How can I get rid of the itchiness?
In the third trimester of pregnancy, 20 percent of women experience itchiness all over their bodies. Fortunately, in most cases it’s due to excessively dry skin [1]. Your body needs a lot of fluid to provide for both you and your baby. Just remember to drink water and usually that's enough to get rid of the itch.
Atopic dermatitis is also a common cause of itching; while it does not affect your baby, it could give you a lot of trouble [1]. To relieve this, doctors recommend an increase in fiber and reduction in sugars to regulate the bowels and get rid of constipation. Cultured milk products, like yogurt, can be helpful.
However, itchy skin can also be a symptom of dangerous complications [2]. Therefore, if your hands and feet itch, or if itchy blisters appear on your body, you should definitely call your doctor.
Itching may indicate, for example, intrahepatic cholestasis, the most common liver disease that occurs during pregnancy. Under the influence of estrogens, the level of liver acids in the blood serum increases, causing unbearable scabies. A high level of bile acids, which is extremely unpleasant for the mother, can be fatal to the baby. If cholestasis occurs, it is sometimes necessary to induce labor at 35-37 weeks [3].
Many people look to changes in diet as remedies for liver disease [4], but, unfortunately, there is no convincing evidence that diet can at least alleviate cholestasis in pregnant women [1, 2, 3]. In most cases, this disease is caused by hormonal and genetic factors, which can not be changed with a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition; medication will be required.
