PUPPS

[shell0209]

Has anyone had this during their pregnancy? The itching is driving me crazy, I can't sleep. The dr was talking about inducing me but he didn't say when I don't know how much longer I can put up with it nothing seems to help, any tips. I have used about 3 different lotions fragrance free, hydrocortozone cream, showers, warm baths and no relief. Please help if you can.

[Slkv]

Hi all! I suffered from PUPPS when i was on my third trimester. My doc had my bloodwork done, thinking it could be a gall bladder problem.. Thank goodness it wasnt. She prescribed countless topical creams and oral benadryl for the PUPPS. Nothing worked. Epsom salt bath gave temporary relief. Finally, i saw DANDELION ROOT capsule recommended by a number pf moms in one the online fora. IT RELIEVED ME of my itchiness after five days of taking the capsule once daily. We bought it at GNC for less than $15. I stopped taking it after i delivered my baby.

[alaysha]

I got it at about 26+ weeks. I know it was before 30 and I cried because I didnt want to have to deal with it again. They think it might have been cholestasis my first pregnancy because you don't usually get puppp in two pregnancies but if you get cholestasis in your first then there is a 70% chance you'll get it again. They took a blood test to test for it to see if a whole bunch of levels came back elevated (which they did) common procedure is to induce after 37 weeks in that case since it can be dangerous to the baby. I had to get numerous ultrasounds and non stress tests. It can also effect vitamin absorption which is why I believe my symptoms lessened when I stopped taking the iron suppliment. At 37 weeks even though they were still slightly elevated they weren't as high and because baby was measuring small they chose to not induce since baby was safer in there than out.

[zazou]

It is totally unbearable especially when you are itching like crazy all over, are sleep deprived and need your strength to go through labour. For alot of women nothing helps to get rid of the itchiness except inducing labour. In the 20 years of midwifery, my midwife never saw something like mine and she is against inducing and said it was better in my case (we induced 8 days prior to EDD).

It is normal to have an itching belly during pregnancy, but with PUPPS you have small welts or blisters, spots over your body, that's what I had and many other women do.

Alaysha - when did your cholestasis start in your second pregnancy? How did they monitor you? Did they check our liver enzymes? When did the itchiness start? Sorry I am curious as I am pregnant again and am afraid of getting the itchiness again. BTW my liver enzymes were elevated post-partum so maybe it was cholestasis in my case, and perhaps in yours with the first pregnancy.

[shell0209]

I read that they induce because its unbearable and as you can see nothing seems to help except to give birth. They have talking about inducing me since before this showed up I had an u/s in June and the baby was measuring almost a pound over and they don't want him to get too big since it is my first. I now have sores, I must of itched a part open in my sleep. I would just bring up the itching to your dr and see what they say cause it could be something else as well as PUPPS i guess usually start on the stomach and then spread from there.

[MandyPriess]

Why would they induce you if it's PUPPS? I know NOTHING about it, but my hands and feet have been itching like CRAZY the past couple of weeks to the point I have sores. I haven't mentioned it to my doctor because I read it can happen during pregnancy, but is it harmful? Or would they just induce because it's unbearable (reason enough for me!) I'm just making sure I don't need to tell my doctor about it.

[shell0209]

I am 36 almost 37 weeks, the dr has not tested my liver it just started to itch 2 maybe 3 weeks ago so it hasn't really spread that far yet. Its just on my belly and in between my breasts. I am not on iron supplements and I go through a tube of hyrocortozone a week, prob would go through it faster but I alternate with aveeno oatmeal lotion they help for about 5 mins. I already know that the baby is big and I hope when I tell him I can't sleep it will make his final decision to induce soon. The baby is down and I have started to dialate. I ran into a girl today getting induced and nothing is wrong with her, her dr is going on vacation. Here are the ones who suffer and they wait til the end to do anything to help.

[alaysha]

Oh my gosh I had it during my first pregnancy and it was the most horrible thing I have ever experianced. I had it from like 30 weeks on and swore to myself I would never get pregnant again just to avoid it. I didn't go into labor for 8 weeks after I got it and let me just say from experiance.... nothing makes it go away or stop. Nothing. I was even prescribed a steroid to rub in my belly and nothing happened. The only thing that even kinda helped for maybe 5 minutes was to put ice packs on my body. Warm water irritates it more so try not to soak too long. Also I don't know if you are taking iron suppliments but if you are maybe stop for a day or two and see what happens. With my second I got the appearance of puppp again but it was cholestasis (since puppp rarely happens in subsequent pregnancies) and one of the symptoms is that your body can't process iron or something like that and it reacts in you breaking out in a rash. I stopped taking my iron and it cleared up a couple days later.

[zazou]

How far are you during the pregnancy? Are you sure it is PUPPS or did you get your liver enzyme levels tested for cholestasis? I was diagnose with PUPPS during my first pregnancy and it drove me mad, nothing helped, not even cortisone or bathing in dead sea empson salts and so many other things I tried. I didn't sleep properly for a week prior to being induced. I cslled my midwife and cried and begged to get induced, I just couldn't handle it, it got between my fingers and toes. My daughter was HUGE when born, one week early at 56 cm and 4060 grams.

PUPPS starts during the third trimester, if you've been itching for most of the pregnancy then it may be something else. My liver enzymes were increased post-partum and so I will have to get mine controlled soon. If you haven't got yours done get them done ASAP to get a final diagnosis. How long do you have to go? I got induced at 38 weeks 6 days. It's terrible, I can sooooo sympathise with you, I'm terrified of getting it again this pregnanc. Was such a nightmare.

[shell0209]

ya I have, the dr told me it was pupps but he didn't say anything else about it. I hope after my final u/s on wed they will set my induction date. They have been leaning towards it for awhile now since apparently I am having a big baby I can't wait it has been smooth sailing for me the whole time up until about a month ago. I am ready to meet the little guy

[jtaylor102481]

i have had icthing this whole time and they keep telling me  it isnt pupps rash even though it is all over my body  ( belly  and arms are the worst)  I have u tried oatmeal baths like aveeno it may help