Mitts

My blog is becoming more baby and pregnancy lately. I guess that is because that is what is on my mind. This week was not the best, in fact...I would say that it has been my most uncomfortable week. Swollen feet? Yup? Itchy Skin? Yes. Wait a minute....itchy skin....how itchy? What are these little bumps? Why do my arms have a rash that reminds me of being in Jamaica and heat rash? YIKES! My obsessive and investigative nature quickly started to search around the internet for pregnancy rashes. I have sensitive skin, but was convinced that this was baby related. After suffering through several days knowing that my next check up was near, I was convinced that I have PUPPP.

What is PUPPP? Something that less than 1% of pregnant women enjoy during their last few weeks of pregnancy. It miraculously clears itself up about 1-2 weeks after delivery. Does not hurt the baby, I think it only happens to drive the mother nuts and make me think: Baby Baby Baby...Birth Birth Birth...Itch Itch Itch...Can't Scratch the Skin.

This week, it hasn't been the urge to run to the bathroom that has woken me up restless, it has been the urge to itch! Hubbs was threatening to make me sleep with oven mitts on....hehe

This is really a pretty weird condition. It only really happens with first time pregnancies and not subsequent. What is even more interesting is that my mom had something similar when my sis was born, but no rash with me. I wonder if it is somewhat hereditary? Wikipedia mentions that this condition was only formally documented and described in 1979, which is strangely the year I was born. Way too coincidental if you ask me.

While there aren't a lot of studies out there on this, what is funny is that most occurrences delivery boys (around 70% which is not what our ultrasounds have showed) or have had significant weight gain (nope, right on track) or are having twins (again, ultrasound is calling for singlet).

Of course, my doctor provided much sympathy to me yesterday and quickly prescribed a cortiscosteriod cream for me to use very sparingly on the affected areas. In some extreme cases, they have had to induce women into labor because of the severity of the itch. YIKES! I don't think I am THAT itchy. Let's hope it doesn't worsen.

Good news is, today is going to be a great day.....today is my BABY SHOWER!