Why is it pregnant?

Itchy abdominal skin is a fairly common occurrence in pregnant women. It can be caused by various reasons, both completely harmless physiological and quite dangerous. These include changes in hormonal levels, allergies, or serious diseases such as hepatitis and cholecystitis, etc. If itching is caused by harmless causes, it is relatively easy to get rid of. But if itching is a symptom of a dangerous disease, then only going to the doctor can help, and immediately.

Reasons for itching your stomach

Women complain of itching in the abdomen, starting from the very first trimester and up to childbirth. So, we consider the factors that can become the reason why a pregnant woman can itch her stomach:

• With the growth of the uterus on the abdomen skin is stretched, as a result of which it begins to itch. The more elastic the woman’s skin, the less likely itching is. Very often, itching is a sign that stretch marks will appear soon. Stretch marks are red or pink scars on the skin of the abdomen. Burst capillaries give this color. But it often happens that there is an itch, and then stretch marks do not appear. This suggests that the pregnant woman has very elastic skin;
• Allergy. During pregnancy, the female body is very sensitive to allergens. And this is even if the woman did not suffer from allergies before pregnancy. In case of allergies, clothing should be worn only from natural fabrics, and laundry detergent should not contain phosphates. The use of cosmetics should be minimized. Only products that do not contain perfumes and chemicals are allowed. Itching can be a reaction to certain cosmetics, despite the fact that before pregnancy a woman used them without consequences;
• Hormonal background. At the time of pregnancy, a hormonal explosion occurs. Therefore, often, itching of the abdomen simply indicates hormonal changes. Some girls even believe in such a sign - if the stomach itches, then pregnancy has come;
• Dermatosis. In this case, in addition to the itching of the stomach, a rash appears. Dermatosis can be caused by prickly heat, viral infections, vitamin deficiency, scabies and the allergy we already mentioned. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor;
• Serious diseases of internal organs (gall bladder, kidney and liver). Sometimes itching can be a symptom of such dangerous diseases as pancreatitis, hepatitis, gestosis, cholecystitis and cholestasis. In this case, the doctor should be consulted immediately. If itching is caused by these diseases, then it manifests itself in late pregnancy, from about 38 weeks. If you do not consult a doctor on time, then serious damage will be caused to your health. In addition, harm can be done to the health of the future baby, up to his death. Very often, in such cases, doctors stimulate preterm delivery. This is done so that the baby does not die.If itching is associated with impaired liver function, then it can go beyond localization in the abdomen and go to the back, chest, legs and arms. By night, such an itch intensifies and can turn into a burning sensation. In case of cholestasis, the hands and feet itch most of all. Cholestasis most often appears in pregnant women with a predisposition to gallstone disease, suffering from chronic cholecystitis and having previously had hepatitis A. If there is a suspicion of liver disease, appropriate tests (bilirubin, ALT, AST, blood chemistry for biochemistry) should be done.

What to do

First you need to inform the supervisor. After carrying out the necessary studies, it will become clear what caused this itching. That is, whether it is an ordinary physiological phenomenon or is it a symptom of any pathology. If the second, then the woman should be ready to spend the rest of the pregnancy under the supervision of doctors in the hospital.

To increase the elasticity of the skin and combat its dryness, a pregnant woman must use moisturizing oils and creams. The skin of the abdomen and hips should be looked after from the very early stages of pregnancy. It’s best to use repeatedly tested olive oil. It contains enough vitamin E and antioxidants. Olive oil contains many components necessary for nourishing the skin. When applying oil 2 times a day, the problem of abdominal itching will be resolved. In addition, stretch marks will be prevented. The composition of both cream and oil should contain only natural ingredients. They should not contain chemical additives and preservatives.

During pregnancy, a woman should wear clothes that “breathe”. For example, cotton. During pregnancy, clothes should be washed only with such powders that do not have phosphates. Cases of intolerance of expectant mothers of woolen and synthetic fabrics are frequent. Therefore, do not wear annoying clothes. For example, synthetic underwear and underwear that is too tight to the body.

As for food, you need to reduce the number of foods that can trigger an allergic reaction. These are strawberries, peanuts, seafood, citrus fruits, chocolate. In general, it is not worth eating a lot of exotic products. A pregnant woman should take special complexes of vitamins and minerals, her diet should be as diverse and complete as possible. It should consist of cereals, fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish, meat and dairy products. Fried, salty, spicy and fatty foods should be excluded from the menu. This will improve the functioning of the liver. Prunes and dried apricots must be present in the diet.

A pregnant woman should not neglect personal hygiene. She should systematically change her underwear and take a shower. Shower with hypoallergenic products. Use only a personal towel. The seats in the restrooms located in public places should be covered with a napkin.

Finally, it should be noted that in most cases, over time, the stomach ceases to itch by itself.