Hello, my name is Kaitlyn Tuckey and I am currently pregnant with my 4th son!

I have experienced Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) in 3 of my 4 pregnancies. I first got ICP with my 2nd pregnancy in 2022. My symptoms started at roughly 32 weeks as RUQ pain and nausea/vomiting with itching to follow the following week. It took until 36 weeks to finally get tested after explaining the severity of my itching, particularly at night. I got diagnostic levels back at 37 weeks and was induced the same night. In my 3rd pregnancy (2nd ICP pregnancy) my symptoms started much earlier at roughly 16 weeks with the itching. Levels fluctuated and continued to trend up and MFM diagnosed at 25 weeks based on history, symptoms and labs trending up. I was induced with him at 36 weeks due to the increase in symptom severity. After my 2nd ICP pregnancy my symptoms remained cyclical. With my 4th pregnancy (3rd ICP pregnancy) my symptoms were very noticeable and classic ICP symptoms around 10 weeks. At 20 weeks, my levels trended up to 9 and MFM and my OB agreed to diagnose as ICP and treat it. Even with ursodiol management my levels still trended up enough to be diagnostic at 32 weeks. The plan is, as of now to induce at 37weeks.

After having ICP several times and not knowing anything about it beforehand, I look forward to being able to inform women of itching during pregnancy. Always better to mention the itch and get tested than to ignore it and miss an ICP diagnosis. I find it very important to educate and inform expectant mothers of ICP because even now, it’s not commonly known about. ICP care has been such a valuable resource for me during my pregnancies, and I hope others find it valuable as well.