Well, I may have figured out my problem.
I was sorting out the clues I'd collected in this itch mystery. I decided to focus on the fact that the itchiness seemed to get much worse in the evenings. What did I do differently then? Was it my nightshirts? The fact that I wasn't wearing a bra? Something I was eating or drinking at night before bed? Was it something in my sweat? (I tended to get a little sweatier in my neck and chest area when I'd sleep.)
Every night when I put Charon to bed, I lay down on my own bed; the itchiness always seemed to get worse from then on. A-ha! My pillowcase! I made sure to avoid the dryer sheets . . . and then I remembered that my pillow was fairly new. A couple of months ago, I treated myself to a new pillow. It was a soft, lovely feather one, and I adored it. I've never used a feather pillow regularly before, and it felt so right. But after laying on it for a half hour or so, I started to feel . . . sort of itchy. D'oh!
I've changed to a new pillow and the itchiness has gradually faded. I am not absolutely certain it was the pillow, as I've changed several other things this last month, too, but I don't think it was helping much. I feel so much better. I am even able to scratch now and get some relief instead of causing more angst. Which is good, because I was about to go to extreme measures….
Last month, when I was complaining to a friend about my itchiness, she told me her sister-in-law, who is a medical doctor also versed in homeopathy, had a sure cure for itchy skin. "I've got your answer," she said proudly.
"What? What is it? Tell me!" I couldn't wait.
"Blue silk."
"What? Blue? Why blue? Is it something in the dye…?" I couldn't believe I was asking that. Dyes must be made of all different kinds of things now, and probably nothing homeopathic; chemicals, more like. "Really, blue only?" (Read Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry to learn how special the color blue can be.)
"Yes. I don't know why. But it's supposed to work."
"Huh."
After getting over the feeling of disbelief, I decided I deserved a pretty blue silk scarf to drape gorgeously around my neck, especially if I had to deal with this wacky itchy feeling throughout this pregnancy. Actually, that sounded really nice. Soft and comforting.
I figured out the pillow thing shortly after that, so I didn't get as far as making the purchase. But I do think that scarf would be a souvenir of this pregnancy. Maybe I'll splurge.
At my appointment this last week, my midwife asked me right away about the itchiness. Her memory impressed me, and her sympathy flattered me. I explained the pillow thing and told her I thought I'd found the culprit.
Pete and Charon both came to this visit. "Do you want to help me with the heartbeat again, Charon?" the midwife asked her. "No." "Well, you let me know if you change your mind." When I started climbing onto the table and the Doppler came out of the cupboard, Charon decided, "I want to help!" I loved having both Pete and Charon hear that sound with me. "The original rhythm," the midwife remarked.
When the nurse first brought us into the examining room, she asked, "Which due date are we going with, November 5th or October 20th?" My eyes got big. "You mean the 28th? That's the date I came up with, because I know the day I ovulated."
"No, it says the 20th here..."
"Oh, I bet it's from the ultrasound we just had last month! Baby was measuring a bit bigger, and I bet that's the date the ultrasound gave. We'll talk to the midwife about it."
Sure enough, it was the ultrasound due date, which I think she said could be off by up to two weeks at this point. And besides, baby pretty much decides anyway when s/he's ready, we agreed. She left both dates on my chart, but I told her I'd rather plan for and expect a later due date, although I have a feeling I will be earlier. (Charon came 12 days before the due date I predicted for her, and 16 days before the OB's due date. And she was eight pounds even! Definitely ready to be born.)
