My name is Taylor Dehner. I am a registered nurse with a background in Critical Care, but after having my itchy baby, I decided to make the switch to Labor and Delivery!

Around the time I was 22 weeks pregnant I started to experience itching that would not go away. It was generalized, so my OB office wasn’t too concerned, but they did agree to check my bile acids. At this time, I knew nothing about Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) and was trusting that my provider would do what was best. My bile acids came back to normal and ICP was ruled out.

The itching persisted and continued to become more intense. My provider agreed to check my bile acids again and they had gotten to 9, just below diagnosable levels. As the weeks went on, they thought it could be something hormonal or even dermatologic and they referred me to a dermatologist. By this point, I had found ICP Care and was convinced I was experiencing Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy.

Finally at 30 weeks my provider agreed to treat me as if I had ICP despite my bile acid levels. I was so itchy that I was barely sleeping and couldn’t function for many of my normal day to day activities. I was started on Urso and began weekly NSTs. Two weeks later, my bile acids finally spiked to a diagnosable level. It is a weird feeling to be relieved to have a diagnosis like ICP, but I had felt crazy for 10 weeks and I finally had validation.

Fast forward to 37 weeks- I was induced and welcomed my itchy baby, Charlotte, into the world! She was born perfectly healthy with no signs of meconium in her amniotic sac or other complications that can come with ICP.

Now in my new role working in Labor and Delivery I get to see many of the providers that I saw while pregnant. I hope to create a dialogue with the providers about Cholestasis and how it can present differently in different patients and at different points in their pregnancy. I am eager to share ICP Care with them and continue to educate and advocate.