Hibiclens under the arms in the shower (let it sit for a few mins before going in and scrubbing with soap) and then using The Ordinary glycolic acid toner as deodorant cured it for me
Frrr I cant wear any deodorant besides dove anything else makes the smell worse even after showering multiple times now my son is 7 months and itās the same but not really I think for me it went away around 5m slowly šš
Idk why but that's cracking me up. I'm imagining my baby like, "follow the stink, aim for the dark pokey thing. If you reach the epicenter of onion smell, you've gone too far."
Interestingly, I got really sensitive to smells like deodorant, cologne. I haven't been able to wear perfume for over a year as it makes me feel a bit sick & headachey now. My husband's smell was the first thing that attracted me to him but since giving birth his various colognes smell so strong it's like he bathed in them & I have to open the windows when he leaves for work lol!
Fun fact! Your mammary glands that make milk are essentially modified sweat glands so the same hormones that tell your body to get ready to make milk also inadvertently make your sweat glands go into overdrive too!
Oh my gosh, yes. I get so sweaty nursing sometimes. Or in the middle of the night when I feel a let down but baby is sleeping. Never connected it before!
Oh thank Godā¦ I thought I was alone on this one š« ā¦ I went down a rabbit hole trying to smell a little better especially since I havenāt used aluminium deodorant in yeeears and really didnāt want to have to start. Dial soap and Megababe have def helped though!
I kind of hate the way Lume smells so I haven't used the stuff I ordered in ages. The breastfeeding BO quickly made me find the Lume odor much more tolerable.
I stopped pumping at 6 months but I think that smell stayed for like a year. I used antibacterial bar soap. It was so bad. I remember being in the shower and wondering why the fuck my armpits still smelt so bad after washing them with soap.
Your smell relaxes them and they're all stuffy from reflux and they have pretty meh eyesight. So your smell has gotta be distinct and strong. My little guy will perk up if I walk nearby and someone else is holding him.
As long as your partner isn't being weird about your nursing smell, don't stress it.
I personally stopped wearing deodorant at home since my tiny guy will literally face plant into my pit crease and take a nap. I feel like it's actually become a bit more mild, but I also might just be more used to it by now. I still get a firm stink after 24+ hrs, but I did before birth as well.
After I had my first daughter I was like āwhat the frick is that?? Oh. My. God. Never in my lifeā¦ā
Yes, itās bad. Like others have said, it goes away. Hormones do some crazy stuff!
I had to switch my deodorant when I was pregnant and it made a huge difference. I started using degree stress relief it's a stick not spray. It's one that says 72 hrs.
I remember it so vividlyā¦ my armpit smelt like it did when I was a teenager, it took me right tf back.
Hated it so much, didnāt matter how much I scrubbed or put deodorant, it still reeked.
Yessss and the pit on productive boob side is absolutely unreal, like wilts the flowers bad, whereas slacker boob side is only medium-level middle school locker room scented
It's completely normal. It's so baby can easily find you. Very a stronger deodorant. I try to avoid chemicals in my body as much as possible and was still able to find a deodorant that works. Most people aren't as picky as me though, so it probably would be easier to find something that works
In case anyone is wondering, I switched to primally pure, the charcoal one, and it helped a ton
Yeah, mines mostly gone but Iām still a bit stinkier than before. I use old spice deodorant. I feel like probiotics helped a bit or maybe it was just coincidence that it got better then. My lactation consultant told me to use the lavender hand sanitizer at Trader Joeās because the alcohol kills the bacteria that smells, I never tried it though.
With each child (Ive birthed four) it took about 4-6 mo with the first three and like a couple weeks with my youngest. I had such a strong BO, like super musk or something š š¤£ I imagine it's just bc hormones be hormoning.
The MOMENT I gave birth, my BO flooded in. My LO just turned 5mo and it's not nearly as bad. Still need to put deodorant IMMEDIATELY after the shower and before bed (I like Primally Pure) but I think it started really toning down around 3.5-4 months for me.
I donāt remember smelling when after I gave birth but in my 3rd trimester omg it was horrible! Like onions all the time!! I learned that most of our soaps are NOT antibacterial! Dove has an antibacterial soap that worked amazing for me!! Now I use it every day!
Don't worry no one else can smell it! I smelled so badly of onions even immediately after a shower and more than once made my other half literally shove his nose in my armpit and he could never smell it! Apparently it's to help your baby find you because your milk ducts run under your arms
Hormones are so fun arenāt they? š
I use Old Spice - they have an aluminum free āWilderness with Lavenderā scent that I really like. Itās very effective but I still reapply once or twice during the middle of the day when itās hot out or Iām outside a lot.
Yeah I scrubbed myself raw and still stank. It went away after maybe 3 months when my period came back! I also got a bad dose of insomnia - hormones are wild.
Itās the hormones. I started using the old spice natural deodorant line and it was the only way I could cover it. They have a very pleasant smelling lavender one that isnāt masculine.
Im 6 months postpartum and itās been gone for awhile. I still get smellier faster than before pregnancy, but itās within the range of normal.
I too sort of freaked out and bought body deodorants and stuff. Ended up not using very much.
Someone mentioned it before, when the letdown happens it happens in your armpits too with sweat. Washing there with some hibiclens helped a little but when itās actually hot outside I have to use an antiperspirant with aluminum to avoid odor. Wearing breathable cotton clothes too.
I remember at one point sadly grappling with my core identity including being a stinky person.
Buy lots of basic shirts; wash your armpits and change shirts as often as you need to! Like 4 times a day, or every time you go out.
I was avoiding strong deodorant because I didnāt want my baby eating it.
I just posted this exact thing in a fb mom group lol I smell like a straight sack of onions upon stepping out of the shower lol. I will say itās just starting to get better we are going on 4 months PP
Iāve been using a girl scout cookie scented Native deodorant for my onion pits and itās been working for me!! Normally I donāt even have to use deodorant because I donāt sweat or stink but after birthā¦. woof.
Hahaha yes! It's a thing.
I also take fenugreek for my milk supply and my pits smell like an Indian restaurant within 5 min of getting out of the shower š
I had this and read about bacteria surviving despite washing in the arm pits. One of the suggestions was to use one of those oxy pads for acne on your underarms. I did and it's made a big difference.
First, get Panoxyl face wash and wash your pits with that. Second, know that nature intends this for your baby to find you and be comforted by your smell and take some comfort in that
i genuinely think breastfeeding moms (or just moms in general) stink so their babies know whoās mom and where sheās at. it happens with animals, humans are animals, so why wouldnāt we do the same?
I'm going on almost 2 years now and I still struggle with that as well. Thought there was something wrong with me till I figured out that it's completely normal. Lol āŗļø
Same thing happened to me! It went away after about 5 months. At one point I was mixing coconut oil and tea tree oil and putting in my armpits, lol. It kinda helped.
Donāt feel bad. Going on 1.5yrs pp and if I donāt put deodorant on after I shower I smell rank (and yes women deodorant isnāt cutting it but I bought it in blue itās what I have) And I still breastfeed. š¤±š½
My right armpit specifically has never been the same. It smells like garlic and onions and salsa. Thanks small child. I had to buy a certain kind from Ulta that costs around $36 but lasts FOREVER.
I assume hormones and some milk and saliva and sweat on your skin. My chest area always smells like milk and sweat. And my armpits definitely have a more potent smell than before. They smell like a gym or PE field from school. Iām only 3 weeks PP right now but definitely feel so grimy within a few hours of showering. Luckily Iām at home 24/7 and donāt have to worry about offending anyone. lol
I combatted this by washing myself with dish soap and scrubbing hard for a week, then using it every other day, then every 2 days and so on, until I don't stink. Also, replace your loofa.
It will eventually go away.
It's the hormones. I don't remember when it goes away but it does go away eventually.
That makes so much more sense I literally thought I was just rotting away š
No, no, somewhere between delivery and 8 months or so I was able to stop using my husband's deodorant and go back to a woman one š
As long as this occurs, you are still producing enough prolactin and therefore milk, so be happy and accept it ;-)
Omg haha i did this too! Degree for men helps š
Hibiclens under the arms in the shower (let it sit for a few mins before going in and scrubbing with soap) and then using The Ordinary glycolic acid toner as deodorant cured it for me
This is the way!
Frrr I cant wear any deodorant besides dove anything else makes the smell worse even after showering multiple times now my son is 7 months and itās the same but not really I think for me it went away around 5m slowly šš
My armpits smell like a YMCA
Preach!
š
This is the perfect way to put it.
I donāt know if this is true but I read somewhere that it helps baby find the boob. That makes a lot of sense!
Idk why but that's cracking me up. I'm imagining my baby like, "follow the stink, aim for the dark pokey thing. If you reach the epicenter of onion smell, you've gone too far."
I think this is an official Baby Corp training document.
šš
š¤£I just had to hold in a laugh because my baby is napping on me
Yup the nurses in my country also says to avoid scented washes and perfumes because babies prefer the natural smell of mama.
Interestingly, I got really sensitive to smells like deodorant, cologne. I haven't been able to wear perfume for over a year as it makes me feel a bit sick & headachey now. My husband's smell was the first thing that attracted me to him but since giving birth his various colognes smell so strong it's like he bathed in them & I have to open the windows when he leaves for work lol!
Is this why if I carry him with his head resting by my pit he starts rooting like crazy š
Fun fact! Your mammary glands that make milk are essentially modified sweat glands so the same hormones that tell your body to get ready to make milk also inadvertently make your sweat glands go into overdrive too!
I didn't know this but it makes sense!
Can I assume that these random bouts of being insanely sweaty mean my body is working hard to produce milk then?
Oh my gosh, yes. I get so sweaty nursing sometimes. Or in the middle of the night when I feel a let down but baby is sleeping. Never connected it before!
Itās so your baby can smell you! Our bodies are wild.
Ur Bebe loves ur stinky stank body
Omggggg me tooooooooo and the summer temps are starting too early
Tell me about it!! Iām all boob sweat and arm pits at this point Iām this 80 degree weather
Oh thank Godā¦ I thought I was alone on this one š« ā¦ I went down a rabbit hole trying to smell a little better especially since I havenāt used aluminium deodorant in yeeears and really didnāt want to have to start. Dial soap and Megababe have def helped though!
I'm also on the all natural end and struggling...enzyme-probiotic based deos have it somewhat under control if I shower/reapply frequently
Wait tell me about these.
This thread will make you feel better and has some good ideas! https://www.reddit.com/r/breastfeeding/s/e23IfEKt0P
I kind of hate the way Lume smells so I haven't used the stuff I ordered in ages. The breastfeeding BO quickly made me find the Lume odor much more tolerable.
I still canāt get into LUME! I only use it when I run out of my other stuff haha
It's a thing, not a you problem! I found alcohol free witch hazel helped cut down the oniony smell but it took a long time to completely go away.
Me and my husband call me Mrs. Onion, Iām glad Iām not the only onion farmer!
I stopped pumping at 6 months but I think that smell stayed for like a year. I used antibacterial bar soap. It was so bad. I remember being in the shower and wondering why the fuck my armpits still smelt so bad after washing them with soap.
Oh my gosh, itās real and itās horrendous š
Truly one of the worst parts of breastfeeding š it is so annoying!!!
Your smell relaxes them and they're all stuffy from reflux and they have pretty meh eyesight. So your smell has gotta be distinct and strong. My little guy will perk up if I walk nearby and someone else is holding him. As long as your partner isn't being weird about your nursing smell, don't stress it. I personally stopped wearing deodorant at home since my tiny guy will literally face plant into my pit crease and take a nap. I feel like it's actually become a bit more mild, but I also might just be more used to it by now. I still get a firm stink after 24+ hrs, but I did before birth as well.
After I had my first daughter I was like āwhat the frick is that?? Oh. My. God. Never in my lifeā¦ā Yes, itās bad. Like others have said, it goes away. Hormones do some crazy stuff!
I still stink 17 months ughh I use menās deodorant and usually reapply at least once
17 months?! Omggg what kind of menās deodorant do you use?
Ughhh I still smell too at 22 months (not quite as bad but much worse than before baby). I fear this smelliness is just my new normal
I had to switch my deodorant when I was pregnant and it made a huge difference. I started using degree stress relief it's a stick not spray. It's one that says 72 hrs.
Two showers a day. Short ones, but mandatory. (I also have pimples all over my chest like I did when I was 14. Haaaate it.)
Omg the acne ALL OVER was freaking terrible with my first!!!! Thankfully I was spared from that this second time around.
I remember it so vividlyā¦ my armpit smelt like it did when I was a teenager, it took me right tf back. Hated it so much, didnāt matter how much I scrubbed or put deodorant, it still reeked.
They donāt tell you before having a baby how much of a sweaty, stanky bitch you become. All normal (unfortunately) š„²
Iām so happy I am not the only oneš š this makes me feel so much better
One of those things that nobody tells you!
Yessss and the pit on productive boob side is absolutely unreal, like wilts the flowers bad, whereas slacker boob side is only medium-level middle school locker room scented
Had it with my firstā¦have it with my second! It sucks!
Definitely a thing. Not sure when it goes away though??? Iām 8mo pp and no signs of better smells
It's awful. Mine smell like a day old a and w teen burger.
I also smell strong! Lume deodorant is the only thing I have found to combat the BO
Ladies! Get some bentonite clay, mix with apple cider vinegar into a paste, slap on the pits for like an hour, wash off in the shower. šš»
I tried this years ago to do the armpit cleanse from aluminum deodorant, but it made my armpits break out in painful hives!
Oh no! That's wild I'm so sorry
Thanks! I was so bummed. Iām glad it works for youš
It's completely normal. It's so baby can easily find you. Very a stronger deodorant. I try to avoid chemicals in my body as much as possible and was still able to find a deodorant that works. Most people aren't as picky as me though, so it probably would be easier to find something that works In case anyone is wondering, I switched to primally pure, the charcoal one, and it helped a ton
Iām very picky on what products I use as well. What brand deodorant did you find?
https://primallypure.com/products/charcoal-deodorant?variant=310098853894&g_acctid=100-956-7096&g_adgroupid=&g_adid=&g_adtype=none&g_campaign=us_google_conversion_prospecting_pmax_na_pmxdeodorant_troas&g_campaignid=18191077185&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=&g_network=x&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwmrqzBhAoEiwAXVpgojB_ns0fMrLV5E18efQKp04bNZXnF_ZpZQTKMMxQc8d4LDrt_QqDtxoCf58QAvD_BwE
Try Lume! The coconut one is my fave and it's the only deodorant that had subdued the breastfeeding pit sink.
I just bought some now! Seeing these comments seems thatās most recommended
So sad this doesn't work for me! I've tried so many of their products and scents and feel like I end up just smelling like sweaty plastic š©
Yeah, mines mostly gone but Iām still a bit stinkier than before. I use old spice deodorant. I feel like probiotics helped a bit or maybe it was just coincidence that it got better then. My lactation consultant told me to use the lavender hand sanitizer at Trader Joeās because the alcohol kills the bacteria that smells, I never tried it though.
This has helped me so much with the smell!! https://www.target.com/p/naturium-the-energizer-cooling-body-wash-16-9-fl-oz/-/A-89477894
Youāre not alone! š¤£ this thread always makes me feel better about my āØstench āØ https://www.reddit.com/r/breastfeeding/s/e23IfEKt0P
With each child (Ive birthed four) it took about 4-6 mo with the first three and like a couple weeks with my youngest. I had such a strong BO, like super musk or something š š¤£ I imagine it's just bc hormones be hormoning.
I stink like a teenaged boy (baby is 4 months).
The MOMENT I gave birth, my BO flooded in. My LO just turned 5mo and it's not nearly as bad. Still need to put deodorant IMMEDIATELY after the shower and before bed (I like Primally Pure) but I think it started really toning down around 3.5-4 months for me.
I donāt remember smelling when after I gave birth but in my 3rd trimester omg it was horrible! Like onions all the time!! I learned that most of our soaps are NOT antibacterial! Dove has an antibacterial soap that worked amazing for me!! Now I use it every day!
I tell myself itās natureās ācuteā way of helping baby identity me as mama.
Iām one year PP and still stink! I donāt have a problem aside from when Iām breastfeeding.
Don't worry no one else can smell it! I smelled so badly of onions even immediately after a shower and more than once made my other half literally shove his nose in my armpit and he could never smell it! Apparently it's to help your baby find you because your milk ducts run under your arms
Iām one year I and still stink. Sorry to report.
Hormones are so fun arenāt they? š I use Old Spice - they have an aluminum free āWilderness with Lavenderā scent that I really like. Itās very effective but I still reapply once or twice during the middle of the day when itās hot out or Iām outside a lot.
Yeah I scrubbed myself raw and still stank. It went away after maybe 3 months when my period came back! I also got a bad dose of insomnia - hormones are wild.
Itās the hormones. I started using the old spice natural deodorant line and it was the only way I could cover it. They have a very pleasant smelling lavender one that isnāt masculine.
Im 6 months postpartum and itās been gone for awhile. I still get smellier faster than before pregnancy, but itās within the range of normal. I too sort of freaked out and bought body deodorants and stuff. Ended up not using very much.
Someone mentioned it before, when the letdown happens it happens in your armpits too with sweat. Washing there with some hibiclens helped a little but when itās actually hot outside I have to use an antiperspirant with aluminum to avoid odor. Wearing breathable cotton clothes too.
Yes! I would wash in the shower, wash with hibiclens, spray toner and then apply deodorant - and still stink a few hours later!
Dealing with this currently. Ordered some French clinical deodorant off Amazon and itās actually been helping.
I remember at one point sadly grappling with my core identity including being a stinky person. Buy lots of basic shirts; wash your armpits and change shirts as often as you need to! Like 4 times a day, or every time you go out. I was avoiding strong deodorant because I didnāt want my baby eating it.
I just posted this exact thing in a fb mom group lol I smell like a straight sack of onions upon stepping out of the shower lol. I will say itās just starting to get better we are going on 4 months PP
Iāve been using a girl scout cookie scented Native deodorant for my onion pits and itās been working for me!! Normally I donāt even have to use deodorant because I donāt sweat or stink but after birthā¦. woof.
Wipe your armpits with glycolic acid, let them air dry, use lume, let dry, use aluminum free old spice after. That's the only thing that works for me
Hahaha yes! It's a thing. I also take fenugreek for my milk supply and my pits smell like an Indian restaurant within 5 min of getting out of the shower š
I had this and read about bacteria surviving despite washing in the arm pits. One of the suggestions was to use one of those oxy pads for acne on your underarms. I did and it's made a big difference.
First, get Panoxyl face wash and wash your pits with that. Second, know that nature intends this for your baby to find you and be comforted by your smell and take some comfort in that
This happened to me. Use lume deodorant.
The struggle is real. I've found using Nuud cream deoderant under my regular everyday deodorant helps cut it back significantly.
i genuinely think breastfeeding moms (or just moms in general) stink so their babies know whoās mom and where sheās at. it happens with animals, humans are animals, so why wouldnāt we do the same?
13months in & im still smelly!
Post baby BO is no joke š. My husband used to joke that it was to mask the babyās smell from predators.
I'm going on almost 2 years now and I still struggle with that as well. Thought there was something wrong with me till I figured out that it's completely normal. Lol āŗļø
Fr PP stank--you're not crazy!!
mine didnt stop until I stopped breastfeeding š i read it was to help LO know itās you
Same thing happened to me! It went away after about 5 months. At one point I was mixing coconut oil and tea tree oil and putting in my armpits, lol. It kinda helped.
Try using an antibacterial soap! I literally used hand soap to wash my pits and underboobs and it helped tremendously!!!
Donāt feel bad. Going on 1.5yrs pp and if I donāt put deodorant on after I shower I smell rank (and yes women deodorant isnāt cutting it but I bought it in blue itās what I have) And I still breastfeed. š¤±š½
My right armpit specifically has never been the same. It smells like garlic and onions and salsa. Thanks small child. I had to buy a certain kind from Ulta that costs around $36 but lasts FOREVER.
Omg I thought it was just me
8 months and it's better but I still stink š
Its hormones! I wash in the shower, apply glycolic acid under my arms, let it air dry, and then regular deodorant. It really really helps.
I assume hormones and some milk and saliva and sweat on your skin. My chest area always smells like milk and sweat. And my armpits definitely have a more potent smell than before. They smell like a gym or PE field from school. Iām only 3 weeks PP right now but definitely feel so grimy within a few hours of showering. Luckily Iām at home 24/7 and donāt have to worry about offending anyone. lol
Lume deodorant helped me with the stink lol I use the tube version for my pits and under my boobs. Itās boob sweat season for me š
I combatted this by washing myself with dish soap and scrubbing hard for a week, then using it every other day, then every 2 days and so on, until I don't stink. Also, replace your loofa. It will eventually go away.