Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Many women experience stretch marks, swollen feet, and weird cravings during pregnancy. But what about extreme itching? Called cholestasis, this liver problem can develop in a mother while she is carrying a baby. The baby can suffer serious repercussions as well.
Cholestasis is a disorder that only affects pregnant women. This is because a woman’s body produces a large number of hormones during her nine months of pregnancy. These elevated hormone levels can interfere with the normal processes of the gallbladder, which is in charge of regulating the bile in your body. With cholestasis, the gallbladder is prevented from releasing bile. It is the backed up in the liver, where the bile is created. A buildup of bile acid in the liver can spill over and lead to toxins in the bloodstream.
Symptoms of Cholestasis
It is essential for a woman to recognize the signs of cholestasis, as it can lead to severe health issues in her child. Some symptoms of the ailment include:
- Extreme itching, especially on the hands and feet
- Dark urine
- Light-colored feces
- Fatigue
- Decreased interest in food
- Depression
- Nausea
- Jaundice
Treating Cholestasis
After doctors diagnose a mother with cholestasis, they may choose to give her a topical anti-itch medication to treat the number one symptom of the disease. Additionally, they may prescribe medications to help decrease the amount of bile in the body. Lastly, they can give her steroids to help develop the baby’s lungs so that it can be induced.
Cholestasis can cause fetal distress, premature birth, or even stillbirth. Therefore, doctors should seriously consider inducing a baby as soon as its lungs are developed so that it does not have liver strain as well.
Contact Us
If doctors fail to induce labor when necessary, there are a number of things that can go wrong with a baby. For more information on birth injuries and the law, contact a Philadelphia birth injury lawyer from Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today by calling 215-238-1130.