Treatment for cholestasis of pregnancy has two goals: relieve itching and prevent complications.
To relieve itching and increase bile flow, your health care provider may prescribe a medication such as ursodeoxycholic acid. Anti-itch lotions or lotions that contain corticosteroids may be helpful, too. Sometimes soaking the itchy areas in cold water is soothing.
Your health care provider may recommend regular blood tests to monitor how well your liver is working and measure the amount of bile in your blood. He or she may also recommend regular ultrasounds and non stress tests to monitor your baby's well being. During an ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves are translated into a pattern of light and dark areas creating an image of your baby on a monitor. During a non stress test, your health care provider will check how often your baby moves in a certain period of time and how much his or her heart rate increases with movement.
Even if the prenatal tests appear normal, your health care provider may suggest inducing labor early at or near 38 weeks, or even earlier if cholestasis is severe. An early delivery can be frightening. But remember that your health care provider has your health and your baby's health in mind. Sometimes an early delivery is the best way to prevent complications.
The above information thankfully comes from the Mayo Clinic.com at the following link.
