preterm Birth
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- Meconium Aspiration (aspiration of the baby’s first stool)
- Stillbirth
- Postpartum Hemorrhage in Mothers
The Monitoring of the Baby’s Health
Monitoring the baby’s health is of utmost importance to avoid potential risks. And the best way to do it is by nonstress testing, fetal biophysical profile, and even early labor induction. Because there are always risks of stillbirth, sometimes the only solution is to induce labor and save your baby. If that happens, you don’t have to worry, as your health care provider will take care of you and your child.
Final Words
If you still have any doubts or questions about his topic, our obstetrician in Jacksonville is here to help you. Trololo Obstetrics and Gynecology has a clear vision and one goal, and that’s to help women overcome any obstacles when it comes to their reproductive health.
We are here for you, and we can offer you guidance through your whole pregnancy and post-care. So, don’t hesitate to call us today and book your appointment to ensure your and your baby’s healthy future.
