Cholestasis is a liver condition that generally occurs near the final stages of pregnancy. It causes intense itching — generally on feet and hands — which gets worse over time. If you experience this kind of itching, don’t immediately assume it’s cholestasis, which is rare; instead, talk to your doctor. Hispanic women and women with certain medical conditions have higher risks of developing cholestasis. Cholestasis can cause various complications with births, so careful monitoring of the pregnancy will be necessary.

Key Takeaways:

• Cholestasis is when a pregnant woman experiences intense itching of the skin usually during the third trimester, due to a liver condition.
• While itchy skin throughout pregnancy is a very common occurrence, cholestasis is actually quite rare.
• Hispanic women, those with Hepatitis C, and women who went through IVF all have a greater risk of contracting cholestasis.

“Cholestasis of pregnancy causes intense itching, primarily on the palms and soles of the feet, though the itching can spread to other parts of the body. The itching is reportedly more intense at night, after sunset.”

Read more: https://www.mamanatural.com/cholestasis-of-pregnancy/