The itch often strikes your hands and feet. But it can occur all over—affecting your arms, your legs, even your scalp. And the urge to scratch can be so intense that it keeps you up at night.
That’s what happened to Christina DePino, 28.
The most common symptom of ICP? Itching.
It can range from moderate to severe, as in the case of DePino, who was officially diagnosed with ICP at 36 weeks pregnant.
“My doctor explained that while not all the reasons are understood, after 37 weeks, patients with ICP are at a very high risk of having a stillborn,” DePino told CBS News. “He also explained that induction was still my choice, as it is possible to carry a baby to full term and not have a stillborn.”
DePino opted to be induced and ultimately gave birth to a healthy baby girl a week after learning she had ICP. Since then, she has taken to Facebook again, this time to issue her own warning about the condition.
“If you’re pregnant and you’re itching REALLY bad, don’t ignore it!” she wrote in her post. “A simple blood test could save your baby’s life.”
