Aa
Urticaria (hives) & pregnancy
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
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
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the forum! Congratulations too!!
There are some rashes associated with pregnancy like Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP), Prurigo of pregnancy, Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy, and Pemphigoid gestationis. PUPPP is the most common, however it is seen more on stretch marks and usually during the third trimester. If you have gained a lot of weight during your pregnancy then this is a possibility. Prurigo of pregnancy is a similar condition. These conditions are harmless both for mother and baby. Steroid creams & ointments, moisturizing creams, wet soaks, calamine lotions are usually enough to control both. Pemphigoid gestationis is an autoimmune rash, disappears with end of pregnancy, may flare up just before delivery, and can affect the baby. This needs to be diagnosed early for proper care during pregnancy. Consult your gynecologist once regarding this.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Welcome to the forum! Congratulations too!!
There are some rashes associated with pregnancy like Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP), Prurigo of pregnancy, Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy, and Pemphigoid gestationis. PUPPP is the most common, however it is seen more on stretch marks and usually during the third trimester. If you have gained a lot of weight during your pregnancy then this is a possibility. Prurigo of pregnancy is a similar condition. These conditions are harmless both for mother and baby. Steroid creams & ointments, moisturizing creams, wet soaks, calamine lotions are usually enough to control both. Pemphigoid gestationis is an autoimmune rash, disappears with end of pregnancy, may flare up just before delivery, and can affect the baby. This needs to be diagnosed early for proper care during pregnancy. Consult your gynecologist once regarding this.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
I am 28 weeks pregant and have had hives fro the past 4 weeks and they dont look to be going away any time soon. I had hives about three years ago (never figured out what triggered it) that lasted for three months. This time, the first two weeks were absolutely terrible: i was crying every night because of the pain and couldnt sleep (they're always far worse at night). The only relief was cold showers and my husband putting pressure on my skin, but honestly nothing really made it better. I went to the doctor and he prescribed anti histamines and it's been a lot better. I still get hives (mainly in afternoon/ night), but they're more manageable. i was nervous about taking antihistamines because of hurting the baby, but i really cant live without them and I cant spend the next three months permanently in a cold shower. I've also been doing reiki and yoga and trying to relax as much as possible. It's so frustrating, looks ugly, hurts and is very draining.
I had sent a post last week that I had broken out in hives and whelps all over my body and that the only rationale that I could think of was that I could possibly be pregnant. As of today, I am 5 weeks!! I wanted to give an update so that if there are any other women out there who are suffering miserably with itchy, whelpy hives and you think it could be related to pregnancy, you could be right on track!
Even if your doctor thinks you are "nuts" for your rationale, go with your "gut feeling." You know your body better than anyone!
I am taking Tagamet and Zyrtec and it has really helped with the itching. I still break out in hives and itch, but the discomfort is controllable. From what everyone else has said and from what I have read, there is a strong possibility that this could last the entire pregnancy. The end result will be worth it! I just hope there is a plentiful supply of Tagamet available!
Best Wishes!
Even if your doctor thinks you are "nuts" for your rationale, go with your "gut feeling." You know your body better than anyone!
I am taking Tagamet and Zyrtec and it has really helped with the itching. I still break out in hives and itch, but the discomfort is controllable. From what everyone else has said and from what I have read, there is a strong possibility that this could last the entire pregnancy. The end result will be worth it! I just hope there is a plentiful supply of Tagamet available!
Best Wishes!
I was so glad to find this web sight and to read your stories! I started off three days ago with itchy soles on the bottom of my feet and palms of my hands. The itchiness has gotten worse everyday along with the swelling, whelps and hives. This morning I went to the ED because my hands and feet were swelling so bad and I have now developed whelps and hives on the bottoms of my feet, upper thighs, scalp or anywhere that I scratch.The hives were so large on my feet that I could barley walk.
There is a strong possibility that I am pregnant, but it is too early to detect on a home pregnancy test. I called my OBGYN and she thinks I am nuts (thinking this could be related to pregnancy). I didn't even mention this to the ED doctor because I didn't want him to think I had lost my mind either.
I have NEVER been allergic to anything in my life. Nothing that I am doing is different. I am not eating any different foods, not using different laundry detergent, not taking any new medications, etc...Other than possibly being pregnant, I am at a loss (I did not have this with my first pregnancy). After reading several of your entries I am thinking that I might could be on the right track and that maybe this condition is due to increasing level of hormones.
Would anyone else agree with me in that it is possible for me to have broken out in these hives PRIOR to knowing for sure if I was pregnant?
To top this off, I am a nurse. So, naturally I am trying to diagnose myself. I feel quite stupid in my rationale, but something is telling me this can really be related to a possible pregnancy. If I could just connect the dots and find the cause. I don't think I can do a home pregnancy test for a least two more days. I may be dead by then if I don't get this itching under control.
Your response would be greatly appreciated!
There is a strong possibility that I am pregnant, but it is too early to detect on a home pregnancy test. I called my OBGYN and she thinks I am nuts (thinking this could be related to pregnancy). I didn't even mention this to the ED doctor because I didn't want him to think I had lost my mind either.
I have NEVER been allergic to anything in my life. Nothing that I am doing is different. I am not eating any different foods, not using different laundry detergent, not taking any new medications, etc...Other than possibly being pregnant, I am at a loss (I did not have this with my first pregnancy). After reading several of your entries I am thinking that I might could be on the right track and that maybe this condition is due to increasing level of hormones.
Would anyone else agree with me in that it is possible for me to have broken out in these hives PRIOR to knowing for sure if I was pregnant?
To top this off, I am a nurse. So, naturally I am trying to diagnose myself. I feel quite stupid in my rationale, but something is telling me this can really be related to a possible pregnancy. If I could just connect the dots and find the cause. I don't think I can do a home pregnancy test for a least two more days. I may be dead by then if I don't get this itching under control.
Your response would be greatly appreciated!
Hi
Just to say thank you so much for your post I am so glad that I am not the only one who is allergic to the pill and I completely understand what you are saying about your doc looking at you like you are crazy. I first had hives from the pill when I was 19 and I tried four different ones and all gave me the hives. As soon as I came off them the hives stopped. All the doctors I spoke to didn't seem to believe me or thought it was something else. It is definitely the pill that caused it but it must be very rare. On the positive I had a baby boy in Sept 2008 and my pregnancy wasn't that bad. My advice would be to plan as best as possible to be pregnant in the summer although obviously it isn't that easy to plan this but I am sure that is why my hives wasn't too bad as in the colder months it was awful but then it calmed down as it got warmer and only on colder days did it flare up again. It didn't affect my baby at all, well not that I am aware of. Good luck with your pregnancy!!!
Just to say thank you so much for your post I am so glad that I am not the only one who is allergic to the pill and I completely understand what you are saying about your doc looking at you like you are crazy. I first had hives from the pill when I was 19 and I tried four different ones and all gave me the hives. As soon as I came off them the hives stopped. All the doctors I spoke to didn't seem to believe me or thought it was something else. It is definitely the pill that caused it but it must be very rare. On the positive I had a baby boy in Sept 2008 and my pregnancy wasn't that bad. My advice would be to plan as best as possible to be pregnant in the summer although obviously it isn't that easy to plan this but I am sure that is why my hives wasn't too bad as in the colder months it was awful but then it calmed down as it got warmer and only on colder days did it flare up again. It didn't affect my baby at all, well not that I am aware of. Good luck with your pregnancy!!!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria Community
Learn to identify and prevent bites from summer’s most common pests.
Doctors argue for legislation to curb this dangerous teen trend in the latest Missouri Medicine report.
10 ways to keep your skin healthy all winter long
How to get rid of lumpy fat on your arms, hips, thighs and bottom
Diet “do’s” and “don’ts” for healthy, radiant skin.
Images of rashes caused by common skin conditions
