Welcome to ItchyMoms.com, an online resource for women who suffer from Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy, also known as Obstetric Cholestasis. Often, the only symptom noticed is itching. The itching can vary from person to person on palms of hands, arms, legs, soles of feet or all-over itching.  ICP/OC carries an increased risk of premature labor, fetal and maternal hemorrhaging, fetal distress, and most importantly, stillbirth (intrauterine death of baby).  

This website is designed to provide factual, medical information to women who may be suffering from this potentially dangerous condition. ICP is a high-risk pregnancy and women diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy may also need the expert advice and care of a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist or Perinatologist. These specialist are knowledgeable of the proper medical treatments for ICP. Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine - The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine has a physician locater. You can enter the State you reside in on the physician locator form and scroll down the list to find the nearest MFM specialist.  

 

Think you may have ICP?

 

If you are experiencing itching during pregnancy and think you may have cholestasis of pregnancy, you may wish to start with our Guide to Diagnosis page. This page is a designed to be a reference tool for women to help guide them through the process of either ruling out or confirming a diagnosis of ICP. Due to the threat of stillbirth, quick action is essential when cholestasis of pregnancy is suspected.

 

Please read the Guide to Diagnosis

 

 

Already diagnosed with ICP?

 

Aside from taking the medication Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA) to decrease your bile acids and helping to keep your baby safe, some women have found the following things helpful in alleviating the symptoms. Please note that these should not be a replacement for the medicated treatment of Ursodeoxycholic Acid that help to reduce the bile acids in your blood and that of your baby in utero.   - Eat a Low-Fat Diet - Drink Lots of Water - Try Benefibre (take at a separate time from UDCA) * - Try Milk Thistle and Dandelion Root - Try Sarna Lotion to Cool the Itch ** - Keep Temperature Low/Wear Cool Clothing

Benefibre may be found in most stores in pharmacy section.

Sarna is not carried by most stores but can be ordered by a pharmacy or ordered online on our Helpful Products.

 

Please view our full list of Treatments.