See also: vaginal itching - anal itching
Itching is a fairly common sensation in pregnancy, especially in the abdominal region, in the breasts and at the extremities. The cause is often represented by physiological changes linked to gestation, although in many cases there is no direct correlation between itching and pregnancy; this unpleasant symptom can in fact be triggered by independent factors, such as allergies or food intolerances, dry skin or eczema.
Not surprisingly, therefore, the itching usually appears towards the third trimester of pregnancy and tends to progressively increase until the birth, to then disappear within a few hours or days from the end of the happy event.
Estrogens and the increase in fetal dimensions are also involved in the appearance of specific liver disorders, absent in non-pregnant patients (although sometimes common among women taking birth control pills, due to the aforementioned role of estrogen). One speaks of gravidic cholestasis to indicate a liver pathology which occurs mainly during the second half of gestation, making itself manifest with intense itching, increase in transaminasemia and sometimes modest jaundice. The itching is probably caused by the accumulation in the circulation of bile salts, in turn determined by the volumetric increase in the abdomen and by the cholestatic action of the estrogens. Similarly to the previous conditions, cholestasis also has a benign course and disappears after delivery; however, it may reappear in subsequent pregnancies or with oral contraceptives. Furthermore, the disease can cause some fetal problems, as it increases the possibility of premature birth, fetal distress in labor and the possibility of neonatal asphyxia. For this reason, if the itching is very intense and a cholestasis is suspected, it is important to contact your doctor as soon as possible, who will submit a series of diagnostic tests for the mother and the fetus. If the itching is intense or the blood values show a particularly marked cholestasis, drugs are prescribed to clean the blood from the bile (cholestyramine). If health conditions require it, premature birth may also be induced.
In a small percentage of women itching during pregnancy is caused by a disorder known as urticaria papules of pregnancy. More common in women waiting for the first child or twins, it manifests itself with the appearance of itchy red spots in the abdomen, especially near the stretch marks, which can also extend to the rest of the body sparing the face. This condition, although particularly annoying, does not cause particular problems either to the mother or to the fetus; the treatment consists in the application of refreshing / moisturizing lotions or creams and possibly in the intake of specific drugs under medical control (usually antihistamines).
Drinking lots of water is very important and helps relieve itching by keeping the skin hydrated, reducing water retention and preventing dehydration; in this regard it is useful to avoid too hot baths and use delicate detergents. At the same time, the adoption of a diet poor in hardly digestible foods (eggs, dips, fried foods, cold cuts etc.) will save the liver unnecessary overloads. Finally, itching during pregnancy can be prevented by applying special elasticizing and anti-stretch mark preparations on the skin, or attenuated by applying mentholated talcum or refreshing lotions.
