Patient's question:
First child. At 24 weeks of ultrasound, everything was normal except that the placenta was slightly low. Onset time and cause: Recently, I suddenly felt an intense itching on my abdomen, accompanied by some small red spots. Scratching with my hands made it even itchier. Treatment history: Previously, I heard from some sisters that they had to go to the hospital for some kind of bile duct test, and some friends said that using Artemisia can stop the itching. But can pregnant women use Artemisia? Help needed: Could you please tell me what I should do now? Thank you!Doctor's answer:
Hello, based on your current pregnancy duration, it is more likely that you have abdominal stretch marks or are prone to developing them. You can consider applying olive oil locally, reducing the intake of spicy and irritating foods, eating more fruits and vegetables, drinking more water, and supplementing with calcium. This is due to the significant increase in endogenous estrogen and progesterone produced by the placenta during pregnancy, which disrupts the excretion of bilirubin. For severe cases of skin itching, antihistamines can be tried, which are relatively safe. If ineffective, you can switch to cholestyramine, an ion-exchange resin. As the baby grows, the skin tissue of the abdomen stretches and tears, resulting in itching, mild pain, and a sensation of tearing, which is normal. After the tearing heals, stretch marks will form. It is important to keep the skin moisturized and apply vitamin E and skin care creams.