Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

Itching is a normal complaint during pregnancy, with a great number of women experiencing the urge to scratch at some point before they give birth. Often the itching is caused by the stretching of skin as it tightens over the growing uterus, or by the effects of certain hormones during pregnancy. Rarely, however, itching during pregnancy can be a symptom of a very serious liver disorder, known as Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy.

Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy, or ICP, is a condition that results when the flow of bile from the liver becomes abnormal, resulting in a build-up of bile acids in the mother's blood. It begins most often in the third trimester of pregnancy, but some women begin developing symptoms as early as the first trimester. According to the March of Dimes, approximately seven out of every 1,000 pregnant women will develop ICP in the United States. This liver disorder does not harm the mother's health, but can be very dangerous to the unborn child and sometimes results in premature birth, hemorrhaging, or even stillbirth. For this reason, all itching during pregnancy should be promptly reported to your obstetrician.

Symptoms of ICP:

Often, the only symptom of ICP is severe itching that progressively worsens and is most severe at night. Itching is generally more severe on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, but many women experience itching over most or all of their body. Other symptoms of this disorder include dark urine, pale stools, fatigue, loss of appetite, depression, jaundice, pain in the upper-right abdominal area, and nausea.

Diagnosis of ICP: