Pregnancy Cholestasis: Recurrence, Timing & Risks - Expert Advice

Question
Dear Kristy,
I was diagnosed with Cholestasis of pregnancy around week 35 with my first
child.  I have read that cholestasis often recurs with subsequent pregnancies.  
Does it usually develop around the same time, or is it possible that it could
develop earlier in the pregnancy and threaten the pregnancy?  We ended up
inducing at 37 weeks and my son was lung-mature and perfectly healthy.  I
am just concerned that if I get pregnant again it could recur and be more
detrimental.

Thanks!
Jennifer

Answer
Hi Jennifer!!

You have about a 90% chance of developing Cholestasis in pregnancy, if you decided to get pregnant again.

Generally, Cholestasis develops late in pregnancy, when pregnancy hormones are at their highest. This is generally when it starts to affect the gullbladder, and liver.

Here's a link for you with more detailed reading :)

Hope this is of some help, and thanks for writing.

P.S If you were to become pregnant again, because you have a history you will be carefully monitered. As I said, this disease really only occurs late in pregnancy. Now if it were to happen again around the 35 weeks mark, or even earlier there are medications that can be given to speed up baby's lung development. Because you will be monitered, the chances of this threatening your pregnancy, are extremely, low.

Here's the link!

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/cholestasispregnancy.htm...

Thanks for writing.

-Kristy