PUPPS

[Beckily]

Sigh.

Yeah, I've got PUPPS. Just started in the last two or so days, though, so it just looked to me like I needed to wash my sheets or something Rashy under belly, rashy boobs.  Bit on my arms. But nothing bit and nasty like some of the pictures I've seen!

Itches like.. an itchy rash.

Any of you had it? My midwife says really it's just oatmeal baths - she does hers by making oatmeal but with 3x the normal water and then straining out the oatmeal and pouring that water in the bath. Sounds good. And then acupuncture. Early catching will hopefully prevent spreading or worsening! Wish me luck!

[Baby_Cakes]

I just saw this on your FB!  A good friend of mine did have it with her first, but didn't with her 2nd.  Ugh, what a nightmare!!!  I'll find out if there's anything special she did for herself to cope and help it not spread and be completely awful.

[Beckily]

I've read (very quickly) that 70% of the time, it's when you're pregnant with boys (Thanks, Charlie!) but that it's waaay rare to get in subsequent pregnancies. So I'll just have it the once and it will not get that bad. WILL NOT.

Because that would suck far too much.

[Baby_Cakes]

Agreed.  Mitts on your hands with duct tape, woman.  You'll get thru this. Charlie's worth it.  

[Beckily]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Agreed.  Mitts on your hands with duct tape, woman.  You'll get thru this. Charlie's worth it.  

Yes :D And we want him coming out in ten weeks (!!!) vaginally, not in 2 weeks through scratch c-section ;)

[ursusarctos]

Originally Posted by Beckily 

Yes :D And we want him coming out in ten weeks (!!!) vaginally, not in 2 weeks through scratch c-section ;)

I hope the oatmeal and acupuncture brings you some relief.

[sarahmck]

My midwife advocates this stuff: http://www.iherb.com/Derma-E-Stop-Itch-Instant-Relief-Creme-2-oz-56-g/14400?at=0.  I get obstetric cholestasis, which is also a liver-related itch condition (but the itching reaches literally suicidal levels for some people!).  She gave me some of this.  I'm starting to feel the first twinges of it and I have to say that when I have applied a little bit of this it has made it go away.  But I'm definitely still in the very early phases with only small suspicious itches so I can't really speak for this cream confidently yet.

If you're interested in ordering this stuff from the web site in the link, you can get $5 off by using this coupon code if you've never ordered from them before: WUK989

[Maurine]

Oh, I feel for you!  I am so sorry.  I hope it's not too severe and you find relief.  It seems way to early to get it, but then I realize...oh, right, we're in the 3rd trimester!  (I just passed 30 weeks and can totally freak myself out by telling myself the baby could be term as soon as 7 weeks.)

[Lynann]

I commented briefly on your FB page, but just wanted to say that my midwife was surprised I wasn't constantly scratching it from how it looked. I kept putting loads of cocoa butter lotion on it, because the coolness of the lotion really helped for a little bit, but it would get itchy again as soon as the lotion was all dried in. I only had it on my lower belly though. The worst patch was a line a few inches thick that went from my belly button to my pubic bone, and that particular patch of skin still feels a bit numb to the touch a year later. I haven't got it so far this time, although I have a hives type outbreak in tiny little patches on the outside of my fingers. It itches almost as much as the PUPPP but only first thing in the morning, and it stops as soon as I burst the little bumps, only to get another patch on another finger a few days later. Still its easier to live with than the itchy belly was, so I'm thankful for that.

I like the theory that it is possibly related to carrying a boy. I was pregnant with a boy too. I also like that it is unlikely to reoccur in subsequent pregnancies, as that means I'm highly unlikely to get it again. I also had more and thicker body hair carrying a boy, which my midwife said she had carrying her two sons as well, so I definitely think we react to those male hormones in our sweet little babies.

Hope you find some relief and that it doesn't get any worse.

[Emerging butterfly]

((HUG)) Oh mama, that sounds dreadful! I've never had PUPPS, but I get some seriously itchy skin. I put olive oil in my bath to counter eczema and dry skin...I'm the olive oil QUEEN...olive oil and coconut butter are constantly going on my skin. Actually, putting olive oil on my face every day stopped my chronic acne that I'd had since I was a teen...crazy. But anyway...I hope the oatmeal and acupuncture help!

[Beckily]

Thank you, guys!

And Sara, I'm keeping that link. I emailed my awesome ND last night and said "Ack! PUPPs, think you'd have ideas?" And she had it with her son so she does! I'll be calling her.

I'm amusing myself by trying to use my hypnosis techniques to ignore it - far more enjoyable than sticking a clothes pin on my ear ;)

[clovermom]

I had it my last pregnancy (with a girl!) and it was pretty awful. I did find relief with homeopathic Apis (used for stings and hives) and also calomine lotion. I had read that the only "cure" was delivery of the baby but mine abated a few weeks before she was born. Hang in there!

[Beckily]

I talked to the acupuncturist who I work with today and she said she treated a lady for it doing the normal rash treatment and hers went away. So I got that and am hopeful! Going to go see her again soon (Monday is my last day there).

[motherhendoula]

I had a friend who had it (with her daughter..)  in August - she used Nettle Tea - something about how it detox's the liver - sorry this is just heresay- maybe something to research though!

[annettemarie]

DDCC- I had it with my fourth pregnancy and then was one of the unlucky people who had it again when I was pregnant with my twins. :/ Two things that really helped: dandelion root capsules and this soap from Ranier Soapworks:
http://rainiersoapworks.com/cart/category/9/puppp-relief
The cream they sell is really good as well and was the only thing that stopped the itching.
Good luck!

[Beckily]

Thank you, guys!

I did good most of the day today, but as soon as I came home and took off my clothes, I wanted to rip off my skin. Bath helped, luckily. It's worse today. Hopefully after the acupuncture it'll improve. Maybe tomorrow I'll be clear! Hope :D

[kindyll]

puppp is currently driving me crazy, so I wanted to get some follow up on this thread.  Did it go away for you after the acupuncture?  After birth? 

I'm currently trying the dandelion root/flaxseed oil pills to try to get it to go away.  I deal with the itching using grandpa's pine tar soap, the steroid lotion that the dermatologist gave me, and aveeno itch cream (the lotions are going on different patches, depending on their level of itchiness)

I'm 37 weeks now, and the rash has spread from my belly down both of my legs and started in on my arms too now.  Any help or encouragement would be awesome at this point- I'm not a happy camper.

[Beckily]

Originally Posted by kindyll 

puppp is currently driving me crazy, so I wanted to get some follow up on this thread.  Did it go away for you after the acupuncture?  After birth? 

I'm currently trying the dandelion root/flaxseed oil pills to try to get it to go away.  I deal with the itching using grandpa's pine tar soap, the steroid lotion that the dermatologist gave me, and aveeno itch cream (the lotions are going on different patches, depending on their level of itchiness)

I'm 37 weeks now, and the rash has spread from my belly down both of my legs and started in on my arms too now.  Any help or encouragement would be awesome at this point- I'm not a happy camper.

Oh no!

I got rid of mine is just a few days, actually. Well. After I figured out how.

What worked for me: Salt water baths. Buy sea salt, pour a few handfuls in your tub, soak. I'd always wash with local oatmeal soap that contained castor oil first and then just laid there for awhile. When I got out, I either coated myself with intense lotion, oil or Traumeel cream (though the Traumeel says not do that).

The rash went away in a few days, but I had to keep the baths up or it came back. I STILL have rough dry patches of skin, but I tend to be really dry anyway.

Let me know if that helps, or you can PM me to brainstorm if it doesn't :) Good luck! It's so bad! Mine was mostly belly and boobs, but then arms and legs. Gah.