Excessive itching of the palms and soles is not one of the normal signs of pregnancy. Rather, it may be a symptom of cholestasis. In addition to intense itching, the mother may also experience abdominal signs.
Her eyes and skin may also turn yellowish. Dark-colored urine and light-color bowel movements are also considered as common signs of this condition.
Why does cholestasis occur?
Our liver produces bile. This is a digestive fluid that aids in the process of breaking down fats. When the flow of bile is blocked, the condition is called cholestasis.There is no definite reason why pregnancy may cause cholestasis. However, experts point out that the condition may be prompted by the release of hormones during pregnancy that the body needs when the woman is pregnant.
Basically, some pregnancy hormones may stop the flow of bile. When this happens, the bile may enter the bloodstream and cause complications in pregnancy.
Kinds of cholestasis
If cholestasis is characterized as the blockage of bile outside the liver, the condition is referred to as extrahepatic cholestasis. However, if it occurs inside the liver, the condition is called intrahepatic cholestasis.
The kind of cholestasis that is usually caused by pregnancy is intraheptic. Most of the time, cholestasis of pregnancy is often referred to as obstetric cholestasis.
Cholestasis does not pose any fatal problems for pregnant women. However, any kind of cholestasis may significantly endanger the development of the baby inside the womb.
Treatments and medications
When a woman is diagnosed with obstetric cholestasis, the doctor may recommend regular blood tests. Such procedure aims to measure how the liver is working. It will also determine how much bile is present in the blood stream.
In addition to blood tests, ultrasounds and various prenatal tests may be done in order to monitor the fetal development. Basically the heart rate, the movement, and the overall body development of the baby will be monitored.
Aside from regular monitoring, the doctor may advise the mother to take medications to relieve itching and prevent pregnancy complications. Anti-itch lotions, creams, and cold compress may reduce the itching and irritation. To increase bile flow, the physician may advise oral medications such as those which contain ursodeoxycholic acid.
However, it should be noted that medications for obstetric cholestasis cannot cure the condition. Instead, they can only temporarily alleviate the symptoms and reduce the risk for complications. Delivery is the only cure for such condition. As such, if cholestasis is diagnosed when the pregnancy is at least thirty six weeks, early delivery may be recommended. In such cases, the mother will be required to have bed rests and medications with corticosteroids. GP