My husband and I have a bustling household with our three kids (all ICP pregnancies) Lillian, Gemma, and Iver. It was a long journey of starting a family as we struggled getting pregnant and having miscarriages before having my rainbow baby, Lillian, in June 2016. Overall, I had a healthy pregnancy with her until I started itching around 35 weeks pregnant. I thought the itching was from the summer heat, but it was so relentless where I couldn’t sleep and constantly thought bugs were crawling all over my body. Then at my 37 week appointment, I couldn’t take it anymore and finally mentioned the itching to my doctor thinking there was a “magic” cream she could give to provide relief. Thankfully, my doctor was well-versed in ICP and sent me to the lab for bloodwork as a precaution. Then four days later, I received a call when the results came back with Bile Acid levels elevated and was told to come in immediately for a NST and was induced that night. I had no idea what ICP was and never heard of it before my diagnosis.

After I had my oldest, I wanted more answers about this condition and stumbled upon icpcare.org and the ICP Care Facebook Community, which was so important for after-care support and vital with my next two pregnancies to have that level of support and community. A friend of mine, who I ran track and field with in college, also had ICP around the same time I did so we were able to support each other during our pregnancies in addition to the resources that ICP Care provided for us. The more I talked about my journey with other moms, friends, and family I learned that I was not alone and was grateful to have a MFM, a supportive doctor, and the ICP Care Community to get me through the physical and emotional toll that ICP can bring.

In 2012, I graduated from Dakota State University with a degree in Business Marketing and a minor in Graphic Design / Art. I interned at a nonprofit before I graduated and fell in love with the mission of nonprofits and have mainly been in that industry since then. I recently worked as a Marketing & Events Manager for a nonprofit, Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation, to build partnerships and fundraise for breast cancer patients and their families. I am currently a stay-at-home-mom and love helping out my community and spreading awareness about ICP. I am happy to bring my nonprofit marketing experience and talents to further reach and advocate for others regarding ICP. It is an honor to be part of such a fabulous organization that loves moms, while advocating for their babies. The information that ICP Care provided for me and friends that experienced symptoms is remarkable with navigating this condition that is not routinely tested for. Let’s advocate together for moms and babies together.