itchy

I tried to think of something else to blog about but ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT is how itchy my belly is. I knew that this was something that happened during pregnancy. Especially when you're on your way to Gigantictown like I am.

Well, last week I started getting itchier. So, I did what you're not supposed to do, and I scratched. Not thinking it was a big deal. Well, it seems as though I really pissed off my stretchmarks. They are now all swollen and angry and raised and SO SO SO itchy. I also have a few bumps which I believe were caused by me getting all those histamines flowing through my body from my stupid scratching. There are a few scary things online about rashes you can get during pregnancy, but I honestly don’t think I have one; I think my sensitive skin is just really, really irritated.

I moisturize my belly twice a day, and have without fail since about week 8, with either Vitamin E or Belli Elasticity Belly Oil. So, I've done what I can to prevent the itchiness, and still the itchiness came. And now my belly is ANGRY. Very, very angry.

My stretch marks are bright red and just so irritated. This weekend was really hard because it was all I could think about. The only relief I got was from icing my stomach. We have two ice packs, and I just would ice my stomach for a few minutes, and it would usually last me about an hour before the insane itching would start again. I also used Calamine lotion a few times, which helped a little, but not for long.

Hydro cortisone cream is something that if you look it up online, they say that pregnant women can use sparingly, and that they don’t know if it has an effect on the unborn babies. So, I am naturally hesitant to use it. I did once, and it helped for a while, but not really any longer than icing does.

So, I’m just hoping that if I keep my hands off of it, keep it moisturized and can handle icing it multiple times a day (which I totally have, even at work today) that it will get better. Just to be safe, I put a call in to my doctor this morning to call me back, so we’ll see what she says. I’m hoping she has a super awesome solution that I’ve not heard of or read about; but I think this is unlikely.

For now, I’ll just sit here, itchy, hoping it goes away soon.

Yes, I realize this is a very complainy post, but gosh DARNIT this is not pleasant.

I’ll post something happier tomorrow; promise. :)

~M

*photo- Itchy, from the "Itchy and Scratchy Show" on the Simpsons. I googled "itchy" and that's what came up, and it made me laugh. :)

P.S. Feel bad for me and my itchy belly? Well, click twice and vote for me and it might help me feel better! :)