When all is said and done, what can sufferers do to ease the terrible discomfort caused by the endless itch?

Wear loose cotton clothing - tight lycra has a lot to answer for!

Itching may be soothed by dissolving a cupful of bicarbonate of ***a in your bathwater.

Try dabbing calamine lotion onto itchy skin - this is especially soothing if you keep the bottle in the fridge.

Treat sweat rashes by washing frequently in cool water and dabbing cold flannels on the rashes.

If a rash does not improve with these simple measures consult your doctor, as specific anti-fungal or other treatments may be appropriate. Alternatively he or she may prescribe antihistamine cream or tablets.

Many sufferers have reported complete elimination of the rash by taking dandelion root herbs - either as tea or in capsule form. Dandelion root is a herbal remedy that acts by cleansing the liver and ridding the body of bile acids (often the very cause of the itch). Sufferers have taken up to six capsules per day (three in the morning and three in the evening) and reported how the lesions have completely disappeared within five to seven days. Please note, dandelion contains a high level of vitamin A and high levels of this may be harmful to your growing baby, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Some women may suffer adverse reactions to dandelion; as with all medications, please consult your doctor before taking such remedieWhen I had this during my pregnancy they did not know what it was. I was put into isolation.

I agree with just about everything recommended above. I would add that colloidal oatmeal preparations for the bath (or a mild oatmeal soap or unscented lotion with oatmeal) is another excellent remedy for itching. There should be several brands available in the skincare section of your local grocery or drug store.

Regular applications of a gentle, unscented moisturizing lotion, can go a long ways. Application of lotions immediately after bathing or showering, while your skin is still slightly damp, will encourage your skin to absorb as much moisture as possible. In addition, my husband and I had a nightly ritual in which he applied lotion to my belly (etc) directly before bed. I found that moisturizing before bed seemed to help with itching through the night. As a bonus, in the later stages of the pregnancy, the time spent applying lotion was also time that he spent interacting with our baby. He would rub an area and her hand or foot would poke out at him. It was wonderful bonding time for all of us.

Please be aware that there are several common disorders amongst pregnant women which can cause itching. If the itching is severe, or you find yourself unable to get relief, be sure to talk to your doctor about it. It may be a symptom of a larger problem.

Well actually for me, I find that it controls the itchiness when I stay in front of an air conditioner or an electric fan. Somehow the coldness calms my skin down and it actually dissolves any itch. It is the only way I know and follow in order to stop scratching myself. Otherwise, I'd just get a comb and start scratching myself.

I was lucky enough not to get very much itching - only on my tummy a bit when a new stretch mark appeared. I would not treat my skin with anything without talking to a doctor/midwife first. I heard a lot of things about problems to children caused by skin creams/treatments and although they sounded unlikely I was not prepared to risk anything on my skin and only used baby lotion when the midwife recommended it.

I have very sensitive skin that I always have to think twice before I decide on using some sort of lotion or skin cream. My skin seems to react very differently when made in contact with an unfamiliar skin product, I have to be well-adjusted with the product first for it to not have any negative effect on my skin.
This applies with deodorants, as well.

For the mothers who have no time to do all that extra stuff and or can't afford to do the major moves, a good moisturizer is always a help when it comes to itching. You skin tends to get really dry and this is definately something that causes your itching most of the time.