Itchy belly

[laurabfig]

Any suggestions? I've been putting coconut cream on it to stop the itch but it inevitably starts again in a few hours. It isn't prussis or purris or whatever that p-word pregnancy rash is b/c I'm way too early and it isn't spreading. Maybe it is just my belly expanding (I'm almost 6 months...)

[bjorker]

Olive oil!
My mom gave me a bar from Lush that I like, but really olive oil should do the trick.

[RedOakMomma]

I've been putting on a quarter-sized squirt of Trader Joe's Vitamin E oil every morning after I shower. No itching since then.

[~Demeter~]

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had a pretty severe Puppps rash that stayed localized on my belly. It was pretty intense and uncomfortable. My symptoms were similar, I'd put something on and be fine, then a few hours later I'd be all itchy again. It didn't spread right away but by the time I gave birth it was all over my belly.

[MaerynPearl]

If its from stretching, anything with Vitamin E will help a ton... even if you end up making up some concoction at home, make sure it has Vitamin E!

However, I would still mention it to your doctor/midwife to be looked at to rule out PUPPs. It wouldn't involve anything invasive but if it is PUPPs, it requires a different type of treatment than just dry or stretching skin does.

[~Demeter~]

The treatment isn't actually that different... if hydrocortisone cream helps, you likely have Puppps. I just used over the counter cortaid, though my doctor did prescribe a stronger ointment for me, I just never got around to using it.

Puppps typically comes from your liver not processing the toxins out of your body properly. Dandelion root tea seems to be the preferred herb for helping out a sluggish liver. I need to make up my pregnancy tea and need to remember to put some in there.

[paintedfire]

I'm not showing yet, nor have I even gained any weight yet, but I'm already trying to head off the itchiness and stretch marks.

My Mom has sent me a million bottles of organic vitamin e oil, and I'm stocking up on organic shea butter.

I'm really disliking the feeling of "stuff" on my hands right now (my OCD flaring up), so I've appointed DF as official Belly Gunk Officer. He's a good egg, that one.

[is it puppies?]

I am usually a lot itchier (especially during the dry winters here) than I was this whole pregnancy. I was using a variety of organic oils on my body (mainly coconut) and taking a quality oil supplement (krill) quite religiously and this winter was the best one I've ever had for not being itchy. At this point (39 weeks) I am not even oiling most of my body any more only the parts that are stretching a lot and I am not dry or itchy at all.