The dangers of scratching your belly during pregnancy

It is not recommended for pregnant women to scratch their abdomen when it itches, because scratching with hands can easily aggravate the itching. It is also very easy to cause infection. Frequent scratching will also irritate the uterus, which may cause uterine contractions and easily lead to premature birth. Therefore, when pregnant women have itchy abdomen, it is not recommended to scratch with hands. You can use other gentle methods to relieve itching.

Does pregnant women scratching their abdomen affect the baby?

Pregnant women should not scratch their itchy abdomen

Supplement and cause infection; the abdominal skin becomes itchy, and some pregnant women are accustomed to scratching it with their hands, but this behavior is very bad. The abdominal skin is relatively tender. If you scratch it with your hands, your nails can easily scratch the abdominal skin, causing various purulent bacteria infections and causing skin fungal infections. In severe cases, it may even affect the fetus in the abdomen.

Weight bearing will aggravate the condition; the abdominal skin will become itchy. If you keep scratching it, the abdominal skin will easily form scabs due to scratches. The skin will also thicken due to continuous reflex stimulation, thereby aggravating the abdominal itching. The more you scratch, the more itchy it will become, and the more uncomfortable you will feel. Suffering from abdominal itching, it will be bad for the baby's development in the long run.

How should expectant mothers deal with abdominal itching?

1. Physiological itching

If there is no change on the skin except itching, no small papules and blisters. Well, this kind of itching is mostly related to the secretion of estrogen and stretch marks, and has no effect on the fetus. In this case, you generally cannot scratch it with your hands, and you must not scratch it hard. Once you start scratching, it's basically out of control. The more you scratch, the more itchy it becomes, until your skin is broken and bleeding, and the itching must be replaced by pain. Once it is scratched, its brother - dermatitis may come knocking.

To deal with this kind of itching, you can do the following:

Rub gently and use a little moisturizer, such as vegetable oil, stretch mark massage cream, etc. Choose gentle and hypoallergenic skin care products to ensure that there is no irritation to yourself or your baby.

Eat less spicy food, ginger, raw garlic and other stimulating ingredients.

Avoid excessively frequent skin cleansing and do not use excessively high temperatures in the bath.

Control your weight. Gaining weight too quickly during pregnancy can cause the abdomen to expand too quickly, which can also cause excessive cracking of the skin tissue and cause itching.

2. Physiological itching

The itching we mentioned above is a normal physiological condition, so it is relatively easy to deal with. Little do people know that some itching is physiological. For example, prurigo during pregnancy and eczema.

The former is because the pregnant mother rejects the part of the genes and sex chromosomes in the child's body that comes from the father. In addition to abdominal itching, rashes and itching may occur in the thighs and even upper limbs, and some may also have pigmentation. The latter type of eczema is more common in pregnant women who sweat easily, have active metabolism, or are obese.

If pregnant mothers encounter such skin itching problems, they must not endure it, and do not worry about taking medicine. If the itching affects the sleep quality, mood during pregnancy, mental state and diet, it will be bad for the growth and development of the fetus.

What's more, anti-itching drugs are generally dominated by external plasters, and oral medications are only considered when they have no practical effect. Antihistamines and other drugs used for these skin diseases are very safe as long as they are used within the safe dosage range. Moreover, the later the pregnancy, the less impact they have on the fetus, so pregnant mothers do not need to worry too much.

3. Be careful if your belly itches during late pregnancy

Cholestasis during pregnancy can also cause itching of the abdominal skin. This type of disease is a type of liver disease associated with pregnancy. The cause of the disease is not very clear and it often occurs in the late pregnancy.

This type of itching starts from the abdomen and then spreads to the chest, back, limbs, and hair. Itching of the palms and soles of the feet is also typical. The level of itching varies from person to person and can be severe enough to make it difficult to sleep. Some patients develop mild jaundice within a few days to a few weeks after the itching occurs.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy does not cause much harm to pregnant women, and it is not easy to leave liver damage after delivery. The symptoms of itching and jaundice usually disappear gradually within 1 to 2 weeks after delivery. Its main harm lies in the adverse effects on the fetus, delayed development, and even causing fetal death. If you start with the itching in the abdomen and then develop itching all over the body, you need to go to the hospital to check the bile acid.