How to deal with itchy belly during pregnancy

Yes, mild itching in pregnancy is normal in most cases. It's also common – about 20 percent of women have itchy skin during pregnancy.

You may feel especially itchy around your belly and breasts as your skin stretches to accommodate their growth. (And yes, that includes itchy nipples, which are also common during pregnancy.) Dry skin and hormonal changes may also contribute to the extra itchiness. In the winter, dry heat (especially from radiators) can also exacerbate itching.

Some itchy skin conditions, such as eczema, can get worse during pregnancy, though some women find that their eczema improves. With psoriasis, however, many women report less severe symptoms during pregnancy, while few find that their psoriasis gets worse.

If you have a new itchy rash during pregnancy or you're experiencing severe itching on your palms or the soles of your feet, reach out to your healthcare provider – these are sometimes symptoms of more serious conditions that require medical care.

You may not be able to prevent itchy skin entirely, but these tips might minimize itching in pregnancy:

• Take lukewarm showers and baths. Hot water can dry out your skin and make the itching worse. (It's best to avoid super-hot baths when you're pregnant anyway.) Use mild, fragrance-free soap, and rinse it off well. Towel yourself dry gently.
• Stay as cool as possible. Try to avoid being outside for extended periods in the heat of the day because heat (and overheating) can make itching worse.
• Wear comfy clothing. Loose cotton clothing keeps your skin from getting irritated.
• Moisturize. Slather on fragrance-free lotion or cream after you take a shower or bath. Keep lotion in the fridge so that moisturizing your skin also feels cooling. 
• Lower your stress. Take steps to reduce stress and anxiety while you're pregnant, which, even though it may not seem connected, can actually make itching worse.

How to relieve itchy skin during pregnancy

Do your best not to scratch because it can irritate your skin further and increase the risk of skin infections. If you're itching because of dry, stretched skin, these simple measures can give you some relief:

• Apply cold. Put an ice pack or a cool, wet compress on itchy areas for five to ten minutes, or until the itch fades.
• Moisturize. Lotions and creams that are free of fragrances are best. Pure aloe vera gel applied directly to itchy areas may also provide some temporary relief.
• Take an occasional warm oatmeal bath. You can buy commercially prepared oatmeal baths in drugstores or online.
• Apply medicines before moisturizing. Talk to your healthcare provider about topical, anti-itch medications that are available over-the-counter, including calamine lotion. While most of these medicines are safe during pregnancy, it's best to review them with your ob or midwife first. If your provider prescribes you a topical medication for itching during pregnancy, apply it as instructed and then moisturize your whole body, even the areas of skin you've just treated with medication.

Call your provider if you:

• Develop a new rash during pregnancy
• Have a skin condition that's getting worse
• Feel very itchy, especially on your hands and feet, but don't have a rash

Your provider will want to do a physical exam and potentially order some blood tests so they can diagnose any potential problems, recommend appropriate treatment, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary.

While most itching in pregnancy is normal, some conditions that cause itchy skin can affect your baby's well-being and require special monitoring or treatment. For example, severe itching without a rash can be a symptom of cholestasis of pregnancy, a liver condition that happens when bile starts building up in the liver.

And although an itchy rash during pregnancy is usually one of several uncomfortable-but-harmless conditions, it can be a symptom of a rare-but-serious condition called pemphigoid gestationis, so let your healthcare provider know about any new rashes.

If you develop small and itchy raised spots that look like pimples around your belly – especially in the third trimester – they may be pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (commonly known as a PUPPP rash), a rare pregnancy skin condition that doesn't lead to complications but can cause severe itching.

Read more:

Pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore

Staying comfortable in the third trimester: Tips from moms 

Skin darkening during pregnancy  

Mild itching is common in pregnancy because of the increased blood supply to the skin. As your pregnancy progresses and as your baby grows, the skin of your abdomen is stretched and this may also feel itchy.

Mild itching is usually nothing to worry about, but if the itching becomes severe it can be a sign of a serious liver condition called obstetric cholestasis. This affects fewer than 1 in 100 pregnant women, but needs medical attention.

Mild itching

Wearing loose clothes may help prevent itching, as your clothes are less likely to rub against your skin and cause irritation. You may also want to avoid synthetic materials and choose natural fabrics such as cotton that allow the air to circulate close to your skin. You may find that having a cool bath or applying lotion or moisturiser can help to soothe the itching.

Some women find that products with strong perfumes can irritate their skin, so you could try using plain lotion or soap.

Serious itching: obstetric cholestasis

If you’re worried about your itching, or if you have severe itching, it’s important to see your midwife or doctor.

Obstetric cholestasis (OC), also called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, is a serious liver disorder that affects a small number of pregnant women, usually in the last 3 months of pregnancy.

Causes of obstetric cholestasis

The cause of OC is unclear, but it’s thought the rise of pregnancy hormones later in pregnancy may slow the normal flow of bile — the digestive fluid made in the liver that helps your digestive system break down fats. In OC, bile salts build up rather than leaving the liver, eventually entering the bloodstream, which can make you feel itchy.

OC seems to run in families, although it can occur with no family history. It is also more common in women of Indian and Pakistani origin. If you have had OC in a previous pregnancy, you're more likely to develop it again in a subsequent pregnancy.

Babies of women with OC are more likely to be born prematurely or to be stillborn, or to have lung problems from breathing in meconium. Because of these complications, your doctor may consider inducing labour before you are due.

Symptoms of obstetric cholestasis

The classic symptom of OC is itching without rash, usually on the palms and soles of the feet, but it may be more widespread. The itching can be non-stop or unbearable, and worse at night.

Other symptoms include dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), and pale bowel movements (poo).

The itchiness usually goes away within a few days after giving birth.

Treatment of obstetric cholestasis

OC is diagnosed through taking a medical and family history, and blood tests that check your liver function (liver functions tests — LFTs). Once OC is diagnosed, you will have regular LFTs until your baby is born, so that your doctor can monitor your condition.

Creams, such as calamine lotion, are safe to use in pregnancy and can provide some relief from itching. Your doctor may prescribe a medication to reduce bile salts and ease itching.

OC can affect your absorption of vitamin K, which is important for healthy blood clotting so you may be offered a vitamin K supplement.

If you are diagnosed with OC, your midwife and doctor will discuss your health and your options with you.

Last reviewed: November 2020