Hello All

I've scoured the web and even talked to a dermatologist about this but nobody seems to be able to give me a definitive answer. As time is running out before the baby is due, I'd be grateful for any thoughts you might have, or shared experiences, which might reassure me or at least guide me as to what course of action to take.

I am 26 weeks pregnant with my first child. I have suffered from severe cholinergic urticaria for 14 years. I used to take antihistamines and then a combination of H1 and H2 inhibitors but over the years they stopped working so I now take no medication at all. I've managed to cope like this - by doing no exercise and taking things steady - for years. However, during pregnancy the urticaria has got worse (something to do with more blood or fluid in my system I guess) and I am particularly concerned about the labour. Now I know that I will developed urticaria during the labour as I start to get hotter and to exert myself. I can (probably) cope with this. But my question to you is what effect will a really severe attack, possibly lasting several hours, have on my baby? Will it deplete the baby of oxygen (if blood is rushing to my skin)? Am I at risk of going into anaphylactic shock? What medication, if any, could I take? Do I need to be in a hospital? Should I consider a c-section?

There must have been other women out there with CU who have given birth - if you're one of them, or if you have any thoughts on the above please please let me know.

With thanks

Billie