Bumps on Skin After Childbirth

You may experience bumps on your skin late in pregnancy or after giving birth, according to BabyCenter. There could be many causes for itchy bumps on your abdomen during or after pregnancy, but the good news is that the bumps are typically not a sign of anything serious and they tend to go away quickly after delivery. If you have irritating bumps on your skin during pregnancy or after giving birth, see your doctor for a diagnosis.

Appearance

The most common pregnancy rash forms as itchy red hives that appear on the abdomen in the third trimester or around the time of birth, according to BabyCenter. The itchy red bumps first appear near the site of any abdominal stretch marks and can then spread to your legs, arms and buttocks.

Symptoms

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The bumps that appear on your abdomen in late pregnancy are typically very itchy, according to BabyCenter. Pregnancy rashes are more likely to show up if you are having a multiple birth or if you are experiencing your first pregnancy. Some serious medical conditions can cause you to develop open sores on your abdomen in pregnancy, so keep an eye on your skin bumps before and after birth and let your doctor know if you experience any skin changes.

Causes

If you get bumps on your skin during pregnancy or after child birth, you most likely are experiencing pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, PUPPP. PUPPP is a condition that causes itchiness and bumps on pregnant women's abdomens. PUPPP is uncomfortable but harmless and usually disappears after birth. Red bumps that start like hives and then become inflamed, open sores, can be a sign of an illness called pemphigoid gestationis. Pemphigoid gestationis is not harmful to pregnant mothers, but it could have negative effects on your unborn baby if you are still pregnant. Severe itching in the second or third trimester can be a sign of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, a rare liver disorder, according to BabyCenter. Talk to your doctor if you experience any bumps, redness or itching on your body during or after pregnancy to determine the cause.

Treatments

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PUPPP is annoying but easy to treat, according to Parenting Weekly. Treat itchy red bumps caused by PUPPP using topical over-the-counter cortisone creams. You can also ask your doctor for prescription steroids if your itching is severe. More serious skin conditions during and after pregnancy should be treated by your doctor.

Considerations

The March of Dimes states that women who suffer from ICP while pregnant are a greater risk of stillbirth and premature delivery. If you have itchy skin all over your body accompanied by nausea, vomiting or fatigue, see your doctor immediately to rule out ICP.