Why do you have itchy feet during pregnancy?

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Pregnancy is full of surprises and shocks that reveal as your pregnancy progresses. Some can be severe health issues, you may need a doctor’s visit, and others can be mild; you may get relief by applying home remedies or treatment. Likewise, pregnant women have itchiness, scratching, or scritching on their specific areas (chest, belly, feet, or palm) or whole body. These are common and mild issues that can be managed well.

Nothing is annoying more than itchiness and scratching. You may feel irritated, disturb and even experience difficulty sleeping. If you feel worse or unbearable itchiness on your feet or body, which is a sign of a severe condition, you need a medical examination.

Causes of itchy feet and their symptoms

There are various reasons you have itchy feet during pregnancy. Most of the issues you feel during pregnancy are due to fluctuations in pregnancy hormone levels. Doctors may suggest supplements during pregnancy such as methylfolate 15mg for pregnant women with MTHFR. However, simply taking supplements may not always help. Here we shed light on factors that prompt itchiness.

Intrahepatic cholestasis

Cholestasis is also referred to as intrahepatic cholestasis or obstetric cholestasis. This is rare but severe cause of itchy feet demands medical attention. Cholestasis may develop at the end of your pregnancy. Pregnancy may affect your liver’s ability to process bile —a fluid that aids in food digestion. Instead of sending bile into the digestive tract, it builds up in the liver and eventually enters the bloodstream, which leads to cholestasis. In the aftermath of this, you may feel the following symptoms;

  • Severe itchiness on hands and feet
  • Irritation
  • Nausea
  • Yellowish skin and eyes
  • Low appetite
  • Dark urine
  • Upper right-side abdominal pain

Sensitivity of nerve endings

During pregnancy, hormonal changes influence your nerve endings, that become more sensitive and you feel more itchiness. Pregnant women who already experience nerve-related issues like fibromyalgia may feel worse itchiness during pregnancy. You feel itching while standing to support your baby, lying during the night, and wearing tight clothes and shoes.


Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin problem that appears during pregnancy. This causes itchy red spots, silvery patches, and sometimes flares on your body during pregnancy.

Stretching skin

Hormonal changes are also responsible for stretching your body’s skin. The skin of your breast, abdomen, buttock, or thighs can be stretched. Stretching causes dehydration or loss of moisture from your skin. The dry skin is more prone to itchiness and sweetness. Thus, more likely you will feel itchy hands and feet.

Possible treatments or remedies for itchy feet

You can get relief from itchy skin, hands, and feet by using home remedies and over-the-counter treatments.

  • Moisturizer: You may feel itchy feet due to dryness and dehydration. You should apply moisturizer lotions like calamine lotion that recover your skin by moisturization, and you feel comfortable.
  • Massage: This remedy may also help you get rid of itchy feet. Ask or request your partner to perform a foot massage that distracts nerves and reduces itchiness.
  • Apply cold things to itchy areas: Use a cold compressor around your itchy areas, which may offer relief from itchy skin.
  • Wear comfortable shoes and new socks: You should wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You need to change your socks frequently.
  • Get light exercise: It’s good if you practice yoga. You should get safe and light exercise, improving your blood circulation and making you feel comfortable.
  • Medications: If you feel not comfortable and symptoms become worse, visit your doctor immediately. If you have cholestasis, you need medical help. The doctor prescribes ursodeoxycholic acid medication to treat cholestasis disease.


This is common for women to have itchy feet during pregnancy. This happens due to hormonal changes that affect your nerve endings and skin. These are mild ailments and can be treated by home remedies, but if you feel itchiness due to cholestasis, you need proper treatment to get rid of itchiness.



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