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I wanted to share my cholestasis and birth story ♥️ when I was diagnosed, I really needed the encouragement of other cholestasis mamas, so I wanted to make sure I shared for others with cholestasis or any other pregnancy complication that changes all your plans.
I was diagnosed with cholestasis at 28 weeks with bile acids of 12. If you dont know what cholestasis is, it is a dysfunction in the liver that causes a disruption in the digestion of bile, creating a spillage of the toxic acids into your blood stream. The bile acids do cross the placenta and in high levels, can pose serious threats to the health of your baby. The main symptom is itching on the palms and soles of the feet, but any moderate or severe itching on the body could be a sign of it.
This was my third pregnancy but first ICP pregnancy. Up until I was diagnosed, I had chronic migraines, nausea, fatigue, and digestive upset beyond what is considered normal for pregnancy, so when I mentioned casually that my hands and feet were burning at night my midwife immediately tested me for cholestasis. I had never even heard of it before.
I decided to go the route of holistic treatment. It was something I was comfortable doing because my numbers were steadily between 9-14, with one 17 (Bile acids over 40 are considered the start of moderate to severe cholestasis). Immediately after beginning treatment, I felt so much better overall. I had labs drawn once or twice per week and things continued to look really good. Not to say there wasn't plenty of anxiety about the cholestasis, but physically I felt great.
At 37 weeks exactly, just before bed, I felt a gush of warm fluid and when I checked it, it was blood. My husband was out of town, so I had to call an ambulance. My midwife met me at the hospital and we waited for ultrasound results and a PROM test. The ultrasound looked normal and there was no explanation for the bleed, but my water did break. The MD on staff gave us the option of going home and continuing a home birth plan or being admitted. We chose admit due to the fact that she was 37 weeks to the day, the cholestasis, and the bleed.
My induction consisted of 2 oral doses of cytotec which I was so nervous about, but ended up being very mild and gentle. It didn't induce contractions but it softened up my cervix enough to break the rest of my water bag and that's what ended up getting things going.
My midwife was allowed to be in the hospital with me and served as my doula. Even though I had not wanted a hospital birth, I was still able to experience some aspects of what I had hoped for: constant labor support and encouragement, and an advocate for me to keep interventions to a minimum unless absolutely necessary. It was about a 5 hour labor, 2 hours of hard active labor, and 15 min of bearing her down. I was able to do it all unmedicated as planned, and when they put Violet on my chest, I had never been more relieved in my life.
She never cried, but she had an apgar of 8-9, and fed immediately with a beautiful latch. She had 2 days of mild jaundice at home but She's now just over a week old and absolutely perfect.
A cholestasis diagnosis is so scary, confusing, and if you are like me and were hoping for an out of hospital birth or a no-intervention birth, truly devastating.
I wanted to post this for any mommas who need to hear that you can still experience a hospital birth & induction, and still have a beautiful birth. It was the opposite of what I had envisioned and planned for, but it brought our baby safely into this world. 💜 wishing you all healthy, beautiful babies.
I wanted to share my cholestasis and birth story ♥️ when I was diagnosed, I really needed the encouragement of other cholestasis mamas, so I wanted to make sure I shared for others with cholestasis or any other pregnancy complication that changes all your plans.
I was diagnosed with cholestasis at 28 weeks with bile acids of 12. If you dont know what cholestasis is, it is a dysfunction in the liver that causes a disruption in the digestion of bile, creating a spillage of the toxic acids into your blood stream. The bile acids do cross the placenta and in high levels, can pose serious threats to the health of your baby. The main symptom is itching on the palms and soles of the feet, but any moderate or severe itching on the body could be a sign of it.
This was my third pregnancy but first ICP pregnancy. Up until I was diagnosed, I had chronic migraines, nausea, fatigue, and digestive upset beyond what is considered normal for pregnancy, so when I mentioned casually that my hands and feet were burning at night my midwife immediately tested me for cholestasis. I had never even heard of it before.
I decided to go the route of holistic treatment. It was something I was comfortable doing because my numbers were steadily between 9-14, with one 17 (Bile acids over 40 are considered the start of moderate to severe cholestasis). Immediately after beginning treatment, I felt so much better overall. I had labs drawn once or twice per week and things continued to look really good. Not to say there wasn't plenty of anxiety about the cholestasis, but physically I felt great.
At 37 weeks exactly, just before bed, I felt a gush of warm fluid and when I checked it, it was blood. My husband was out of town, so I had to call an ambulance. My midwife met me at the hospital and we waited for ultrasound results and a PROM test. The ultrasound looked normal and there was no explanation for the bleed, but my water did break. The MD on staff gave us the option of going home and continuing a home birth plan or being admitted. We chose admit due to the fact that she was 37 weeks to the day, the cholestasis, and the bleed.
My induction consisted of 2 oral doses of cytotec which I was so nervous about, but ended up being very mild and gentle. It didn't induce contractions but it softened up my cervix enough to break the rest of my water bag and that's what ended up getting things going.
My midwife was allowed to be in the hospital with me and served as my doula. Even though I had not wanted a hospital birth, I was still able to experience some aspects of what I had hoped for: constant labor support and encouragement, and an advocate for me to keep interventions to a minimum unless absolutely necessary. It was about a 5 hour labor, 2 hours of hard active labor, and 15 min of bearing her down. I was able to do it all unmedicated as planned, and when they put Violet on my chest, I had never been more relieved in my life.
She never cried, but she had an apgar of 8-9, and fed immediately with a beautiful latch. She had 2 days of mild jaundice at home but She's now just over a week old and absolutely perfect.
A cholestasis diagnosis is so scary, confusing, and if you are like me and were hoping for an out of hospital birth or a no-intervention birth, truly devastating.
I wanted to post this for any mommas who need to hear that you can still experience a hospital birth & induction, and still have a beautiful birth. It was the opposite of what I had envisioned and planned for, but it brought our baby safely into this world. 💜 wishing you all healthy, beautiful babies.