Katherine Jenkins is a Welsh opera singer who has entertained Britons for years, and on top of being a global superstar, Katherine is a proud mum of two.
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The singer revealed a difficult time whilst pregnant with her second child.
Katherine spoke to The Sun last year and said: “With my second pregnancy there was a little bit of a complication.
“I got a thing called cholestasis, I had itchy skin and at first I thought it was just stretching.
“Eventually I had a blood test and I found that my liver wasn’t working properly which can have really serious effects.”
The star was eventually told she had cholestasis.
Cholestasis is defined as a decrease in bile flow due to impaired secretion by hepatocytes.
Med Scape states: “It can also be caused by an obstruction of bile flow through intra-or extrahepatic bile ducts.
“The clinical definition of cholestasis is any condition in which substances normally excreted in bile are retained.”
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a liver disorder that can develop during pregnancy.
It is uncommon, affecting around one in 140 pregnant women.
The condition is caused by a build-up of bile acids and other substances in the liver, which then leak into the woman’s bloodstream.
The condition causes itching which can be uncomfortable, however most women who have ICP go onto have healthy babies.
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What are the symptoms?
The main symptom is itching, usually without a rash, according to the NHS.
It explains: “For many women with cholestasis, the itching is often more noticeable on the hands and feet but can be all over the body or worse at night.
“Other symptoms include dark urine, pale poo, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, but this is less common.
“Symptoms of cholestasis typically start from around 30 weeks of pregnancy, but it’s possible to develop the condition as early as eight weeks.”
Katherine was fortunate and had no complications from the disorder.
She gave birth to her son Xander and told the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast that the condition was deceptive.
“I had literally never heard of the condition before,” she said.
“I didn’t realise it was serious and I think it’s something that people should talk about more.”
Katherine urged other expectant mothers that if they experience itching to “go get a blood test”.
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