Week 30 of Pregnancy: A Large Cabbage, and the Week We Got a Diagnosis
Key takeaways
- By week 30, the baby is about 39.9cm long, roughly the size of a large cabbage, with eyes now able to focus.
- My test results this week showed elevated liver enzymes as the actual cause of the itching — a pattern that matches a real, named pregnancy condition.
- That condition is called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), sometimes known as obstetric cholestasis — persistent itching plus abnormal liver blood tests, with no other explanation.
- Home remedies like coconut oil may ease dry skin, but they don't treat the underlying liver-related cause of ICP itching.
- Taking a symptom seriously and getting it tested early, rather than assuming it's ordinary pregnancy itching, matters for how it's managed.
Week 29 was the week I said something. Week 30 was the week I found out what it actually was.
What’s actually happening in your body
The baby is now around 39.9cm long, roughly the size of a large cabbage. The eyes can now focus, though after birth your baby will only be able to focus on things around 20-25cm away, and won’t track moving objects for another few months. This week also brings a long list of common third-trimester symptoms — breathlessness, disrupted sleep, backache, leg cramps, swelling, and indigestion among them — all generally tied to hormonal changes and the simple physical demands of carrying a baby this far along, according to NHS guidance on week 30 of pregnancy.
What I actually felt — and what we found out
My body was clearly changing by this point, but the bigger news was the test result. My doctor told me I had elevated liver enzymes, and that this — not just dry, stretching skin — was what was actually causing the itching. I was initially given one tablet in the morning, though by week 32 that turned out not to be enough on its own.
What surprised me most was the gap between what people around me assumed and what the doctors actually said. Friends and family told me itching in pregnancy is normal, and that coconut oil would give relief. My doctors saw it differently — they took it seriously, treated it as something that needed real monitoring, and started medication straight away. Looking back, it was a genuinely good decision to have raised it early and clearly rather than waiting to see if it would pass on its own.
What this pattern is called. Persistent itching, without a rash, combined with abnormal liver blood tests that aren’t explained by anything else — and that settle again after the baby is born — is a recognised condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), sometimes also called obstetric cholestasis. It affects somewhere between roughly 3 and 56 in every 1,000 pregnancies, depending on the population studied, and the itching often shows up first on the hands and feet, or gets noticeably worse at night, though it can also be more general, as mine was. Standard treatment includes a medication called ursodeoxycholic acid, aimed at easing symptoms and supporting liver function, alongside closer monitoring for the rest of the pregnancy, per RCOG clinical guidance. I want to be careful here: I’m describing the general pattern that matches what I went through, based on the tests and treatment I was given — this is not a substitute for your own doctor’s specific diagnosis if you’re dealing with something similar.
Nutrition focus this week
No changes specific to this week beyond whatever guidance you’re following for gestational diabetes if applicable. General pregnancy nutrition guidance continues to apply — see our foods and drinks to limit or avoid during pregnancy.
What to discuss with your doctor or midwife
If you’re dealing with itching that isn’t settling with basic moisturising — especially on the palms or soles, or that’s worse at night — ask directly whether liver function blood tests are appropriate. Don’t rely on general reassurance from people around you as a substitute for an actual test; it’s a quick, simple thing to rule in or out, and catching it early makes ongoing management much more straightforward.
Frequently asked questions
What is intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP)?
It’s a pregnancy-specific liver condition causing persistent itching, usually without a rash, alongside abnormal liver blood tests that aren’t explained by anything else, and that resolve after birth. It’s also called obstetric cholestasis.
Is coconut oil or moisturiser enough to treat this kind of itching?
It may ease general dry-skin discomfort, but it doesn’t address the underlying liver-related cause if that’s actually what’s driving the itching. A blood test is the only way to tell the difference.
How is ICP usually treated?
Commonly with a medication called ursodeoxycholic acid, alongside closer monitoring for the rest of the pregnancy. Dosage may be adjusted over time depending on how symptoms and test results progress.
Should I be worried if I have some itching in the third trimester?
Not automatically — mild itching from stretching skin is common and usually harmless. But persistent, worsening itching, especially on the hands or feet or worse at night, is worth getting checked with a simple blood test rather than assumed to be ordinary.
What size is the baby at week 30?
About 39.9cm long, roughly the size of a large cabbage.
References
- NHS — Your Pregnancy and Baby Guide, Week 30. nhs.uk
- NHS — Itching and Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy. nhs.uk
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists — Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (Green-top Guideline No. 43). rcog.org.uk
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