Here’s Why The Body Feels Itchy During Pregnancy?

Due to the increased blood supply to the skin, mild itching is normal throughout pregnancy. The skin of your abdomen is stretched as your pregnancy advances and your baby grows, and this may cause itching.

Mild itching is normally not a cause for concern, but if it becomes severe, it could be an indication of obstetric cholestasis, a deadly liver disorder. Although this affects less than one in every 100 pregnant women, it necessitates medical treatment.

Why Does Your Body Itch During Pregnancy?

There are a variety of reasons why you can be itchy during pregnancy. These could include the following:

• Skin that is stretching: Pregnancies with multiples and first pregnancies cause the skin to expand far more than it normally does.

• Dryness: Pregnancy hormone fluctuations can produce itchy, flaky, dry skin.

• Cholestasis: This is a liver condition that causes an accumulation of bile acids in the blood, which causes itching.

• Pregnancy plaques and pruritic urticarial papules (PUPPP): This is a rash that appears around stretch marks in late pregnancy and is itchy.

• Fabrics or perfumes: Different materials and chemicals have the potential to irritate you.

• Hormones: Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can have an impact on everything from mood to circulation to, yes, itching.

• Prurigo: These crusty, itchy bumps can emerge in any trimester on the arms, legs, or abdomen.

• Obstetric cholestasis: It is a condition that causes severe itching. Obstetric cholestasis (OC), also known as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, is a dangerous liver condition that affects a small proportion of pregnant women during their third trimester.

The exact cause of OC is unknown, but it’s thought that the rise in pregnancy hormones later in pregnancy may slow the normal flow of bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver that aids in the breakdown of fats in the digestive system.

OC appears to run in families, yet it can sometimes strike people without a familial history. It is also more prevalent among Indian and Pakistani women. If you’ve experienced OC before, you’re more likely to get it again in a future pregnancy.

Babies born to women with OC are more likely to be premature, stillborn, or have lung difficulties as a result of breathing in meconium. Your doctor may consider inducing labor before your due date due to these issues.

The strong itch you’re experiencing during pregnancy could be caused by a variety of factors. To figure out how to address this bothersome problem, consider any other symptoms you’re having, the timeline of your itchiness, and even your regular activities.

Home Remedies For Relief From Itchy Skin

Itchy skin can be troublesome especially during pregnancy when you have to battle other things like morning sickness, heartburn, and several trips to the bathroom. 

Here are a few simple and easy ways to get relief from itchiness during pregnancy.

• Wear Loose Clothing: Wearing loose clothing can help reduce itching by reducing the likelihood of your garments rubbing against your skin and causing irritation. You should also avoid synthetic textiles and wear more natural fibers like cotton, which allow air to circulate close to your skin.

• Cool Your Skin: You can either use a cool damp towel or an ice pack to get relief from the itching. Place the cool pack on the itchy areas for a few minutes till you get relief.

• Pure Aloe Vera Gel: Pure aloe vera gel is natural and soothing. When applied directly to itchy areas may also provide some temporary relief. 

The joy of being a mother, holding and nurturing your newborn baby outweighs all the pain, sleepless nights, and even itchy skin. Now that you have these simple home remedies to deal with itchy skin, look forward to itch-free days, while you enjoy motherhood and make lasting memories with your baby.