Marieke says she finds the statement “itching is worse than pain” absurd, until she suffers from unbearable itching during pregnancy. “I discovered an itchy spot on my left leg. It developed in several places on both legs, was labeled pregnancy itch, and would go away after delivery. The prescribed ointments and creams helped only moderately and in the first week after birth Jip did not go away, but only got worse. It would be eczema. But the cure didn’t work, ”she writes on Instagram.
He still suffers from it. ‘Meanwhile – almost eight weeks postpartum – standing hurts, I sometimes go crazy with itching under a cold shower and my boyfriend takes me dancing in the living room to distract me (Dutch hits are my favourite!) . This afternoon I have an appointment with a very good dermatologist. I’ve been counting down the nights. Today I hope for the right diagnosis and therefore for the right approach. I’ll get rid of it.’
Marieke wants to create more awareness about the blow a body receives during and after pregnancy. ‘Physically and mentally. My postpartum period with Jip is happy, but I also feel sad, because sometimes I feel like I don’t have room in my head for the little one, because the itch takes up so much space. You only see the cheer here, the happy faces, maybe the bouncy body, but getting pregnant is a fucking heavy process sometimes. Not bad, because it’s worth it, but maybe this is a heart under the belt for other (wanted) moms.’
