Detect Obstetric Cholestasis.
CHOLESTASIS OF PREGNANCY - Mild itching is one of the common complaints of pregnant women and is not something to worry about. However, if the itching becomes more severe, there is a possibility that the mother has obstetric cholestasis. What exactly causes excessive itching during pregnancy and how to deal with it? Read the explanation.
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| CHOLESTASIS OF PREGNANCY Excessive Itching During Pregnancy |
What is obstetric cholestasis?
Obstetric cholestasis, obstetric cholestasis, or cholestasis of pregnancy is a condition that affects the liver in late pregnancy.
This condition slows or stops the normal flow of bile from the gallbladder.
Quoting from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, this condition triggers excessive itching during pregnancy but does not cause a rash.
Mothers can feel itching in the hands, feet, and other areas of the body. Apart from making the mother uncomfortable, obstetric cholestasis is also likely to result in certain pregnancy complications.
However, there is no need to worry too much because usually itching during pregnancy disappears within a few days after giving birth.
Moreover, this is also a fairly rare condition because it only affects 1 in 140 women during pregnancy.
Generally, women from Pakistan or India have a 1–2% higher risk of developing obstetric cholestasis.
Symptoms of obstetric cholestasis
The main symptom of this condition is excessive itching during pregnancy that does not cause a rash.
Then, most women also feel itching only on the palms or feet. Frequent itching during pregnancy
It gets worse at night and causes difficulty sleeping.
In addition, the following are other signs and symptoms of obstetric cholestasis, such as:
- yellowing of the skin and eye area,
- feeling nauseous,
- loss of appetite,
- lighter stool color,
- feeling tired, until
- pain in the pit of the stomach (rare).
It is possible that there will be symptoms or signs that are similar to other diseases, so the mother needs to consult further with her doctor.
Call your doctor immediately when you experience severe itching and symptoms of jaundice (jaundice) appear.
Causes of obstetric cholestasis
The main cause of excessive itching during pregnancy is not known for certain. However, the possible cause is due to hormonal changes and heredity.
1. Hormones
Hormonal changes or imbalances are common during pregnancy. One of them is the level of the hormone estrogen which has increased so that it affects how the liver works.
Possibly, the hormone can slow the flow of bile which then builds up and enters the bloodstream. This can make the mother feel itchy.
2. Hereditary factors
Obstetric cholestasis is also more common in women of certain ethnicities such as Indian and Pakistani and is inherited in some families.
So, if you have experienced this condition, there is a possibility that the mother will experience it again in the next pregnancy.
What are the risk factors for this condition?
Here are some factors that can increase your risk of developing cholestasis of pregnancy, including:
- heredity from the family,
- have had liver damage, and
- is pregnant with twins.
Complications of obstetric cholestasis
This cholestatic condition can affect the function of the mother's liver, resulting in poor fat absorption.
There are also other complications, such as vitamin K deficiency, which can cause the mother to have blood clotting disorders when injured.
Other possible complications of pregnancy that are quite severe and can occur in the fetus, namely:
- babies born prematurely,
- lung problems from inhaling meconium,
- infant death or stillbirth, up to
- respiratory disorders.
Mothers need to know that complications can be very dangerous for the baby, so it is possible that the doctor will consider giving birth early.
Diagnosis of obstetric cholestasis
Usually, doctors can estimate cholestasis of pregnancy from the symptoms that the mother describes. In addition, here are other tests that the doctor will do to confirm the diagnosis, which are as follows.
- Skin examination, to make sure the mother does not have other skin diseases during pregnancy,
- Blood tests, look at the amount of bile acids in the blood,
- Ultrasound, checks for liver and bile abnormalities.
Treatment for cholestasis of pregnancy
Treatment for this condition aims to relieve itching so as to prevent complications in the baby in the womb.To relieve itching, your doctor may recommend the following.
- Taking the drug ursodiol to help lower bile levels.
- Relieve itching by applying a cream or ointment from a doctor.
- Compress the itchy body area with cold or warm water.
The doctor will monitor and test liver function once or twice a week until the mother gives birth.
Not only that, the doctor will also monitor to see the condition and development of the baby in the womb when the mother has obstetric cholestasis.
Consult with your doctor first to get the best treatment and treatment before doing it yourself at home.
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