Does Anyone Else Have Experience with Hives During Pregnancy?

I had PUPPS while I was pregnant, both times. You get it while you're pregnant, it's rare though. I itched like crazy, I used a topical cream by aveeno and it helped. oatmeal is good too. Just try to stay away from any other creams, I found that strech mark cream made it horrible.

Hi Molly, I also had hives all throughout my pregnancy with the worst breakout right after delivery. My doctor recommended Aveeno oatmeal bath and cortisone cream. They both helped a lot! Good Luck!

Hi Molly
I didn't have hives during pregnancy but have had my shares Prior and Post.. For me, that which brought it on was STRESS .
From all that I have read about hives on the net, it seems once you have hives, they run a cycle. the cycle can vary in length.. a week to weeks. What helped me the most was one, try and find ways to reduce stress, NO hot baths/showers (heat makes the hives worse) as people noted. try cool baths with oatmeal, BUT beware, the chlorine in the water (warm or cool)can dry your skin out and further inflame the hives. Additionally and what I found of most importance, DO keep hydrated with water .. Keeping your body well hydrated will allow your body functions to more readily combat the hives. If you are like some pregnant women, because once we drink something, you readily feel the urge to urinate , we sometimes STOP drinking as much water as we may need.
Also, at first I took allergy medicine like benadryl, but I too found I was allergic to it and in fact, in the shortrun while that type of medicine might kinda work, in the long run, I think the adverse effects are much worse and harsh on the body (at least for me) pain in my chest, dehydration.. etc..
Mostly, I would make bathing very short and in cooler water because as mentioned, the chlorine in our water supply can , in my opinion irritate and further dry your skin (I do this anyway) regardless of not being pregnant... and drink plenty of good water...I think these two will help. Oh and I personally, I wouldn't oil up your skin with too many lotions.. I truly think the hives will do better IF allowed to breathe.. especially at night.. wear cotton clothing.. that does not cling.. You may have noticed, once you are in bed, the heat of the blankets/body heat can eventually warm you up so much that it triggers an itching spell..... again, let the hives breathe....

I get hives all the time, and did while I was pregnant as well. I don't know if you are also allergic to topical benadryl, but I was able to use that while pregnant, just on the small area where I had hives. If you can't use that, Aveeno makes some topical creams that may help. Also you can take a bath with oatmeal in it. I'm not sure why it works, but it seems to? Good luck - nothing like being pregnant and super-itchy, huh? Hang in there...

I didn't get 'em while pregnant, but broke out in terrible hives right after delivery. Eventually subsided.

Hi Molly - I wish you well and believe you will resolve this situation. I would like to recommend that you research mangosteen juice. It is not a medication, but has been used in SouthEast Asia for centuries for many purposes, including inflammation and has been found to help with allergies. I can deliver or mail XanGo samples for you to try to see if drinking 1 oz 3 times per day with meals alleviates your symptoms. As with anything, speak to your OB before taking anything new but mangosteen has no know side effects. Be well. V. G. :o) www.referralco-op.com

Molly,

There is a condition called Uricaria, which brings on hives due to various reasons (stress, heat, pregnancy). I would suggest you calling your doctor and getting checked out, especially when you are Allergic to Benadryl! You can learn more about Uricaria by typing in Pregnancy Induced Hives on Google.

I hope this helps, and I hope your itchies go away soon!

I experienced hives, I think due to stress, while in my first trimester. Although I am not allergic to Benadryl, it didn't help with the hives at all. I had to be given prescription meds. Zyrtec helped after the first couple of doses. So if you're allergic to only Benadryl,you might try another med.

Hives during pregnancy is common. I think it is called Urticaria...call your OB/GYN for some advice. They may give you a cream...also you can take an oatmeal bath! good luck

Hi Molly,

I am totally allergic to benadryl too! People always look at you like you must be confused when you say that don't they!

Well, I didn't have hives but I did have PUPPS which is CRAZY itchy and the only thing that worked was bags of frozen peas placed on my belly. Obviously you cannot cover yourself head to toe in frozen peas but maybe if you have a really ichy spot you should try that. I also had a bottle of Aloe Vera Gel in the fridge (nice and cold seemed to help) that helped but only VERY temporarily.

Good luck Molly! We'll be thinking of you.

xoxo,
T.

p.s.
obviously have the Dr. check it out just in case and to properly diagnose...

While i was pregnant I temporarily became allergic to soap. Check that out.

Oy...that is tough. I got PUPPS when I was pregnant with my son which is like hives. The only difference is that with PUPPS you itch SO badly and NOTHING seems to help. I was on benadryl ALL day (even at work) and that did nothing. They ended up putting me on prednisone. Have you talked to your doctor? I was also on a lot of creams like Sarna Lotion.

Hi. I didn't get them during pregnancy, but there is a homeopathic med for hives made by Hyland, it's called Hyland Hives. They are sublingual tablets you let melt under your tongue. Anyone had good luck with these? I was not taking them regularly enough, and my hives just resolved on their own. Cool towels felt great, and my best solution was a prescription for Atarax from my doctor. Not sure you can use in pregnancy, but it cuts the itch by calming the mind, very effective.

I have been recently treated for hives (not during pregnancy) and they put me on all sorts of meds to try to alleviate the symptoms. My allergist said in most cases they never realy understand what the trigger was and most of the time they go away in a matter of weeks. I used a combination of OTC and prescription meds to try to get things under control. I ended up having to go on Prednisone for quite awhile but they did finally go away. The meds I used included, Allegra 180, Zyrtec, Atarax, Singulair, Tagamet, Benadryl, and Prednisone. They suggested a diet that was mostly organic and low in acid, eliminating tomatoes, many fruits and things with artificial colors and flavors. I have no idea which of these things or combination of things worked reduce the hives. I am gradually weaning off the meds now.
Good luck to you. I know how miserable it can be, I was covered head to toe too.
J.

Take a bath with oatmeal!!!
Grind dry oatmeal in blender and add it to your bath water!!!
And after the bath, rub-on some Olive or Coconut oil!!!

Love, G.. :0)
http://stemcellforautism.blogspot.com/

"I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical. Even God had some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin." ~ Jerry Newport

Hi,
Ask your doctor to check for Cholestasis of Pregnancy. Sounds like what I had and if it is, you need to be closely watched during your pregnancy. I had to have ultrasounds and fetal monitoring 2-3 times per week. Good luck.
S.

Hi Molly,
I feel for you! I had hives like that with my son and less but some with my daughter. I would talk with you OB and be sure to let her know. It is hormones. I am not sure about options other than benedryl. Ask about what topical ointment is safe to give you relief, like Calamine. Just ask for sure before use.
I remember my OB telling me the only cure was delivery but that was 6 years ago so check. I will keep you in my prayers for relief. Try not to scratch...

I have had hives before although not while pregnant, it was an allergic reaction to color safe bleach. You could try calomine lotion or cortizone cream for the itching. The hives can also be caused by severe stress.

Hi Molly, there is actually a condition that appears during pregnancy that causes this. Have you asked you OB? My daughter had it and it subsided after she gave birth I will ask her what she knows about it and get back to you. Good luck

I've always had sensitive skin and eczema. With my first pregnancy I had a small rash a few weeks prior to becoming pregnant. Once I was pregnant it became horrible. Primarily my breast and torso. It started like hives that sort of grew together. The dermatologoist tried what they could. Benedryl only helped me by making me fall asleep so I didn't notice the itching anymore. They finally declared PAPS, pregnancy rash by the end and I itched my whole pregnancy. They recommended some steroids toward the end of my preg but I didn't want them even though they felt the baby was far enough along.
So now I am pregnant again. I've had a rash on my breasts for months but not that I'm in my 2nd trimester it has started on my waist again. It looks like hives that get dry and more eczema like after a day or two. So I guess I now know it is PAPS. I treat it like dry skin and it seems to help to use lotion frequently(try Lubriderm or cetaphil which are recommended for sensitive skin). They way I understand it is we are immunosuppressed during pregnancy and for the allergy prone of use our skin also gets hyper-alert. Don't feel that Benadryl would necessarily help if you could take it. It hasn't for me. I eventually had it on my legs and arms also but you might want to check with a dermatologist anyway. try not to take to warm/hot of showers or baths, they dry the skin and made my itching worse. They will ask the usual stuff...changed laundry detergent or fabric softeners. I'd go for perfume free detergents and stop using fabric softeners for awhile anyway. You may be sensitive now even if you were not prior to your pregnancy. They also recommended an anti-itch cream (Sarna I think?) from the drug store. Just double check it doesn't have the same ingredients as benedryl that you are sensitive to...So less luke warm showers lots of lotion and avoid perfumes...But you aren't alone. And I never found a good description of PAPS rashes except "rash", helpful right?!