Abbie Herbert’s Itchy Hands Were the Only Sign of Serious Pregnancy Condition
TODAY.com • • health
Key Points:
- Abbie Herbert, a content creator in her third trimester, noticed unusual itching on her hands during pregnancy but initially dismissed it as a typical symptom until viewers of her TikTok "Vlogmas" videos urged her to seek medical advice.
- After blood tests revealed abnormal liver bile acid levels, Herbert was diagnosed with cholestasis, a pregnancy-related liver condition that can cause serious complications for the baby, including preterm birth and stillbirth.
- Herbert's doctor advised immediate delivery due to the severity of her condition, leading to an urgent C-section and the birth of a healthy son on December 5.
- Cholestasis is caused by bile acids backing up in the bloodstream and can be difficult to detect early due to subtle symptoms; treatment varies
