My name is Ali Preston and I am an Illinois Ambassador for ICP Care. My journey began in 2022 when I started experiencing extreme itching (hands, feet and legs) at 25 weeks during my first pregnancy. I was diagnosed with COVID a few days prior to the itching beginning and thought it was a strange symptom of COVID. Thankfully, a nurse friend told me I needed to request blood work ASAP because it could be a symptom of something more serious. Within a week, my OB diagnosed me with a mild case of ICP (BAs 13) and I was meeting with maternal fetal medicine for monitoring and prescribed Ursodiol. Once on medication and over COVID, I was fortunate that my symptoms nearly disappeared. I delivered a healthy baby boy at 37+1 in August 2022.

Fast forward to 2024 and I was pregnant again, but this time I was equipped with the knowledge of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy and prepared to face it again. I started experiencing mild itching around 20 weeks, but for weeks my bile acid tests came back below 10. By 26 weeks, I had extreme itching, worse than my first pregnancy. At 27 weeks, I was diagnosed with a severe case of ICP with BAs at 197.9. The itching was relentless this time, and my maternal fetal medicine doctor increased my Ursodiol dosage twice before I found any relief, although my itching never went away for the remainder of the pregnancy. I was also on a high dose of progesterone for a hemorrhage throughout this pregnancy, and progesterone has been shown to play a role in the development of ICP. So, I had two things working against me: history of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy and progesterone supplements. Thankfully, with close monitoring, I was able to deliver a healthy baby girl at 36+1. My ICP symptoms continued for a few days post-delivery, and my liver enzymes are still being tested and monitored post-partum.

My goal as an ICP Care Ambassador is to raise awareness of what Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy is and help others advocate for themselves for the testing and treatment of ICP. I was lucky to have a nurse friend first warn me of the seriousness of the itching and even more fortunate to have a knowledgeable care team at my OB office and MFM. I hope to help other women have the same confidence in their care team and treatment plan throughout their pregnancy while also being a sounding board to those experiencing ICP symptoms.

News Story Carle Health: ICP patient thankful for pregnancy care at Carle BroMenn Medical Center