Obstetric Cholestasis (OC), is a liver disorder which occurs in a very small percentage of pregnancies in Australia but incidence is reportedly much higher in countries such as Chile. It usually occurs after 20wks of pregnancy but more often than not in 3rd trimester and it is possibly caused by oestrogen interacting with the liver to suppress the flow of bile from the liver into the woman's bowel. Bile is produced in the liver and flows down the bile ducts into the intestines where it helps with food digestion. As oestrogen levels peak in 3rd trimester, this is the likely time of onset of symptoms which then resolve soon after birth. This in turn causes a build up of toxins (liver enzymes, bilirubin and bile acids) which filter into the blood stream. There is an increased foetal morbidity & mortality associated with OC.

The main symptom of cholestasis of pregnancy, is itching (pruritis), particularly hands and feet and worse at night, which may cause sleep disturbances. Sometimes the itching may extend to the rest of the body. Whilst the pregnant woman with OC may report severe itching, & extreme discomfort, there is usually no sign of rash although there may be scratch marks from her constant scratching. Less commonly the pregnant woman may develop jaundice, feel nauseated or experience intermittent vomiting throughout her pregnancy.

Risk Factors:
~ A family history of Cholestasis
~ OC in a  previous pregnancy
~ Multiples
~ History of heavy alcohol use or history of Hepatitis
~ Past history of Gallstones

Disclaimer: 
This is an information website only, based on my experiences and information I have obtained through my own readings, discussions and related to topics of interest to me. For further information, I suggest you do your own research. There are differing opinions on some topics so some websites may give conflicting information and currency of information may change over time. For medical advice, I suggest you contact your healthcare provider.