Increased BO while BF?

Amanda - posted on 09/11/2011

Shannon just plain lime juice rubbed on your skin? Fresh or bottled?

Laura - posted on 09/11/2011

interesting you post this because I have felt this way lately and I honestly can't remember if it happened when I was pregnant but yes! I feel the same way! I shower and like an hour later I am gross...no idea the reason...let me know if you find out!

Shannon - posted on 09/12/2011

I think that fresh lemon or lime slices work the best I used lime just because that is what I had in the fridge. It worked almost all day for I had to re-rub around two. It doesn't stop sweat it just neutralizes the bacteria that makes you smell (or so I'm told).

Leslie - posted on 11/08/2012

A friend recommended 'Crystal', its a more natural one they have @ Whole Foods or you can order it on Amazon. She swears by it and it doesn't have Aluminum and Parabens and all those other chemicals. I'm going to try it :-)

Rebecca - posted on 11/07/2012

i noticed this with my first go around breastfeeding. also the skin on my armpits turned brown. i became allergic to the deoderant i had always used for years. I am still allergic to it. I tried several different deoderants and none of them worked great. it is happening again with the second child. i tried using plain baking soda too, just rubbing it on the armpit. it worked well with odor and sweat, but I got a rash from it. Now I just don't use anything and I try to shower more frequently. I don't go anywhere right now, so I just smell at home :0) I think it went away after about six months after starting breastfeeding and regular deoderant worked again.

Rebecca - posted on 11/09/2012

Same thing happened to me with my first child. I wore secret clinical strength deodorant the first year after giving birth. But rest assured that yes it will go away (it did for me anyway). It stopped when my soon stopped nursing. And the funny/weird thing is I had my second baby seven months ago and I'm nursing him as well and haven't had the same experience even though we just got over hot summer. Hormones are so crazy! Good luck and hang in there.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/14/2011

I didn't notice the extra sweat or BO over the summer and it got to 36 where I live.

Vivian - posted on 10/13/2011

BTW, I do drink Fenugreek tea but not everyday & I haven't noticed a syrup smell yet. :(

Vivian - posted on 10/13/2011

Thanks for all the comments. I've since switched back to my old deodorant because the clinical strength one seemed to now make it worse but it's still a problem. Since the weather isn't as hot it seems a bit better - I can go half the day now before feeling gross instead of like 2 hours. Interestingly my husbands deodorant worked well but by the end of the day I just smelled like a sweaty man. I'd try the line method but I hate the sticky feeling of sweat under my arms. Oh well, youre right. As long as my baby doesn't start turning his nose up at my smell then I think I'll be ok. :)

Lacy - posted on 10/08/2011

yes with breastfeeding i experienced the same thing! just can't seem to skip out on Deoderant ever again. lol. it gets better when ur not breastfeeding, but its still not the way it was before i had kids.

Amber - posted on 09/14/2011

I never used to wear deoderant until I had my first baby. Since then I stink and have to wear deoderant. For me it had nothing to do with being hot. My sweat just smells bad now whereas it did not before babies.

Cara - posted on 09/12/2011

I don't know that my BO is worse now but i have noticed that i get hot easier now and do sweat more than before.

Leslie - posted on 09/12/2011

Shannon, I tried Lemon and it didn't work for very long. Do you put deodorant on after? Is Lime better and do you use fresh lime or juice? Thanks

Amelia - posted on 09/12/2011

Try Fenugreek herbal supplement, it helps produce milk and it makes your sweat smell like maple syrup! Lol

Shannon - posted on 09/11/2011

Totally! I stink now. A friend of mine suggested Lemmon or lime juice. I had already tried all of the different deodorants with no luck. The lime in the pit did the trick. It lasts all day. Give that a try.

Jennifer - posted on 09/11/2011

I totally noticed that! I can't believe that I could smell this bad lol. I've honestly never smelled myself have BO until now that I'm breastfeeding my son. Weird thing is it never happened with my daughter when I breastfed her.

Leslie - posted on 09/11/2011

I have the same problem, glad to know I'm not alone :)

Maggie - posted on 09/11/2011

After reading this I dont feel so bad I thought maybe it was just me.. I didnt have this problem with my first baby but have noticed it with my second one, your right I never feel clean even after just showering..

Amanda - posted on 09/11/2011

I have the same problem and will add one more to it.... My deodorant only works on one side. No matter how much or how often my right arm still has a smell?????

Alicia - posted on 09/11/2011

I have the same problem. with my 1st i had no smell issues at all. then when I was pregnant with my 2nd it was horrendous! he is now 2yo and we are still BFing and I still stink!!!! I am really really hoping my hormones settle back down when we stop - whenever that should be.
and as my husband says ever so lovingly to me ' may the smell be with you' ;-)

[deleted account]

Yes, I definitely feel sweatier and more smelly. I haven't worn deo. in years, but sometimes I smell my armpits and wonder if I should start again.

I also have an increased sense of smell. Has anyone else noticed that? I can smell if my son has pooped just by walking into the same room, whereas my husband can't tell even though he's sitting one inch from our baby. I also notice that my husband is smellier than usual. What's up with that?

Amie - posted on 09/11/2011

Definitely has to do with hormones. I noticed the same thing after having my son in 2008 and have been nursing and/or pregnant ever since, so this has not changed. I'm sure it will when the hormones are gone. I also think it's something we notice on ourselves more than others...even my husband! So I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Lizette - posted on 09/07/2011

Hi Vivian! I have experienced the same thing. I'm not sure how to fix it either except constant use of Deodorant. I'm hoping someone can help with this problem too.

Gemma - posted on 09/04/2011

I have not experienced anything during the day but most nights I wake incredibly sweaty all over especially my back is saturated. Do you get that too? I assumed it was from breastfeeding as it began when my milk came in and is still happening nearly a year into bf.

April - posted on 09/03/2011

I have the same problem! I never made the connection to breastfeeding, but now that you mention it, yes. I don't have a solution for you, but thanks for posting. It's nice to have a connection for all the sweating and to know that it's normal!

Kelly - posted on 09/03/2011

I guess it's true that " no good deed goes unpunished "

Kari - posted on 09/03/2011

Yes, felt this way w/my 1st and now again - thought it was all in my head, but when it came back the 2nd time around I knew it was really happening. I think it's hormonal, but I don't really know. It went away for me after I stopped bf'ing.

Kelly - posted on 09/03/2011

That's an interesting theory, and it makes sense.

Jeannine - posted on 09/03/2011

Grandma told me it was so that your baby knows your smell. I used to barely need deodorant! Strange side effect.

Kelly - posted on 09/03/2011

I am almost done nursing my third and last child, and I haven't experienced that myself. I am sire though that it's your body changing with age ( not insinuating your old) :), but that's just life. Thanks so much for choosing to breastfeed your children.

Sally - posted on 09/03/2011

Your hormones have a lot to do with how you smell and yours just changed a lot. :)
I get extra stinky while PMSing and extra sweaty while pregnant and nursing. I've had the best luck with powdered deodorants or even plain baking soda. They seem to last longer (and make me feel less gooey) than the stick kind.

[deleted account]

I don't think it's too gross to talk about and anyone who does needs to grow up! lol :)

Maybe it's because you're spending so much more time with your baby around you that you're just getting warmer because of your combined body heat. Or it could be postpartum hormones and stuff just going all weird. I can't think of any reason it would have to do with breastfeeding itself.

I noticed that when my daughter was smaller, I would sweat a lot while nursing her because she was so warm.

Ivy - posted on 09/03/2011

Changing you're deordant may help. I was using the same type of deordant for over 15 years. As soon as I started breastfeeding, I had to change to Sure (which I wasn't sure it would work for me). I had to use a lot of different deordants till I found one that worked. I even tried my husband's one that was great and didn't smell too manly but as it's an American brand we can't get over here in England I had to keep looking. While breadtfeeding, I was always hot. The worst was at night on our foam mattress. It helped having the fan blow on me while breastfeeding and my daughter was faced away on the cooler days. It's probably why she loves the fan so much.



I use the same deordant as I did while breastfeeding as my body chemistry changed. It wil get better as it gets cooler. Try to feed somewhere where it is cool but not too cold for your baby.

[deleted account]

Yep. But mine started with my last prenancy. I feel like I'm constantly sweaty. It's also the hottest summer ever where I live so that's definitely not helping. I started carrying my deodorant in my diaper bag so I can reapply if needed while we're out. As far as I know it's hormonal. I'm hoping it will get better when my baby gets older.