My first diagnosis was in 2008. I presented with itchy palms at approx. 30/32 weeks. My OB at the time actually had no idea what was going on and seemed very distraught. I remember her saying “I’ve never seen this before but I remember reading about it in school, let me do a little more research”. I remember agonizing nights where I would sit in a hot shower with oatmeal paste caked onto my hands and feet. I would scratch my feet so hard across the carpet it felt like it was burning! She wanted to start me on an antibiotic and it wasn’t until around 34/35 week, we start any kind of Ursodiol medicine and that’s when we scheduled the induction at 37 weeks. My lucky baby 06/07/08.
The second baby was diagnosed around 34 weeks and I went into the doctor with the knowledge of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy with the help from the ICP Care website and other moms’ stories. We started Ursodiol right away and it kept the symptoms mild until induction, the difference with this baby was I would have breakouts more than just my hands and feet. I’d get flare ups on my belly or neck to shoulder region. Anti itch lotions and oatmeal baths all over again! The baby was born and presented with meconium in the water and trouble breathing. Still went home happy and healthy the next day!
My third baby was a whole different ball game. Still came into it with knowledge and a game plan. Ursodiol the minute my bile salts were elevated and a larger dose this time. The symptoms were very mild this time around and presented still around 34 but because all my test results were within reasonable levels because we knew of the condition my OB let me go longer than 37 weeks. We did constant monitoring of the baby paying attention to activity levels. Itch levels were very mild but nerve pain in the legs and feet were out of this world. By 39 weeks it was time to go. There were no concerns whatsoever. Baby came vaginally just fine, maybe a little struggle, a slight tug with the vacuum and viola. She had some trouble breathing to start. I remember whining but no burst of cries. They put her on oxygen and antibiotics. After 30 minutes my placenta still hadn’t released. At 35 min it finally came but there was a chunk missing. Placenta Previa is what she called it. She said she was going to reach up and try to scrape it. It was then I saw and felt the demeanor in the room change. She said they had to take me for a D&C. I, not knowing the severity, joked about taking the whole thing since this was our last anyways. I remember laying on the table and looking up at the anesthesiologist and asking “am I gonna die?”. Some antifibrinolytic drugs and a hysterectomy later. I had hemorrhaged and lost 4 pints of blood. My hemoglobin was 8.8, platelets were 53! I was teetering on the edge of DIC and bleeding out. My small-town hospital only had 2 pints on hand – for the entire hospital. The Red Cross flew in blood and the hospital flew me out to a bigger city hospital. 48 hours later I was able to meet my baby girl.
Read her local news story here: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/minnesota-troopers-make-lifesaving-delivery-to-woman-giving-birth/
