Cholestasis of Pregnancy - Symptoms and Treatments to Relieve Your Journey

Cholestasis of Pregnancy - Symptoms and Treatments to Relieve Your Journey

There are three types of Cholestasis of pregnancy and all can be treated through medication. All three types of cholestasis involve the liver, and blood tests and urinalysis can easily detect its presence.

Cholestasis

Cholestasis of pregnancy occurs once in one thousand pregnancies and seems to be more common when the mother is of Swedish or Chilean ethnicity. Cholestasis is caused by a build up of bile, which is produced by the gall bladder due to the hormones associated with pregnancy. When bile builds up, the body has a difficult time breaking down fats during digestion, and results in bile acids accumulating in the bloodstream, leading to itching.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of cholestasis is persistent itching during pregnancy especially on the hands and feet. Unlike dry skin, cholestasis causes severe itching and is accompanied by other common signs including darker than normal urine, appetite loss and fatigue, as well as light bowel movements. Severe symptoms include jaundice, nausea and pain in the upper right side of the body. The gall bladder is located in this area and when the gall bladder is stressed, it can cause discomfort.

Types of Cholestasis

When cholestasis occurs outside the liver, it is referred to as extrahepatic cholestasis, while both intrahepatic cholestasis and obstetric cholestasis occur inside the liver.

Cholestasis is more common in women who have liver damage or have experienced cholestasis during a previous pregnancy. Women whose sisters or mothers experienced cholestasis are more likely to develop this condition, and women who develop cholestasis face a 90% chance of developing it during subsequent pregnancies.

Treatment

Mild cases of cholestasis during pregnancy can be treated with anti-itch medications some of which may contain corticosteroids. Other treatments include:

Cold baths will help slow the flow of blood and the blood's temperature sometimes providing relief.

Dandelion root and Milk Thistle are natural substances derived from plants that aid liver function and may be beneficial for mild cases of cholestasis.

Moderate to severe cases may be treated with ursodeoxycholic acid that helps reduce the concentration of bile in the bloodstream.

Vitamin K may be proscribed as cholestasis can cause a low Vitamin K count that can result in excessive bleeding.

However, you should avoid antihistamines and oatmeal baths, which will not have any affect on cholestasis.

Tests

Once a woman has been diagnosed with cholestasis of pregnancy, weekly tests and prompt treatment can reduce the risks to the baby. Non stress tests should be performed regularly to check the baby's heart rate and regular blood tests to check liver functions will be required and to monitor the bile levels in the blood.

Depending on the severity of cholestasis doctors may want to deliver the baby early and may begin steroid injections to help the baby's lungs develop faster. This procedure is usually only recommended if the mother is in her 32ndweek. Amniocentesis can be done to see if the baby is developed enough for an early delivery.

Risks

Many pregnancy complications can occur if a woman develops cholestasis including fetal distress, excessive bleeding, stillbirths and in many cases pre-term delivery of the child. If you are pregnant and start to itch, be sure to discuss this with your doctor as early detection and treatment can benefit both you and your baby.

Cholestasis of pregnancy is rare occurring in only one of 1000 births and with quick detection and prompt treatment the prognosis for both mother and child are positive.

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