ICP Support

Our vision is that every ICP baby is born safely Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver condition specific to pregnancy.

It affects around 5,500 women a year in the UK (that's about 0.7% of all pregnancies), while in parts of South America the incidence has settled at around 4-5%: it's a geographically diverse condition! Although ICP is not life-threatening to the mother-to-be, there are concerns for the baby as it is associated with fetal distress, spontaneous premature labour and, in very severe cases, stillbirth.

We know therefore that it can be a very worrying and distressing condition to have so as a charity we provide support and information to people affected by ICP, raise awareness of the condition, and promote and fund research into it. We have active Facebook groups (for during and after an ICP pregnancy) that you can go to for support or to ask questions and we can provide one to one support via email. Our replies to you will be based on research and personal experience. You can find out more about our support here: https://bit.ly/OurSupportForYou

We believe it is important that you have the most up to date scientific information about the condition so what is written on our website about ICP is verified by researchers, scientists and doctors. Jenny Chambers, Founder of ICP Support, is also part of the Maternal and Fetal Medicine Group - a London-based research group investigating ICP. Jenny remains in contact with the charity as our research advisor and can be contacted if you are interested in taking part in research ([email protected]). Please share this page with friends, family and health professionals and help us achieve our vision that every ICP baby will be born safely. NB: Any photos we post on here will always be with the permission of the people involved and, if required, with the permission of the organisation (such as a hospital or company) too.

30/08/2026

💜 LITTLE ITCHES LOTTERY 💜

📢 LAST CHANCE! 📢

August's lottery draw is approaching so act now to be included in the cash prize draw!

It won't be long until we are announcing our new winner - so don't be full of regret, sign up now! 😆

https://bit.ly/Little-Itches-Lottery

Thanks for your support!
Lisa, Support & Liaison Officer

23/08/2026

💜 LITTLE ITCHES LOTTERY 💜

Sign up to our monthly lottery draw and be in with a chance of winning August's cash-prize jackpot!

Last month's winner received £95 - straight into their bank account! 😊

This could be you! 🤞🏼

Sign up now - https://bit.ly/Little-Itches-Lottery

Thanks for your support!
Lisa, Support & Liaison Officer

13/08/2026

Thank You 💜

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the ‘Guess the Baby’s Weight’ sweepstake and made a donation to ICP Support! 👶🍼

We are thrilled that Molly has now had a healthy baby boy and they have a winner, with the funds being donated to our charity's fundraising pot! 🥰

Every donation makes a difference and we really appreciate you joining in the fun while helping raise funds for our small but mighty charity. 💕

Thanks for your support and congratulations to Molly! 💜

08/08/2026

💜 LITTLE ITCHES LOTTERY 💜

WINNER! WINNER!

The winner of lucky ticket number 45 is a loyal supporter and has been playing our lottery since 2019!

Our jackpot this month is £95 ... this could be yours in next month's draw when you sign up to play our Little Itches Lottery 💜

https://bit.ly/Little-Itches-Lottery

Thanks for your support!
Lisa, Support & Liaison Officer

25/07/2026

🧁💜 AFTERNOON TEA FOR ICP 💜🧁

More afternoon tea events are underway raising funds for ICP Support! 🥰

Make the most of this lovely weather and sign up now to host your own afternoon tea event in aid of our tiny charity doing big work!

You will receive a free fundraising pack to help get you started - https://www.icpsupport.org/afternoon-tea

Many thanks for your support,
Lisa, Support & Liaison Officer

24/07/2026

** Mild itch & ICP **

In intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) the severity of the itch is not directly related to your bile acid concentrations. This means it’s possible to have severe itching with low bile acids or for your bile acid concentrations to be elevated with a mild itch.

Although it is rare, we know that asymptomatic ICP (ICP with no itch at all) is possible as women who haven't itched during their pregnancies have been diagnosed with ICP after being tested due to having a family history of the condition.

Which is why we emphasise that any itch should be reported to your health professional and why regular bile acid testing is vital to monitor the risk to your baby.

If you experience itching at any stage in your pregnancy let a health professional know - no matter how mild the itch, or where you itch on your body.

22/07/2026

💜 LITTLE ITCHES LOTTERY 💜

Support us to support you by buying a lottery ticket for our monthly 'Little Itches Lottery' draw!

Tickets cost just £5 and you will be in with a chance of winning our cash prize jackpot - last month's winner scooped a whopping £100! 😮

Sign up here - https://bit.ly/Little-Itches-Lottery

Thanks for your support!
Lisa, Support & Liaison Officer

18/07/2026

🌟 THANK YOU 🌟

A big thank you to loyal supporters Natalie and Mark, who challenged themselves to take on the Great Manchester Run, to raise vital funds for ICP Support - a charity close to their hearts 💜

"Me & Mark are lacing up our trainers and hitting the pavement to raise money for ICP Support. A charity that means the world to us.

After going through two ICP pregnancies, we were lucky to come out the other side with two healthy, thriving children and we will forever be indebted to the support we received along the way." (Natalie)

We are forever grateful when someone we have supported, in turn supports our tiny charity by fundraising for us! Thank you Natalie and Mark and a massive well done! 🙂

Thank you for your continued support,
Lisa Bullard (Support & Liaison Officer)

11/07/2026

🫖💜 AFTERNOON TEA FOR ICP 💜🫖

Our wonderful supporters have been busy hosting their 'Tea for ICP' events to raise funds for our small but mighty charity! 🤩

It's not too late to sign up to host yours - it can be held any time, any where!

All info is available here and you will receive a free fundraising pack - https://www.icpsupport.org/afternoon-tea

Many thanks for your support,
Lisa, Support & Liaison Officer

26/06/2026

** Drug safety warning - thioprine drugs & pregnancy **

The UK-based Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a drug safety warning for the use of azathioprine (AZA) during pregnancy due to a possible increased risk of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

AZA is licensed to treat various auto-immune disorders and inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, severe ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease etc. It is also used off-license to treateczema. The increased risk of developing ICP is also believed to apply to other thioprine drugs, such as mercaptopurine (6-MP) and tiogunine. Researchers are currently studying whether thiopurine-associated ICP is only due to altered metabolism of the drugs in pregnancy or also related to genetic susceptibility to cholestasis.

The UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS) recommend that pregnant people who are taking thioprine drugs should remain vigilant for itching, which may occur at any time during pregnancy. If itching does occur it should be reported to their health teams so that they can investigate this with non-fasting bile acid and liver blood tests.

Even if itching has not developed, UKTIS advise non-fasting bile acid and liver blood tests should be performed routinely from 20 weeks gestation. For those who have had ICP before, this testing should occur every 2 weeks and those with no history of ICP testing should occur every 4 weeks. This regular monitoring is recommended as UKTIS recognises that pruritus (itching) is poorly correlated to bile acid concentrations, which means testing only in response to itching is inadequate.

If you develop ICP, your health team will advise whether any changes to your medication are necessary (such as reducing or spacing out your doses, offering alternative treatments or stopping the medication). Do not stop taking your medication unless you are advised to do so by your health team. They are best placed to advise you on your specific circumstances, taking into account your current dosage and the reason you are taking this medication. If you are at all worried about any medications you are taking during pregnancy, we recommend discussing this with your health team.

You can read more about this here:
MRHA drug safety update: https://bit.ly/azathioprineMRHA
UKTIS recommendations: https://bit.ly/azathioprineUKTIS

Address

Lytchett House, 13 Freeland Park, Wareham Road
Sutton Coldfield
BH166FA

Telephone

+447709634497

Website

http://www.icpsupport.org/

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