Ask the Pros
Birth Plans
Birth Stories
Bookstore
Boy or Girl
Cesareans
Chat Room
Complications
Doulas
Educators
Episiotomy
FAQs
Feeding Baby
Fertility
Finding a Class
Health
Interactive
Labor
Message Board
Monitoring
Newborns
Postcards
Postpartum
Pregnancy
Reviews/Awards
Search
VBAC
Week by Week

Ask A Midwife

Q. I've been suffering with an incredible case of ithcy skin for several weeks. I'm fairly far along in my pregnancy. I've asked my doctor about this and he told me it was a normal liver condition. What I need to know is if there is any remidy or safe reliever I can try besides topical creams and bath oils, i've tried everything on the market. Am I missing something simple in my diet or doing something else wrong??? Any advice would be of help and grately appreceiated. A. There is a liver condition called cholestasis which can be serious in pregnancy. There are also plenty of women who, because of increased hormones, itch a lot in pregnancy. You might find some relief with additional B-vitamins, a deficiency of which may cause additional itchiness. There are medications that may help--an antihistamine like Benadryl--but the advisability of medications must be discussed with your midwife or doctor.

Vickii Gervais is a Certified Professional Midwife who has attended over 600 births.