Why is my body odor worse while breastfeeding?

Understanding Body Odor During Breastfeeding
For many new mothers, the experience of breastfeeding brings a host of changes, both physical and emotional. One of the more surprising and often distressing changes can be an increase in body odor. This phenomenon, while common, can leave many women wondering about its causes and implications.
Hormonal Changes and Their Effects
The primary reason for heightened body odor during breastfeeding is the significant hormonal shifts that occur in a woman’s body. When a mother breastfeeds, her body releases various hormones, including prolactin and oxytocin, which are essential for milk production and bonding with the baby. These hormones also stimulate the apocrine glands, which are responsible for producing sweat in areas like the armpits and around the nipples. This sweat can mix with bacteria on the skin, leading to a more pronounced odor.
Moreover, the body excretes pheromones during breastfeeding, which are natural chemicals that can attract the baby. While these pheromones serve a purpose in nurturing the mother-baby bond, they can also contribute to a change in body odor, making it more pungent or unusual.
Increased Sweating
Breastfeeding can also lead to increased sweating. This is partly due to the body’s efforts to regulate temperature and manage the additional caloric demands of lactation. As mothers produce milk, their bodies may sweat more to cool down, especially during nursing sessions. This excess sweat can further exacerbate body odor issues.
Postpartum Changes
After childbirth, women undergo a process of physical re-regulation. This includes shedding excess water weight and adjusting to hormonal fluctuations. These changes can lead to temporary increases in body odor as the body works to find its new equilibrium.
Additionally, the presence of the baby’s saliva on the mother’s skin during breastfeeding can also contribute to changes in scent, as it interacts with the skin’s natural oils and bacteria.
Coping with Body Odor
While the increase in body odor can be concerning, it is important to remember that it is a normal part of the postpartum experience. New mothers can take several steps to manage this issue. Regular bathing, wearing breathable fabrics, and using antiperspirants can help mitigate odor. Staying hydrated and maintaining a balanced diet can also support the body’s natural processes and reduce the intensity of body odor.
In conclusion, while experiencing worse body odor during breastfeeding can be an unwelcome surprise, it is largely a result of hormonal changes, increased sweating, and the body’s natural adjustments post-birth. Understanding these factors can help mothers navigate this phase with greater ease and confidence.

Why do my armpits stink so bad postpartum?

“The increase in body odor is likely due to hormonal changes and increased sweating, rather than a deliberate biological mechanism to help the baby locate the mother.”

Is it bad to wear deodorant while breastfeeding?

Truth: While body care products are okay to use while you’re breastfeeding, you might want to switch to fragrance-free versions, because newborn babies latch on to the breast by smell. And having scented products near your breasts, particularly your nipples, can confuse your newborn as it masks your natural smell.

What does a blocked milk duct feel like in armpit?

A firm or hard lump in the breast is most likely a plugged duct. It may occur anywhere in the breasts including in the underarm area. The lumps may be single or multiple, pea-sized or may be as large as 2-3 inches across. You may feel pain with plugged ducts and may also notice that your breasts do not empty very well.

Does breastfeeding affect your armpits?

All things considered, milk being created in your armpit is just another strange thing that can happen during breastfeeding. But if you’re not expecting it? Talk about an unwelcome surprise. Luckily, pitties are harmless and usually resolve easily, so try to stay calm if you wake up one morning with bulging pits.

Why is my body odor so bad while breastfeeding?

“A change in a postpartum scent helps direct a baby toward for breastfeeding,” adds Dr. Alagia. In fact, during breastfeeding, people can excrete different pheromones—mix that with a baby’s saliva, and it can cause an odor that may be new and unfamiliar to the lactating person.

What deodorant to use when breastfeeding?

Is Earth Mama Deodorant safe? Yes. Earth Mama Deodorant is formulated with safe and effective herbal ingredients specifically for sensitive skin, pregnancy, and breastfeeding, so it’s safe for everyone with armpits.

How long are you considered postpartum?

There is consensus that the postpartum period begins upon birth of the newborn. The end is less well defined, but is often considered the six to eight weeks after birth because the effects of pregnancy on many systems have largely returned to the prepregnancy state by this time.

Why do I smell musty after having a baby?

Lochia is the vaginal discharge you have after giving birth. It contains a mix of blood, mucus and uterine tissue. It has a stale, musty odor like menstrual period discharge and can last several weeks. Lochia is heavy at first but gradually subsides to a lighter flow until it goes away.

How to get rid of postpartum smell down there?

How can I bathe and keep myself clean postpartum?

1. Keep your perineum very clean. This is the area between the vagina and rectum.
2. Change your pad often. Each time you use the bathroom or change your pad wash your hands both before and after.
3. Use a squirt bottle.
4. Soak in a bath.
5. Use pads, not tampons.

Does breastfeeding make you sweat more?

Yes, people who are lactating tend to sweat a little more. This is because prolactin, the hormone responsible for producing breast milk, keeps estrogen levels low. Sweating is one of the main side effects of low estrogen. Even people who feed their baby with formula can experience night sweats.