Body Odor While Breastfeeding

How To Get Rid Of Body Odor While Breastfeeding (11 Helpful Tips)

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Amongst the many packages motherhood comes with, dealing with change in body scent is one of them.

This usually occurs during the breastfeeding period, and also, frequently changing diapers can leave you with a not-so-pleasant odor.

If you’re wondering why your scent changed after motherhood and how to get rid of body odor while breastfeeding, this article is for you.

Table of Contents

Does Breastfeeding Cause Body Odour?

For many women breastfeeding is beyond just an ordinary meal time for their infants. It is also a time of intensive bonding and care.

They do it with so much gladness involved, and while they find it interesting, the extra baggage they deal with in the form of body odor isn’t as exciting as the bond they share with their babies.

Looking at all the hormones secreted during breast milk production, it is understandable why some women develop body odor while Breastfeeding.

As a breastfeeding mother, it is close to impossible to avoid developing body odor; your body emits a stronger smell through your underarm sweat than normal to help your baby find the source of food.

You’re either changing diapers or cleaning up stains from the carpet or even excessive sweating, which results from some processes in your body.

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Why You Have Body Odor While Breastfeeding

As a nursing mother, if you begin to notice unusual changes in your body and behavioral pattern, best believe that the chances of it being related to your baby are very high.

The mood swings, excessive sweating, and weight gain all have medical explanations linked to having your baby. This is the same for developing body odor while Breastfeeding.

It is scientifically explained that your body odor results from excessive sweating as a breastfeeding mother. 

This sweating is caused by the breaking down of excess fat in the apocrine glands, located around the nipples, areolas, and armpits.

The process involved in breaking down these fat leads you to sweat more, causing you to develop the unpleasant odor you’re perceiving.

Aside from excessive sweating, several other factors come into play to give off the unpleasant smell. Sometimes spilled breast milk gets fermented and smells when left unattended for a while.

You may be wondering why you smell like sour yogurt or cheese without eating cheese. Your baby has some breast milk trapped in the creases on his body or your clothes.

But if you’re sure about cleaning up your baby correctly, your body odor will likely be related to sweat.

How To Get Rid Of Body Odor While Breastfeeding

When people talk about the joy of motherhood and how fulfilling it is to nurture a miniature of yourself, they do not mention the challenges of dealing with a baby, especially as a first-time mom.

It is usually the tender skin, the innocent smiles, and bright eyes people focus on; nobody gets to prepare you enough for dealing with smells around the house and even from your body.

To be more realistic, dealing with a newborn baby is not a walk in the park. The frequent cleaning up, the diaper changing, the spitting, and many more not-so-fun things are stressful enough. 

Getting to realize that you are sweating more and developing body odor can be daunting.

However, do not cut the joy your baby has brought you short because changes during this time aren’t always permanent.

If you’re thinking of how to get rid of body odor while Breastfeeding, here are beneficial tips to reinforce your excitement for your motherhood journey;

1. Stay Hydrated

There’s no way drinking a lot of water can ever go wrong. It seems like the solution for every problem motherhood brings. 

This is because drinking a lot of water will make you pass out most of the liquid as urine instead of through sweat. 

It may not eliminate the problem of sweating but staying hydrated while breastfeeding will help flush out toxins and wastes while diluting the odors produced by your body

2. Get a Hand Towel

Use a hand towel to frequently wipe off the sweat at the target areas like the neck and underarms. 

You may want to place your towel over your bed sheets when you go to bed to protect your sheet and skin. The towel will soak most of the sweat without getting into your sheets.

3. Shower Regularly

You sweat because of the heat from the activities without your body. Frequently showering will take care of the heat and make you deal with the sweating less. Showering regularly is the next best solution after staying hydrated.

4. Use Wipes More Often

If you’re not a fan of wipes, you may consider getting some because, in situations where you can’t shower immediately, wipes will soothe the nerves around the area. Use wipes around the neck area, underarms and face.

5. Wax Your Armpits      

Hair traps diets and sweat in the armpits, so waxing the hairs will prevent the sweat from being trapped, and if you’re not a fan of waxing, then shaving will do it for you.

6. Use Unscented Deodorant

Deodorant will keep your armpits smelling clean, but switching to a natural deodorant may be preferable, especially after birth. 

This is another great to get rid of body odor while breastfeeding. Papri, Briogeo, and Hatch are all good natural deodorants.

7. Wear Breathable Material

Breathable materials (like cotton underwear or t-shirts) allow the body to breathe, preventing sweat from being trapped.

How to Get Rid of Body Odor While Breastfeeding: Things to avoid

Sometimes your regular habits could be enabling your body odor, but you wouldn’t know. If you’re fond of doing any of the things mentioned below, it’s best to avoid them or cut down on them.

1. Avoid Alcohol

Alcohol increases heart rate and widens the blood vessels under your skin which can cause you to sweat more.           

Apart from this, alcohol doesn’t have such a pleasant smell, and if you’re wondering how to get rid of body odor while breastfeeding, taking alcohol shouldn’t be your favorite thing.

2. Avoid Stimulants         

Besides alcohol, coffee is another thing you have to avoid to deal with excessive sweating because coffee increases the activities in the apocrine glands.

3. Avoid Chemical-Based Deodorants

Chemicals like phthalate or paraben, linked to endocrine disruption, are found in some deodorants. 

When applied to the skin, these substances will be absorbed by the body and excreted in breast milk.

With this in mind, health experts recommend breastfeeding mothers switch to plant-based natural deodorants with this in mind.

4. Avoid Certain Foods

Avoid foods rich in sulfur (such as red meat and spices) and cruciferous veggies (such as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, etc.)

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Conclusion

Thinking of getting rid of body odor while breastfeeding is a common thought amongst nursing mothers, especially those who are new to the experience.

Since this is a new experience to many, it is a delicate phase for many especially considering the emotional stress they go through; many become a shadow of themselves due to the changes they experience while Breastfeeding.

Albeit all the challenges it presents, the joy of motherhood cannot be overemphasized, and this article will help you take care of your insecurities and still enjoy a good bonding time with your baby.

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