Medical expert of the article
New publications
Abdominal itching during pregnancy
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Abdominal itching during pregnancy should not go unnoticed, and if this symptom occurs, a woman should report it to her gynecologist.
Itching during pregnancy is often localized on the abdomen due to its enlargement and stretch marks on the skin. Doctors have repeatedly considered the question of why pregnant women have itchy stomachs and have come to the consensus that this symptom most often occurs against the background of physiological changes in the woman's body. The skin stretches, loses its elasticity due to increased estrogen levels, becomes excessively dry, and this provokes the scratching reflex. Most often, abdominal itching caused by hormonal changes in the body goes away after childbirth and does not require special medical intervention.
Causes of abdominal itching during pregnancy
Large-scale medical research has proven another reason for the occurrence of abdominal itching in pregnant women. If the abdomen is constantly itchy, this may indicate liver dysfunction. Itching thus becomes an accompanying symptom of hepatitis, cholecystitis, cholestasis and other "liver" diseases. In this case, not only the entire abdomen itches, but also the chest, back, legs and arms of the pregnant woman. Itching caused by liver dysfunction usually intensifies at night and may be accompanied by a burning sensation. This condition is very dangerous and in rare cases can lead to complicated labor and death of the fetus. Only timely diagnostics will help save the situation.
[ 3 ]
Diagnosis of abdominal itching during pregnancy
After the examination, the doctor may prescribe additional testing in the form of blood tests (general and biochemical), liver function tests, and, if necessary, an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. The test results will show whether the main cause of the itching is an allergy or liver dysfunction. Often, an allergic reaction in a pregnant woman's body can be caused by a change in hormonal levels. In this case, the allergy is acquired and can occur from almost any irritant: tight or synthetic clothing, food, cosmetics, etc.
Naturally, liver problems will be indicated first of all by tests (liver function tests, bilirubin, AST, ALT, etc.). It is important for a pregnant woman not to neglect scheduled visits to her gynecologist and to tell him about any changes that occur in her body, including the occurrence of even minor itching in the abdominal area. Usually, if the itching is associated with stretching of the skin due to the growing belly, it is localized in small skin areas.
How to Prevent Itchy Belly During Pregnancy?
To avoid itching during pregnancy, the expectant mother is advised to review her diet and exclude foods that are “heavy” on the liver (salty, spicy, fried), exotic fruits and seafood. To improve bowel function, it is necessary to include dried apricots and prunes in the menu, which improve peristalsis.
To prevent stretch marks on the skin of the abdomen, pregnant women are recommended to use special moisturizers, as well as take a shower using hypoallergenic products. For taking baths, you can use herbal decoctions (succession, celandine, chamomile). Creams for moisturizing the skin should be neutral, without chemical additives and strong odors. In pharmacies, you can buy special products developed by dermatologists for pregnant women.
Abdominal itching during pregnancy is called "polymorphic dermatosis of pregnancy" in medicine and most often appears in the second half of pregnancy, when the fetus increases in size and begins to actively move in the mother's belly. It is important for a pregnant woman to promptly pay attention to itching in the abdominal area and take care to eliminate the factors that provoke stretch marks, which leave an unaesthetic mark after childbirth. To prevent striae (stretch marks), it is necessary to immediately apply active moisturizing of the abdominal skin with natural remedies. Moreover, this applies not only to areas of skin on the abdomen, but also to the chest, thighs - in a word, those areas where stretch marks most often appear.