What is cholestasis of pregnancy?

Cholestasis of pregnancy is a liver condition that causes severe itching late in pregnancy. It’s also known as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) or obstetric cholestasis.

ICP temporarily lowers liver function in some pregnant people. This causes bile to build up in your liver and bloodstream. Bile is a substance produced by your liver and stored in your gallbladder. Every time you eat, bile breaks down fats so you can digest them properly. When levels of bile in your blood reach a certain level, you may begin to itch. Read more….