any tips on coping with pupps and all the itching!!

[mollydoodle]

hi

i have just been to doctors and been diagnosed with pupps as have a nasty very very itchy red rash on my body - i do have cream and anti histamine tablets but the itching is driving me mad!! has anyone had this before and does it get better?? though i know it lasts the whole pregnancy and beyond - also any other tips on how to reduce the itching? any help greatly apprecaited

lesley

x

[chickensoup]

Hello Lesley,

You poor thing, I had this from 28 weeks so know just how you feel. I was covered from head to toe and my only relief was to cover myself in diprobase and stand in front of a fan! I would sleep with just a sheet and use cream though out the night, baths where a big no no. In the end the itching got too much (I was scratching until I bleed) and I was put onto a dose of oral steroids. It was a small daily dose and I slowly weaned myself (as told by doctor) to the least amount possible while still keeping the itching under control. I was worried about the baby being big due to the steroids he was 9lb6 which although on the large size is not massive!

As soon as my baby was born the itching stopped and it didnt come back with my second (although my second was a girl and my first a boy and PUPPS in more common when you are carrying a boy).

I read somewhere (on a US site I think) that tar soap can help although I never tried. I really really really feel for you and hope that you find something that will easy the itching.

xx

[mollydoodle]

Thanks for the tips will look for the cream. The doctor gave me e45 cream but made it feel worse!! I am only 24 weeks so awhile to go. This is my second pregnancy and is a boy and first time I had a girl and didn't have this so think it must be a boy thing!!

[Clare11]

Awful! I had this for the last few weeks of my pregnancy. Almost drove me insane and I was scratching til it bled.

I ended up at Kings with it and they gave me Diprobase, but also had a cream made up for me which had menthol in it. Literally I'd put it on and start shivering because it was so cooling but it really did help.

Maybe ask your doctor about it.

Despite the itching, I had a successful and comfortable water birth at home. The PUPP subsided pretty much immediately.

Although its no consolation, at least it's cooler this time of year. I had to endure the heat and the itch. There was no escape.

Hope you get comfortable, it's a bastard of an ailment.