Hi Moms,
I am 17 weeks pregnant, and starting last week I have had this itch on my breasts and chest that seem to get worse every day. I have tried so many different moisterizers, olive oil, and ice packs, but nothing seems to work. I have tried contacting my Dr. but he is not available and my next appointment is the end of the month. This itch is so bad that it wakes me up at night. And by the way, the skin seems kind of patchy red, but it might just be because of all of the scratching I have been doing. Any ideas as to what it might be and what to do?
Thanks so much for all of your advice
It could be PUPPs. I had it with my first pregnancy. It is horrible and nothing really works except deliverying the baby (which you have a good while to go). Use hydrocortizone. It helps.
I know your hormones are crazy right now LOL!! When we are pregnant our body is not itself. Sounds like some type of fungus or maybe your body is creating extra yeast. If that's the case you should try diluting organic raw Apple cider vinegar with water & put it on your chest. Get you some coconut oil too. Also, taking a probiotic would help & its ok to take while pregnant & nursing. My cousin had an itch on her breast & the Apple cider vinegar worked like a charm. Good luck & congrats!!
You can try a mixture of Vinegar -50% and water -50% to use as a spray on the area. I normally would use it in the shower ,(so you don't smell like salad-LOL) but it would clear up the bumps and rash in a day or two. It may also burn a little at first, (if you've scratched very much) but , it will get better.
This also works for things like heat rash (on you , not baby) and fungal skin issues). It restores the PH in your skin . Depending on what it might be, Gold Bond Powder or Lotion might help ! !Hope it gets better, C. S.
I feel so bad for you, it is maddening! I had this when pregnant w/my daughter. My left breasts itched sooooo bad, I scratched it raw. I know that sounds completely gross,because it is :) I asked my OB and derm, and both told me to put cortisone on it, which temporarily helped. It was like that my entire pregnancy... you can thank hormones for your itchy boobs! Try not to go too crazy, this too shall pass :)
I just read the other answers, and none of that helped me or applied to me... no fungus, yeast or allergies, just hormones!
I'm curious about it being PUPPPS as well. There is one thing you can try besides hydrocortisone cream: homeopathics called apis mellifica. Go to a natural food store and ask about it. You should be able to get by with the 6c strength and follow the directions on the package.
A friend of mine had PUPPPS and used the remedy, they were gone in a few days.
I have pretty good luck with Earth Mama Angel Baby stretch mark oil, but for some itchies only benadryl cream helps. This was okayed by my doctor.
Another thing to try would be coconut oil or Eucerin. Both are good for eczema.
It is probably pupps. i have a 1 month old baby and i got it also it is very annoying. my doc told me to take benadryl.
When I was pregnant I got stretch marks on my breasts as well as on my belly. The itching was awful. I used body butter from The Body Shop (I liked Mango best) and it helped a little.
If the patchy spots seem to stay or thicken, and resemble a contact rash(like if you touched poison ivy), then you have a pregnancy rash and will probably have to get a steroid dose pack to take the edge off the itch. I got rashes with three of my four pregnancies, and the dose pack was the only thing that worked. Although the rash didn't go away until baby came. I would get into the dr asap. If it's anything like my first rash, it will spread quickly. My first rash showed up the day after my appt. It took me a week and a half to get back into the dr, and by then it was everywhere except my head, feet, and hands. My dr said some women are allergic to pregnancy, and prescribed me a dose pack. This is a 7-day steroid pack. You take the largest number of pills on day 1, and go down from there. Thankfully, my subsequent rashes were smaller, but still no fun. Good luck. I hope you feel better soon.
I had a tingling itch on my side along my bra line when I was pregnant with my second. I thought it was a new allergy to the laundry detergent I was wearing or oil from sweating (it was August). The itch was so intense sometimes I had trouble wearing a shirt or bra. The itch then turned to a small bumpy, patchy rash that ended up being shingles. I don't want you to assume this is it but definately worth getting in to seeing a general practitioner as soon as possible.
Have your OB check it out to verify and go form there.
