Hi ladies
i have noticed that a few pregnant ladies recently have mentioned itching so i thought i would post some info and i would be very greatful if you could all read and keep it bumped as it could save a life.
Description: Obstetric Cholestasis (OC) (also referred to as Intrahepatic Cholestasis in Pregnancy - ICP) is a liver condition of pregnancy that can, in severe cases, result in stillbirth. However I, like many other ladies, had never heard of it before my health visitor sent me for the test which revealed that my bile acids were high enough to class me as -severe'.
I think it is very important pregnant woman are aware of this potentially life threatening ( to the baby) condition so that they can report any symptoms to their midwife/GP/consultant and be investigated.
Also, it would be good to share information and support each other. I know that when I found out I had it I felt alone and a failure and that's why I would like to help other women who may be feeling the way I did.
If you suspect you may be suffering from obstetric cholestasis then please seek medical attention asap!
The liver is in the upper right part of the abdomen. The functions of the liver include: storing glycogen (fuel for the body) which is made from sugars; helping to process fats and proteins from digested food; making proteins that are essential for blood to clot (clotting factors); processing many medicines which you may take; helping to remove poisons and toxins from the body.
The liver also makes bile. This is a green/yellow fluid which contains bile acids, and waste products such as bilirubin. Liver cells pass bile into bile ducts in the liver. B
bile flows down the ducts into larger ducts, eventually leading to the common bile duct. The gallbladder is like a 'cul-de-sac' reservoir of bile which comes off the common bile duct. After you have eaten, the gallbladder squeezes bile back to the common bile duct , down into the duodenum.
Bile in the gut helps to digest fat.
Once the baby is born the woman's liver function should return to normal. This usually happens very quickly (within 8 weeks) but some women have taken a little longer. If the liver does not return to normal then further investigation is required as there may be an underlying liver problem that has not been identified.
Please visit this web site: it is very good and full of up to date info.
www.ocsupport.org.uk
Recent NewsObstetric cholestasis is thought to affect around 4,500 women a year in the UK. It is known to be familial (passed down through families). Women who are expecting more than one baby also have an increased chance of developing it. Symptoms can include:
??????? Itching - typically from around 28 weeks (although it can be earlier than this) and usually on the palms of the hand and soles of the feet. It can also be generalised. It is worse at night and can be so severe as to cause the woman to scratch herself until she bleeds.
??????? Extreme fatigue and insomnia (because of the itching)
??????? Pale stools
??????? Jaundice (although less than 20% of women with OC will develop jaundice)
??????? Nausea (leading to possible weight reduction for the woman)
Cholestasis means there is a reduced flow of bile resulting in an increased amount of bile salts in the woman's blood. As well as looking at the ALT (alanine transferase) it is the bile salts that many researchers believe confirm that diagnosis for OC. It is also thought that these bile salts (also referred to as bile acids) may be the cause of any risk to the unborn baby although researchers have not identified a definite cause. Some research has been conducted on the placenta and so it might be that the bile acids (which are known to cross the placenta) cause it to stop working properly or perhaps reduce oxygen flow to the baby. Other research has looked at the effect bile acids have on heart cells and so it may that the baby's heart stops working. Much more research is needed to prove exactly what is happening. However, this is the reason why many clinicians will deliver around 37-38 weeks as there is a small amount of data to suggest that that delivering early may reduce the risk of stillbirth.
Because emphasis has been placed on bile acids the drug currently used to treat OC is Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). It has been found that this drug helps many women with their itch and reduces the bile acid levels of many (but not all) women. Vitamin K is also used to reduce the risk of severe bleeding post delivery although there is no medical evidence to show that it can do this.
Oc can be very dangerous, if you have any questions feel free to ask.
Goodluck with your pregnancies.
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