Into the fifth month of my pregnancy, my arms and legs were getting more and more itchy leaving lots of ugly scratches on my skin. I consulted my gynae again and he advice me to do a blood test to ensure that I’m not having “Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy” (ICP). ICP occurs during the second and third trimester. Symptoms include:

1. Itchy on the palm of hands and soles of the feet.
2. Dark urine color
3. Feeling fatigue all the time
4. Lack of appetite
5. Depression

Less common symptoms are mild jaundice, upper-right quadrant pain and nausea. All these symptoms occur because during pregnancy, the liver become less efficient at getting rid of bile. After delivery, your liver returns to it’s normal functional state and ICP usually goes away.

ICP carries some risk in pregnancy which includes :

1. Premature labor
2. Fetal and maternal hemorrhaging
3. Fetal distress
4. Stillbirth

After 3 days, my gynae called to inform me that my blood test is normal and not showing signs of ICP. That’s a relief!