Ginny’s itching to give birth…

Literally, I am itching to give birth, specifically between 12 midnight and 6 am each night. What I thought was a heat rash on my belly and thighs is actually a rare pregnancy related rash called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, or better known as PUPP. Unfortunately the only cure for this terrible prenatal rash is birth. The itching and formation of new itch bumps occur mostly at night and I have been sleep deprived due to the itching and scratching. At 37 weeks, birth can’t come soon enough for me!

PUPP usually happens to 1 in 150 to 250 women during their first pregnancies, appearing in the third trimester around the 35 week mark (mine appeared at 32 weeks). It starts off on the belly and can spread to the hands and feet. They say most women who get PUPPs give birth to boys (I’ll have to wait to see if I fit this statistic as well). Those who suffer from severe cases are sometimes induced to provide relief from the rash. The itch has been compared to chicken pox or poison ivy. Scratching from one area to another also spreads the rash, so I am always washing my hands after applying cream or a scratch attack.

My PUPPs has spread to my hands, feet, back, butt, legs and arms. My husband no longer cuddles me because having him touch me aggravates the itch (unless it’s to help me put on cream in places I can’t see or reach anymore). I was taking Benadryl to help me sleep at night and to reduce the itch but it wasn’t working well. My OB has since subscribed me sleeping pills and so far I’ve gotten five hours of solid sleep without waking up to scratch. Baking soda cold baths and ice packs temporarily soothe the itch. I have a steroid topical cream and a soothing moisturizing methanol cream (both by prescription) but the relief is only temporary (I’m talking 10-15 minutes temporary!)

I am not a morning person, nor am I a person that can survive happily with limited sleep. Having a baby and being awake at all hours was a concern for me. I feel like this rash that keeps me sleep deprived is nature’s evil way of helping me adjust to life with baby. I felt like an itchy zombie most days when I only got 45 minutes of sleep between itch attacks.

Also, on Wednesday, Aug 11 my OB had put me on medical leave effective Monday, Aug 16, which gave me 2.5 days to finish up loose ends at work. This was two weeks earlier than my intended last day of Aug 31. The combination of elevated stress, sleep deprivation, severe carpal tunnel, PUPP rash, and hemmies was enough for her to decide I need to stay home and relax. I’ve worked all my life and have been busy with work, outings, hobbies, etc. The thought of staying home to relax almost stressed me out! It took days of adjustment and I find myself bored silly most days. I can’t cook or bake because I can no longer reach and I can’t sew or make jewellery because of my carpal tunnel. So far I have watched five Harry Potter movies and a lot of mindless television. The less I have to do the less I get done, or the less motivation I have to do anything.

So add together all the issues I’ve had with this pregnancy plus the boredom and sense of cabin fever… I am SO ready for this baby to make its debut! Even just so that I’ll have someone to hang out with during the days! My alternative title for this blog posting was “Pregnancy sucks!”

…only 3.5 weeks more to go… must keep positive…