Did you know that one of the postpartum symptoms that can appear is postpartum hives?
You’ve heard about new symptoms appearing during the postpartum time.
Hives are characterized by a rough skin rash that typically results from an allergic reaction to something or from a psychological factor like as extreme stress; new parents are familiar with these causes.
Hives are a symptom or indication that something is off with your immune system. 20 percent of people experience them (not just new parents).
You can experience postpartum hives even if you’ve never experienced them before and even if you don’t have allergies.
Fear not; hives typically disappear as quickly as they appeared. Here are some possible causes of postpartum hives and treatment options.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ Hives are a sign of other health issues, such as allergies, that may be present.
✅ Even if you’ve never experienced allergies or other skin rashes before, postpartum hives can occur for a number of different reasons.
✅ you could require therapy if you have severe postpartum hives or if a chronic ailment is what’s causing them.
✅ Any medication for hives should not be applied or taken without first consulting your doctor.
✅ If you are breastfeeding your child, this is very crucial.
Postpartum hives signs
Hives might resemble a red skin rash or elevated skin lumps. They can occasionally resemble other skin rashes, such eczema. At the end of their pregnancy or soon after giving birth, some people develop an allergic rash that resembles hives.
You can experience the following signs and symptoms if you have postpartum hives, skin rash on the arms, legs, stomach, chest, or face (pretty much anywhere) single welts, big flat lumps, or skin patches, Skin lumps that are pink, crimson, or skin-colored and that, when pressed, blanch or turn white, eczema-like symptoms include flat, puffy pimples on the skin that can cluster together.
Postpartum hives causes
There are numerous causes for postpartum hives or a skin rash. If you don’t typically have hives, your pregnancy might be to blame. Once your body has recovered from having a baby, you generally won’t experience hives again.
Allergies
Hives are typically brought on by an allergic reaction. No, you are not allergic to your newborn: If you have never had allergies or have only only had extremely mild allergies, you should be aware that pregnancy can exacerbate them. A third of pregnant women experience worsening asthma and allergy problems.
This may occur because the hormonal ups and downs of pregnancy can affect your immune system. After giving birth, your body may experience hives as a result of all these changes. The health of your gut may also vary as a result of dietary changes made during (and after) pregnancy.
Allergies can occasionally result from this setting off the immune system’s overdrive. Your body may experience postpartum hives because it is more sensitive as it adjusts to these changes following pregnancy.
You may experience an allergic skin reaction if you are around common allergens like, dust pollen, animal fur and dander, mold and mildew, latex, insect bites or stings, and chemicals, colors, or scents. Antibiotics (such amoxicillin and penicillin), ibuprofen, and aspirin are examples of drugs.
Infections
Additionally, infections from bacteria and viruses might momentarily destabilize your immune system. Postpartum hives and other allergy problems could result from this. You are more susceptible to the flu or a cold while pregnant. After the baby is born, these germs may opt to linger in your body and bother your immune system when it is at ease.
With all that happens during birth, you could also have infections there! The following infections can cause postpartum hives:
- infections of the urinary tract
- various bacterial infections, such as strep throat
- the influenza virus
- hepatitis virus
- infectious mononucleosis
- common cold virus (mono for short)
- Virus infections elsewhere
A slow liver
Your body, especially the liver, can go into overdrive during pregnancy. As a result, your liver may take longer to perform the crucial task of removing toxins and other impurities from the blood. When this occurs, your circulation may become clogged with wastes or your liver enzymes may experience a brief imbalance.
Hives and other skin rashes may develop in either of these scenarios.
According to a medical case study, this can occur shortly after delivery or around 36 weeks into a pregnancy. Rash outbreaks on the face, stomach, and legs might result from liver-related postpartum hives. You can also experience the following signs of a sluggish liver in addition to hives, ever puffiness or swelling, overall weariness, or your blood pressure is high.
It’s uncommon to see postpartum hives due to a liver imbalance. For this reason, 0.5% of women who are pregnant or recently gave birth may have hives or a skin rash. If this is your first pregnancy, your chances of developing this type of skin rash are increased.
Other factors
Other factors that could affect your immune system, such as physical, psychological, and emotional issues, can result in postpartum hives. After all, there are a lot of issues to resolve and adjustments to make as soon as your baby is delivered.
Other potential causes of postpartum hives include:
- experiencing a panic attack
- feeling nervous or depressed
- sleeping at strange hours
- not getting enough sleep
- receiving blood transfusions
Alterations to your diet exposure to the sun exercise or other physical activity wearing restrictive clothing
What is the duration of postpartum hives?
The underlying cause of this transient skin problem will determine how long postpartum hives persist. Hives caused by most allergic reactions typically disappear as soon as your body has finished eliminating the allergen. This could take a few minutes to several hours or even days. If you’re exposed to the allergen again, your postpartum hives can come back.
After giving birth, postpartum hives caused by a liver imbalance may go away within a week or they may persist for up to six weeks.
Medical care for hives after childbirth
You often won’t need to seek medical attention for postpartum hives. In severe circumstances, your doctor may recommend medication to assist control symptoms. As part of the treatment, you could:
- steroid skin cream (like betamethasone valerate)
- a steroid medication (like pheniramine)
- cream or lotion with anti-itch steroids (like prednisolone in cases of serious swelling and itching)
- an (epi)pen for administering allergy injections
- a drug known as ursodeoxycholic acid (or Udiliv, only if the cause is a serious liver imbalance)
Medical studies have shown that allergy drugs like the antihistamine pheniramine and steroid creams like betamethasone valerate are safe for women who are pregnant or nursing. But before using or taking any sort of medication, speak to your doctor if you have postpartum hives and you’re breastfeeding your child.
To determine what you are allergic to and whether your allergies are permanent, you may need to contact an allergy specialist if you suffer from allergies.
Cures at home for postpartum hives
Home treatments for postpartum hives aid in itching relief and skin calming. To lessen the scratching, try these suggestions:
- take a chilly (or warm) bath.
- (After receiving assistance with your new child!) snooze or unwind.
- To help the region heal and feel better, apply pure aloe gel (s)
- use a natural cream, such as shea butter
- apply moist bandages to the skin.
- Put on airy, loose-fitting clothing (especially cotton fabrics)
- Avoid allergens if you are allergic to them.
When should I go to visit a doctor
If you experience postpartum hives, even just once, let your doctor know. If you get postpartum hives or any other severe allergy symptoms, such as other anaphylactic symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, mouth, or neck, difficulty breathing, dizziness or lightheadedness, and fainting.
If you experience hives more than once, if they don’t go after a few days, or if you experience intense itching, see your doctor straight once. For the underlying reason for the postpartum hives, you could require medical attention.
Additionally, if you develop a skin rash and are unsure whether it is caused by hives or something else, see your doctor right once.