Contact your health care provider if you develop any signs or symptoms of cholestasis of pregnancy :
- Intense itching
- Dark-colored urine
- Light-colored bowel movements
- Yellow eyes or skin
- Abdominal pain
Cholestasis of Pregnancy Tests and Diagnosis
If your health care provider suspects cholestasis of pregnancy, he or she will ask questions about your medical history and do a physical exam. You may need various blood tests to evaluate how well your liver is working and measure the amount of bile in your blood. Your health care provider also may evaluate your liver with an ultrasound exam. During the ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves are translated into a pattern of light and dark areas creating an image of your liver on a monitor.
Cholestasis of Pregnancy Complications
For mothers, cholestasis of pregnancy may temporarily hinder the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Itching usually resolves within a few days of delivery, and subsequent liver problems are uncommon although cholestasis is likely to recur with other pregnancies.
For babies, the complications of cholestasis of pregnancy can be much more severe. For reasons not well understood, cholestasis of pregnancy increases the risk of preterm birth and meconium a substance that lines the baby's intestines during pregnancy in the amniotic fluid. If a baby inhales meconium during delivery, he or she may have trouble breathing. There's also a risk of fetal death late in pregnancy. Because of the potentially severe complications, labor is typically induced early.
The above information thankfully comes from the Mayo Clinic.com at the following link.
