Urticaria (hives) & pregnancy

[mrspotter]

I am 12 weeks pregnant and for the last couple of days have had hives (cold urticaria I think it is called). I recognise it because the rash and feeling is exactly as it was when I was started taking the contraceptive pill twelve years ago. I stopped taking the pill once I'd realised it was this that was causing the hives all over my body. Now I am concerned that my pregnancy hives is caused by one of the natural hormones oestrogen or progesterone as the levels of these increase during pregnancy I have been told. I think these hormones are also in the contraceptive pill.

Does anyone have any experience of this? I am concerned it will get worse as the hormone levels increase. Currently it is only on my hands but when I developed it before it spread all over my body particularly my thighs but also my face and chest and my hands and feet were swollen and numb.

Any help or advice would be appreciated

[laubella24]

I too am looking to get pregnant in the next 4-6 months.  I have had trouble with hives from time to time for about 15 years.  However it seems like some of the hives in this discussion are on the surface, referred to as lesions.  Mine are itchy on the surface but they swell tremendously.  For example one may start on my hip the size of an m&m and then end up wrapping half way around my body.  They are hot to the touch and ache.  There is not open wound however & it feels as though they also swell on the inside. Anyway, in the past when I have had a severe occurrence, I would visit the ER and they would give me prednisone, a steroid/miracle that worked like a charm.  BC my only known allergy is red dye, I cannot take non-drowsy benedryl, only the clear liquid gels that put me into a coma.  The prednisone is the only thing that helps my body combat these reactions.  Naturally I imagine this isn’t safe while pregnant, and the above comments have provided me comfort that I am not along, I just want to figure out if mine hives are like all of yours.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

[RachelleBeth]

Hi girls,
I am a 26 yr old who is looking to get pregnant in about 4 months and i have chronic hives, ive had them for about 4 or 5 years, but they never used to bother me much because it would only be the odd two or three mosquito bite size hives, although about 18 months ago they suddenly got heaps worse, covering my  upper arms, chest and face cheeks. I see an immunologist every 3 months who helped me get a combination of antihistamines that would keep the hives at bay. They are still there though. Anyway, because i want to get pregnant next year, and i dont want to take any drugs during my pregnancy is possible, i needed an action plan to get rid of these hives! So i found this blog which has really helped me. I started taking 3 zantacs (Ranitidine) which is for stomach acid/ulcers instead of the occasional 1, im having 1 or 2 zyrtecs (Cetirizine) and telfasts (fexofenadine), and now i have added having the cough syrup version of benadrl (Diphenhydramine 50mg) at night, because of this blog. But after this story, the thing i wanted to share is that i bought two antihistamine nasal sprays (Triamcinolone acetonide)&(Azelastine hydrochloride/Sodium Chloride), and sprayed and rubbed these into my skin where im effected by the hives, after doing this for 3 days i have noticed a dramatic reduction! in fact i have not had any new hives come up at all. And i would say that putting the spray on your skin would be alot safer than taking pills during pregnancy. Worth a try anyway! I am hopefull that i can get my hives knocked on the head before i get pregnant. Good luck to you all!
Rachelle xxx

[tara408]

Hi
This is tara from Mumbai .. I've have a history of urticaria and i din take any medication for that. It comes and goes...once in a while i take avil when its severe..
and then when i was married he insisted to look for a solution .. and then we found out there is no permanent cure for this in allopathy..
so we went to a homeopathic doctor .. and after taking those medicines it has reduced a lot .. this again is a long term medication without any side effects ..
    Now i'm 11 weeks and i'm still taking these medicines .. its safe for the foetus ..
http://urticaria.com

hope this  helps
with regards
   Tara

[traceysean]

i didnt think so many people had this.im 5 weeks pregnant i cant sleep am worried sick about this. is there any natural remedies please help me i cant take much more of this its spreading up towards my face now help

[sheher]

hi everyone.....i am 5 weeks pregnent and i do have allergy history since past 4 years..it normally appears at the begning of summer and stays till 2 or 3 months..i use to take steriods because my face or any place where i got those rashes stars deforming....but now i have them since 10 days and im affraid to take any medicen because i've been trying to concived past 2 years and now i became pregnant but these rashes are so unbearable....im only putting calamine on them but it works for an hour or so.......plz help if anyone could do

[iamommy2many]

I am about 4-5 weeks pregnant. This is my 9th pregnancy. Never before have I had a reaction like this. Yesterday I started itching on my back then it moved to my face and neck. It just kept getting worse and I get hives shortly after the itching starts. It was night time so I couldn't go get any Benadryl. I get relief but when it wears off it just comes back. I didn't get any sleep! I can not go on the entire pregnancy like this. I have 7 kids with the youngest being 8 months old. I need my sleep!