Breasts so itchy I'm close to giving up BFing

[Hope22]

We haven't had an easy time with BFing from day one - Darwin was a preemie and quite weak at the start, so latching on was a huge issue. He was also very little (5lbs 11oz at birth, 5lbs 3oz when we brought him home) and needed VERY frequent feeds. My nipples cracked, bled, scabs formed and fell off, it was gruesome but we worked through all of it. I have a very high pain tolerance, and just gritted my teeth through the first few weeks and things got better.

Now I'm having a new problem - from three months on he'd mastered the latch, was doing extremely well, and I thought for sure we were on easy street. Not so! My breasts started to get itchier, and itchier, and redder and redder. I've got purple lines (assume these are stretch marks), and the bottoms of both breasts itch like there's a hive of bees vibrating around under the skin. It's FAR more unbearable than cracked, caked, bleeding nipples ever were. I can't sleep properly, and there are times I just can't stop myself from scratching - I sneak around corners, into public bathrooms, behind bushes, it's ridiculous. There's no pain, just INSANE itching. No heat, no discharge, I have no fever or anything - it's definitely not an infection, but it's making me so crazy I'm nearly ready to throw in the towel.

Does anyone have any ideas? I'd prefer to BF Darwin for an entire year, but as it stands I'm ready to quit at six months and move to formula + solids even though I'd miss the closeness horribly.

 

[Logiebear]

Stretch marks are very itchy things hun. It is probs just your skin in need of some intense hydration where they are. My belly is the same in pregnancy. Just get E45 or ask your GP for some double base cream that eczema sufferers use. HTH and well done for sticking at it through all you have had to endure. Seems a shame to quit over this hun. Hope it gets better xxx

 

[freckleonear]

Stretch marks can be very itchy. I remember my belly being unbearably itchy while I was pregnant, it was horrible so I really do sympathise with you.

Moisturising the skin can help, so get some E45 Itch Relief Cream or something similar and plaster it on! Well done for getting so far breastfeeding and I hope the itching gets better for you soon. It WILL go away once the stretchmarks start to fade.

 

[Samantha675]

I know I went through a period that if I didn't let my nipple air dry after nursing I would itch like mad.

 

[Hope22]

Ladies, I have to give you all a HUGE thank you. I was using a cream that's supposed to be specifically for women's stretch marks (it even has a pic of a pregnant woman on it) and therefore didn't think this was a moisturization issue BUT... I was wrong.

I bought a vitamin E cream, slathered it on thicker than icing on cake, and two days later the difference is astonishing. I'm now putting it on every time I think about it (my boobs are a bit sticky, lol, but who cares) and the itch has nearly gone altogether. I absolutely can't believe it. I was telling my hubby it felt like the itch was about 1/2" beneath the skin, so I didn't see how a cream could help it, but it really was the stupid stretch marks after all. When I was pregnant my bra size went up a bit, but basically I just filled out my regular bras a bit more (32A to 34 full A I'd say). When I started to BF I went from about a 34A to a 36B, but in the last 6 weeks they've gone up to 38C - obviously that large of a difference stressed the skin to the point where it's red/purple and became insanely itchy. They still look revolting with veins and stretch marks all over, but at least they don't itch much any more!

Thank you so much girls, I REALLY appreciate the advice.

 

[Logiebear]

So glad we could help hun. Glad you are feeling better xxx

 

[Mervs Mum]

Glad you got them sorted hun

 

[Samantha675]

Great news hun!

 

[freckleonear]

So glad you're feeling better!

 

[Hope22]

Update - the itch is GONE, GONE, GONE. Can't believe I suffered so long and all that time all I needed was vitamin E cream. To say I feel dumb would be an understatement.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Dont feel dumb!! Feel like you were helping us all to learn another useful tip!!