here’s a story for you. our 2nd baby was due yesterday on November 8, but about a month prior to her due date i started getting a strange itching on the palms of my hands and soles of my feet at night. of course i googled it (what else is there to do at 2am when you’re wide awake?). and that’s when i learned about Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. i told myself, “don’t be ridiculous.” i couldn’t possibly have it. i told Anton about it, he echoed my feelings. but i had this nagging suspicion that something was not right. i moved my appointment with my OBGYN up to the next day and told her my symptoms. she immediately said i needed to be tested. the following day i was in a mall with a takeaway cup of coffee about to shop for some groceries when my doctor called me. my body’s bile levels were “through the roof” and i had to be admitted to the hospital for more tests. i cried in the elevator to the parking lot. we told ourselves, it’s fine – at least we caught it in time. what i didn’t know was that i’d be scheduled for a c-section a few days later (i never did leave the hospital), and our daughter Eva would be born at 37 weeks.
lessons: sometimes googling your symptoms is a good thing! trust your gut. if you feel like something is off then ask your doctor. don’t fear being ridiculed. always ask for a second opinion. if you’re pregnant and itchy: get it checked out.
now if that didn’t sufficiently distract you, here are some more distractions!
