Itchy Breast While Breastfeeding? The Reasons You Need to Know

After giving birth to your beautiful baby, get ready to experience a lot of firsts, such as breastfeeding! Your child won’t go straight to drinking milk formula but will be feeding off the milk you produce from your breast. It may be a bit painful at first, but you’ll get used to him sucking and asking for milk. But wait – Do you have an itchy breast while breastfeeding?

The feeling is uncomfortable, sure, but the main question you might worry about is if it’s unhealthy for your baby to be drinking from your itchy or painful nipples. Is it normal to go through this? Also, what can you do to stop it? Read on as I talk about what you need to know if you suffer from an itchy breast while breastfeeding?

What Are the Symptoms of an Itchy Breast? Is It Normal?

When you first start breastfeeding your baby, you may have developed an itch that you can’t seem to relieve! And while breastfeeding, it gets a bit more uncomfortable as you try to finish the feeding session for your baby.

Not only would you experience an itchy breast, but you might also suffer from the following symptoms:

• Red or burning nipples (cracked or tender)
• Breast pain while feeding your baby or after
• Discomfort and very itchy nipples

Is it normal? I wouldn’t call it healthy, but there are underlying reasons and conditions you may have that are common in most mothers. First-time mothers are more prone to itchy breasts and infections, but that doesn’t mean you should continue feeding your baby while your breasts feel uncomfortable.

Different causes make you have these itchy breasts, and you’ll need to make sure they are treated immediately as your child has direct contact with your breasts during feedings.

Why You Have an Itchy Breast While Breastfeeding

So why exactly do you suffer from an itchy breast when breastfeeding your baby anyway? Is it something serious? Here are the reasons you’re feeling discomfort around your breasts or nipples:

Infection

Thrush is one of the most common (and potentially serious) reasons why you have itchy nipples would be an infection. Nipple thrush is a yeast infection that can also harm your baby, spreading your virus to him then going back and forth.

Here’s a video explaining what thrush is:

Another reason might be a bacterial or fungal infection, which needs to be treated immediately.

Skin Conditions

Many new mothers who have sensitive skin may have eczema, which is a red itchy rash that would spread.

Another skin condition may be contact dermatitis, where you put on cream or skin products that irritate your skin. It leaves your skin dry and sore.

Nipple Damage

If you’re a new mother or started breastfeeding, then having cracked and dry skin is normal during the early weeks. Because of the cracked skin, it will leave your nipples feeling itchy. It’s normal and will subside (as long as you take care of your breasts as well!).

How to Remedy Your Itchy Breasts

Now that you know why you might be suffering from an itchy breast, here are ways on how you can treat it and prevent it from happening again:

• Medication : It’s best to contact a dermatologist and doctor for him to prescribe the proper medication and cure yourself of the infection. He may give you antifungal or antibacterial cream for you to apply on your nipples.
• Prevention : Remove the infection away by making sure the things your baby eats or chews are free from bacteria, lessening the chances of your nipped getting infected. Boil pacifiers and bottles for about half an hour per day, replacing it once a week. Clean your baby’s toys as well, since he might be chewing on them.
• Air-Dry Nipples : Before putting your bra or clothes back on after feeding your child, let your skin air-dry. Yeast likes moist environments, so avoid putting your clothes back on while it’s still wet. Clean your nipples after breastfeeding, too.

Conclusion

If you happen to have an itchy breast while breastfeeding, you might be worried about what it can do for your hungry baby’s health! But not to worry, as you’ll be able to accurately find remedies to the uncomfortable feeling and feed him properly.

I hope that this article explains what you should know about having an itchy breast and what you should do to stop the itch and prevent it from happening again. So what are you waiting for? If you feel itchy and suffer from various symptoms of thrush or an itchy breast, then follow these remedies on how to stop it immediately.

If you have any questions or would like to share your experiences about having an itchy breast, then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think.