No PUPPPs with second pregnancy

My first pregnancy, I had PUPPPs. It's this godawful disease that has no lasting impact on mother or baby and normally ends with birth, and so therefore no dollars get spent on figuring out why the heck pregnant women get it, why the heck only pregnant women get it, and what can be done to prevent it or relieve it. It just makes pregnant women (and only pregnant women) miserable for weeks or months at a time, completely unable to enjoy their pregnancies. Again - no lasting impact. No dollars. No one really seems to know what causes it. Ugh.

For anyone who stumbles on this entry looking for help with PUPPPs, check out this page for a very comprehensive list of remedies. For me, the only thing that helped was cold - ice packs, cold baths, etc. And once the cold was removed, the itching came back. Others have found help with dandelion and flaxseed and in the more severe/early cases, steroids.

Here's a pic of what my hand looked like at my firstborn's birth:

You just can't stop itching and so you create open sores all over most of your body. Like I said, godawful.

Anyway, here I am at 39 weeks 6 days... and no PUPPPS this time! I was reminded of this happy fact today when a mom who had PUPPPs with her first and is 29w along with her second emailed me asking if I got it. I feel like I dodged a big bullet and I need to celebrate. I think I'll celebrate by having a baby today!

Comments

[PUPPP]

When I was about 30 weeks pregnant, I noticed that I started itching in the stretch mark area below my belly button. I made an appointment with my OB, who said to go to the pharmacy and buy the Aveeno Oatmeal Bath, Aveeno soap/body wash, and their lotion (as it is much thinner than others on the market). I tried all of the above, and no changes. Two days later, the itching had become more unbearable, so I made another appointment and that time they told me to take Benedryl throughout the day, and to use 1% Cortisone cream. That also didn't work. I tried to make another appointment only a few days later, and my doctors office refused to see me. They thought I was just making things up I guess. At this point it had spread from just the stretch mark area, to my legs, knees, arms, feet, hands, neck, back, butt. I called the dr office again the next day to demand an appointment. A nurse called me back to tell me that they would fit me in. When I arrived for my appointment, the doctor came into the room immediately asking to see the rash. Within seconds she said I had PUPPP's. She perscribed Prednisone for 2 weeks, and assured me that it would not harm the baby, as well as taking Claratin once a day and Benedryl at night. The first week I was on Prednisone, there were no results. When I started taking the second week, I felt like WONDERWOMAN!!! Now the only problem is that I am 35 weeks and 6 days, and the itching has returned. The doctors will not refill the prednisone again, as I have taken as much as they will allow you to during pregnancy. I feel for all of you out there who are suffering with PUPPP's, and I wanted to let you know that no matter what, you have to argue until you are blue in the face to get an appointment right away!!!! You are not crazy, even though this rash can make you feel that way along with very depressed. Just remember especially if this is your first pregnancy, as it is mine, that if you feel like this isn't normal, you're right! It is not normal for you. On another note, when I realized it wasn't normal for the first time, it was when I couldn't stop itching uncontrollably, my belly started to bleed all over, and I was crying everytime I started these itching fits....I have still not found relief...but hopefully between me and my mom we can talk the doctor today into inducing me....Good Luck to all of you out there!

[8weeksofitchy]

I had PUPPPs really badly in my first pregnancy, it showed up at about 36 weeks and spread like wildfire. they say that you're not supposed to get it on your hands, feet or face, but i had it EVERYWHERE. they also said it was supposed to go away at delivery but lucky me it lasted for a full 5 weeks after i delivered my little girl. it was aweful. i wanted to die. i had welts two inches wide all over my body, i have scars all over my arms from peeling scab after scab off in my sleep with nails cut so short they bled. for anyone that is diagnosed with this, START MEDICATION EARLY. DO NOT MISS PILLS/CREAM APPLICATIONS. i went away for a weekend and forgot all my meds at home and by god, was i miserable. i'm now 9 weeks pregnant (with twins) and the second i get itchy i'm driving to the hospital and camping out in the OB ward until they give me the stuff i had last time (extra strong benadryl and prescription extra strong hydrocortizone cream). GOOD LUCK IF YOU HAVE THIS!!! Oatmeal and cold baths.

[Sara]

I am 4 weeks post-partum and just now recovering from a severe case of PUPPPs. It was all over my body except for my face. Even had spots on my hands, soles of my feet, knuckles and arm pits. My rash was aggressive and did not go away right after delivery as most literature states.

Here's what worked for me.
During Pregnancy:
Oatmeal baths with tepid wather
"Grandpa's Pine Tar" soap or body gel. (You can find at a health food grocery / pharmacy)
Lather up and leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing.
SARNA lotion - buy this stuff in bulk! It takes away the itch. It feels like noxema and makes your skin feel very cold. I went back to Walgreens a few times as I ran out.

Clobetasol(mild steriod , prescription cream). Most OB's will prescribe this for you during pregnancy. This works to stop the rash from spreading, but aggrevates the rash and makes it very itchy before it heals. it does not take away the itch when you apply it.

Post Partum
Meds: Prednisone - oral 20 mg tablets
Atarax ? Hydroxyzine - oral 25 mg tablets

take both pills for six days

I had to stop breastfeeding during this timeframe.

So sorry to all who are suffering from PUPPPs. It is one of the worst things I have ever been through.