How to deal with Hives during pregnancy?

Hives during pregnancy is a common skin problem that a woman faces during that stage. Hives are none other than skin allergic reaction which appear as raised red or pale colored welts that cause severe itching. Hives appear as clustered or grouped welts that even change their shapes and location on the body.

Hives appear on the body of a pregnant woman that stretches during pregnancy. Here are the areas wherein hives usually appear on pregnant women:

• Breasts
• Abdomen
• Back of the legs
• Face
• Arms
• Back

Pregnancy hives is neither harmful to the mother nor to the baby in the womb. However, the associated itching can be very irritating to the woman. It has been found that in 99% pregnancy cases, women do not get hives at all. It is only in very rare cases that hives in pregnancy occur. Mostly, women experience severe itching on the skin during pregnancy, especially, on the breasts, abdomen, back of legs etc. It is because the skin stretches to accommodate the growing baby inside. Also there is a surge of production in hormones unique in pregnancy which might also stimulate dryness o the skin and cause itching.

Hives during pregnancy usually disappear after a few weeks of delivery of the baby. In very rare cases, it may persist beyond four weeks. Hives in pregnancy are more common when it is the first-time pregnancy case of woman. It has been observed that the condition of hives does not occur in subsequent pregnancies in the woman. Also pregnant women carrying twins in her womb tend to have higher chances of getting hives in the body.

Treatment of Pregnancy Hives

Hives during pregnancy does not affect the baby at all but the associated itching on the skin and body can be very irritating. For that purpose, doctors often prescribe Benadryl lotions and sprays. Some women experience drowsiness and feeling sleepy after application of Benadryl. Some even complain that the movements of the baby become slow and infrequent. In any such cases, the pregnant woman must be rushed to the doctor and seek his/her advice.

The other hives treatment medicine which is very popular and administered often is Claritin. This medication is an anti-histamine product which does not induce skin allergic reaction of hives. In most of the cases, Benadryl and Claritin are not prescribed in the first trimester of pregnancy. Other popular anti-histamine drugs that are effective in hives during pregnancy are: Atarx, Zyrtec.

Cold compress is the easiest and safest way against hive. It rapidly reduces inflammation and itchiness.
Moisturizers can help reduce the itch because itchiness is mostly due to dry skin.
Anti-itch creams can do wonders when cold compress and moisturizers don’t work. Anti-itch creams also leave the skin feeling cool.
Make a paste out of baking soda and water and rub it on the affected area

Of course, the simplest approach that a doctor follows is to check of the hives reaction has been caused by any food allergen. If yes, then this allergen is to be avoided from the diet, so that no such allergic reaction recurs. If you never had hives before and now have a sudden flare-up of hives during pregnancy, then this condition of hives is more to do with pregnancy hormones than simple allergic reactions to the body.

Also avoid scratching and rubbing the skin surface affected by hives. These would just aggravate the problem and make matters worse. Taking showers in very hot water can also trigger a great deal of irritation on the hives. This must be avoided too, especially during pregnancy. After shower with cool water, one must pat dry with a soft towel only and avoid any vigorous rubbing on the body.

Causes of hives during pregnancy

• Hives are allergic reaction due to triggers; such as certain foods, dust mites, spores, etc. Allergy happens when the immune system takes allergens as threats, thus releasing histamines.
• Stretching of the skin as the uterus expands.
• Hormonal changes can also attribute to the appearance of these itchy bumps on a pregnant woman. Hormonal changes can also make the skin dry, causing it to itch.

Whatever be the cause, hives in pregnancy can greatly irritate the lady. One must avoid taking over-the-counter drugs that can be harmful to the baby in the special condition of pregnancy. 


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