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One of the problems that can hinder the smooth running of pregnancy is obstetric cholestasis or intrahepatic cholestasis as it is known among doctors. This disease can affect the mother very intensely due to the symptoms it provides, but also in some cases affect the baby’s growth and lead to some major problems.
Obstetric cholestasis is a disease that affects the maternal liver . This organ produces a secretion called bile, which plays the role of acid in the digestion of the intestine. Obstetric cholestasis happens when the bile is not fully absorbed by the body because it is not directed entirely to the intestine and then the excess falls into the bloodstream.
The symptoms of obstetric cholestasis can be diverse, but the most recurrent are the intense itching of the pregnant woman. It can reach the whole body but mainly extremes like hands and feet. The itching intensifies at night and can cause problems sleeping. The itch affects mainly the palm and the sole of the foot. After the initial symptoms it spreads throughout the body if left untreated.
How to Diagnose Obstetric Cholestasis?
In addition to the symptoms, some tests will be done to be 100% sure that cholestasis is present. A blood test and even an ultrasound can diagnose obstetric cholestasis. These tests will be essential to diagnose why the bile flow is retained in the intestine. If there are stones in the gallbladder, the doctor will assess the risks of making the withdrawal during pregnancy. To treat the symptoms of obstetric cholestasis, the doctor will prescribe vitamins that help the body absorb bile, such as vitamin K. This vitamin also helps to reduce the chances of bleeding from excess bile in the blood for mom and baby.
In fact, the baby can be affected by the bile that circulates through the woman’s body. The chance of death while still in the womb is 15% higher than diseases such as pre-eclampsia for example. So making an early diagnosis as soon as symptoms appear is very important. The biggest question for experts is why the risk of fetal death is higher. Bile is thought to contribute to placental failure as well as to mature prematurely causing calcifications. As most cases of obstetric cholestasis occur at the end of pregnancy , the doctor may choose to deliver and ease and even zero out the possibilities of an unexpected event.
We must remember that not every itch in pregnancy is obstetric cholestasis. This is a rare disease that affects pregnant women. Most cases of itching are mild and the condition of the skin stretches due to the increase in the belly and also blood circulation. But it is advisable if you feel any itching, different itching, to seek your obstetrician to start the investigation.
To help reduce the symptoms of obstetric cholestasis, the pregnant woman can wear light clothes, use calming creams for the skin based on marigold, calamine lotions and also take lukewarm baths and not with hot or immersion water.
A tip for pregnant women: do you want to improve the pleasure of sex during the gestational phase? Use water-based lubricating gels that play the role of cervical mucus and still control vaginal pH, reducing the chances of proliferation of fungi and bacteria responsible for infections. Famivita has developed the perfect lubricant for pregnant women and pregnant women, the FamiGel . You can buy it here in our online store.
See also: What Causes Urinary Infection? Does it hinder getting pregnant?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
