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.

Cholestasis of pregnancy can cause complications for you and the fetus. To lower the risk of complications, your pregnancy care provider may monitor you closely for the remainder of your pregnancy.

What happens if I have cholestasis while pregnant?

During pregnancy, a fetus relies on your liver to remove waste from its blood. If your liver isn’t functioning properly, bile levels may increase to unsafe levels that may stress the fetus’s liver. Your liver is an important organ responsible for removing waste from your body, so when it’s not fully functioning, it can cause complications.

Your pregnancy care provider will monitor you closely to ensure cholestasis doesn’t harm you or the fetus.

How common is cholestasis of pregnancy?

Cholestasis affects about 1 to 2 in 1,000 people during pregnancy. More people are diagnosed with ICP during the winter than other times of the year, but researchers aren’t sure why. Data suggests it’s more common in people of Hispanic and Swedish backgrounds.