Anyone have PUPPP?

[LianneM]

Looks like I have PUPPP. It started yesterday in the stretch marks on my belly, and has spread to my fingers. Not the palms of my hands, just IN BETWEEN my fingers. It's driving me NUTS!

I'm off to make Nettles tea - read in a search that it might help.

I hope I'm the only one of us Feb Mamas!

[ElizaBird]

I think i've got it too. I started on my belly and stayed there for a coulpe of days but now it's spreading- especially to the creased parts of my skin-behind my knees, at the tops of my legs. EUgh, it there anything you've found that's helping?? It is making me crazy! i just want to enjoy these last days/weeks of pregnancy, but this is too much!
I've read that PUPPPs has to do with the liver having a hard time dealing with baby's waste cells, so anything you can do to strengthen/cleanse the liver is good. I'm taking dandelion root and flax seed oil, for that. Nettles woul d probably be good too. I've found lots of things that are soothing for a couple of minutes- like oatmeal baths, cold wet cloths over my belly, aloe vera- but nothing that will give me a good bunch of hours of sleep. I finally gave in and bought aveeno anti-itch cream w/1% cortizone. I'm pretty uncomfortable with using steroids right now, but man it works when i;'m desperate and my midwife suggested it.
how far along are you? they say it only really goes away with birth. i'm 36+4 weeks, with twins and huge (50+ cm). My skin has just had it.
Hang in there Lianne, hope you're getting some sleep!
Blessings, Eliza'
Homebirthing Momma to twins EDD 2/9/05

[LianneM]

Hi Eliza!

I'm so sorry! I'm 37 weeks and planning a homebirth too. I saw my midwife Thursday and of course it didn't show up until Friday! I'm planning to call her tomorrow (since it's not an emergency or anything)

I was able to sleep. I made a baking soda paste and used it on the itchy spots - VERY helpful for a few minutes. I guess it took the edge off the itch long enough for me to fall asleep! My poor husband woke me up an hour or two in and I was not happy, but I did the baking soda thing on my fingers again and went back to sleep. (until time to pee again ) Anyway, that's all I know of so far to make it stop temporarily. Some lotions help but others make it worse!

I can't believe I'm so obsessed with ITCHING! Off to church for some healing prayer...

Hope you were able to sleep!

Lianne

[CarolynnMarilynn]

Hi LianneM;

I am not pregnant but I have had PUPP and just wanted to commiserate. It is awful. I was nearly driven insane by it. I was one of the lucky few who had it for weeks past the birth. The dermatologist I saw at a major city hospital said it was the worst she'd ever seen. It got purple and blotchy, and was really horrific to see. I saw a naturopath and was taking some liver-supporting supplements, but they did not help for me.

SOme of the non-pharm things that helped (but not much I had to say) were getting a prescription for a cream that was Glaxal Base (non-irritating moisturizer) with menthol oil in it. Instantly soothing, but not long-lasting or anything. I also veto'd the steroid cream, but I am not sure I would make that decision again: I lost so much sleep while pregnant and I think that set me up for a long prodromal labour and a very exhausted postpartum.

It is a good idea to see a professional who can diagnose it just in case it is something far worse, like herpes gestationalis or cholestasis. From your description though it sure sounds like PUPP.

Post again if you find a remedy that helps. There is some interesting research on PUPP, for one, that it is associated with male babies (about 75% of the time), and researchers have actually cultured male DNA from the skin of mothers with PUPP! So, maybe an immune response.

Carolynn

[CarolynnMarilynn]

Oh, and just a hint: keep fingernails clean and short to avoid tearing the skin and starting a secondary infection of the 'spots'.

Take care and good luck finding something that helps!

Carolynn

[LianneM]

Thanks Carolynn! I'm sorry you had such an awful time

I'm definitely sure it's PUPP - it just fits perfectly. Funny about the male babies - I've only had girl dreams during the whole pregnancy and will be VERY surprised if it turns out to be boy! (Happy either way, of course - just surprised!)

The baking soda paste is the lifesaver for my hands. I get about 2 hours of relief from it, which helps a lot. We went to lunch after church and I had DH stop at the grocery store so I could buy some baking soda and use it before lunch :LOL It's like getting a drug fix or something :LOL