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ICP Support
Recommendations & Reviews
About us
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver condition specific to pregnancy. It affects around 5,500 women a year in the UK (that's about 0.7% of all pregnancies), while in parts of South America the incidence has settled at around 4-5%: it's a geographically diverse condition!
Although ICP is not life-threatening to the mother-to-be, there are concerns for the baby as it is associated with fetal distress, spontaneous premature labour and, in very severe cases, stillbirth. We know therefore that it can be a very worrying and distressing condition to have so as a charity we provide support and information to people affected by ICP, raise awareness of the condition, and promote and fund research into it.
We have an active Facebook page that you can go to for support or to ask questions and we also have a support line that you can contact. Our replies to you will be based on research and personal experience.
We believe it is important that you have the most up to date scientific information about the condition so what is written on our website about ICP is verified by researchers, scientists and doctors. Jenny Chambers, Founder of ICP Support, also works as part of a research group in London that investigates the disorder and is able to provide the latest thinking on how to diagnose, treat and manage ICP, so do email Jenny (jennychambers@icpsupport.org) if you have any questions that may require detailed answers or if you are interested in taking part in research.
Please share this page with friends, family and health professionals and help us achieve our vision that every ICP baby will be born safely.
NB: Any photos we post on here will always be with the permission of the people involved and, if required, with the permission of the organisation (such as a hospital or company) too.
Although ICP is not life-threatening to the mother-to-be, there are concerns for the baby as it is associated with fetal distress, spontaneous premature labour and, in very severe cases, stillbirth. We know therefore that it can be a very worrying and distressing condition to have so as a charity we provide support and information to people affected by ICP, raise awareness of the condition, and promote and fund research into it.
We have an active Facebook page that you can go to for support or to ask questions and we also have a support line that you can contact. Our replies to you will be based on research and personal experience.
We believe it is important that you have the most up to date scientific information about the condition so what is written on our website about ICP is verified by researchers, scientists and doctors. Jenny Chambers, Founder of ICP Support, also works as part of a research group in London that investigates the disorder and is able to provide the latest thinking on how to diagnose, treat and manage ICP, so do email Jenny (jennychambers@icpsupport.org) if you have any questions that may require detailed answers or if you are interested in taking part in research.
Please share this page with friends, family and health professionals and help us achieve our vision that every ICP baby will be born safely.
NB: Any photos we post on here will always be with the permission of the people involved and, if required, with the permission of the organisation (such as a hospital or company) too.
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4 recommendations and reviews from 3 people
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Referral from
March 15, 2018
Jessica D. asked:Urgent help. Hi all,am currently 37 weeks almost 38 and over the weekend experienced severe itching for two nights having read up on it I mentioned it to midwife and so this morning got my fasting blood salts tested (blood test) they called me and said my bloods showed it's raisedEllese P. replied:I had ICP in both my pregnancies. This website: http://icpsupport.org/ has lots of great information and they have a Facebook group which provides amazing support.
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Referral from
June 2, 2015
Emma D. asked:Hi, I have just been diagnosed with icp and looking for some info/advice etc. I am currently 32 + weeks. I have severe itching all over which is driving me insane. Went to hospital on Saturday where bloods were done an told bile acids high at 33? Ive been started on urso & vitamin k and I have an appointment tomorrow for monitoring, scan & to see a consultant. We are very worried as I had never heard of icp until now and never had it with my 1st child (this is my 2nd). Ive been told very little so far other than I wont go full term an will need to be monitored once/twice weekly. Does anyone have any info/stories/help that they can share with me? Thank you in advance ☺Yvonne C. replied:Hi Emma and welcome to the group. Sorry you've been diagnosed with ICP, but I'm glad you've found us! Have you checked out our website www.icpsupport.org? There is a section called "10 things..." in the "what is ICP" part which you will find helpful in preparing for your ICP journey. Your BA level is raised, but it's good that it's under 40 (the level for severe ICP). Have you been prescribed a medication called urso? It can help lower the BA and is thought to help protect the baby from the bile acids. The doctors on the research team would typically start with a dose of 1000 mg daily, split over two doses. In terms of monitoring, even with urso, you want the bile acids to be checked so the doctors can see if the urso of working. Researchers recommend delivery of the baby at 37-38 weeks, sometimes earlier if the BA is very high and not coming down (for example in the hundreds). It can be scary dealing with a complication like this, but we are here to support you and provide you with info based on the latest research. Feel free to ask anything you need to know and we'll do our best to answer! Yvonne (ICP Support moderator)
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Referral from
August 3, 2015
Shauna R. asked:Hi Im 36+3 I was diagnosed with ICP last Tuesday and giving vitamin K. I'm back in hospital in two days for more bile acid tests I was wondering can anyone can anyone tell me if the itch gets worse does this means my bile acids are rising? Iv been itchy but today it seems to be getting a lot worse. Has anyone any suggestions on what I can do to calm this itch? ThanksAlice T. replied:Have you had a chance to look at our website? Www.icpsupport.org The itch doesn't always correlate with the bile acids but it is a good idea to mention increase of symptoms to your midwife / day assessment unit. If I was in your shoes, I would be eager to know those bile acid results and dependent on those results discussing the option of Urso.Alice T. replied:Do you know how high your bile acids were last week? I assume you are not taking Urso? Alice (ICP Support Moderator)
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