Allergic to Breastfeeding

Just did some Googling.

According to quite a few websites I found, they actually recommend you take Magnesium while BF.
I'm already taking Fish Oil and Calcium. So whats one more tablet.


RE: the "everyone can breastfeed". Yes and no. I think Physiologically, everyone can, but I don't think that everyone has the emotional and mental capability of doing it. It's not a task that comes naturally, it's a learned art (Mac wouldn't feed for the first 24 hours, he was fed by suringe and finger sucking) and it's hard work and not everyone can cope with the extra work load of feeding on top of caring for their new baby.
Personally, I refuse to give up though.

Mum2Mac wrote: RE: the "everyone can breastfeed". Yes and no. I think Physiologically, everyone can, but I don't think that everyone has the emotional and mental capability of doing it. It's not a task that comes naturally, it's a learned art (Mac wouldn't feed for the first 24 hours, he was fed by suringe and finger sucking) and it's hard work and not everyone can cope with the extra work load of feeding on top of caring for their new baby. Personally, I refuse to give up though.

Well said. and Kudos to you for trying to find a solution and for your perserverance!

Eden was the same, wouldnt feed from me and had to be syinge and finger fed, and she was my 3rd child. I was devestated, but 22 mths later and she is still going strong on BM.

duh to me for not reading properly - formerly amstaff... i wondered who you were!

LOL, I really got lumped with it all. I got flat nipples as well which makes feeding a bit of a task, but it's doable.

Thanks to everyone for your support. I kind of feel like a "flea bitten mongrel" actually with the scratching. You know that look that dogs get on their face when they scratch behind their ears? That kind of, relief mixed with pleasure look?
Well I'm sure thats what I look like when I'm scratching my thighs.
The look on my face when I see what I just did to myself afterwards is somewhat different though.

Mum2Mac wrote: I kind of feel like a "flea bitten mongrel" actually with the scratching. You know that look that dogs get on their face when they scratch behind their ears? That kind of, relief mixed with pleasure look? Well I'm sure thats what I look like when I'm scratching my thighs. The look on my face when I see what I just did to myself afterwards is somewhat different though.

i know those looks, my eczema used to make me do the same!

Mum2Mac! It's great to finally hear of someone else who knows what I've been through! We could almost be the same people. Poppy was given a few formula top up until my milk came in (about day3) too. Did you have a caesarean? Anyway the day my milk came in I developed this lovely rash in my groin creases! As this was clearing after about a week I then developed a rash under my boobs. At this stage we (me, midwife, doctor, mother, anyone else who had an opinion) were all thinking it was a reaction to new mum stress/ heat/reaction to washing powder (partner had done the shopping, got different brand) and the list goes on... Finally stumbled on something in some baby book, although it was refered to as Oxytocin allergy so maybe try googling that.

As for relief, I tried all sorts (and it seems so long ago!), from oatmeal baths to vinegar washes, Prantal powder (a talc type powder) was really good when I was getting hot and sweaty which always made it extra itchy! I wouldn't waste your money on that aveeno stuff or alpha keri as neither of them overly helped me.

Anyway, your midwife is hopefully right. Mine had pretty much settled by the time Poppy was 3 months old. Still get the occasional rash but nothing as severe as in the early days!

Sorry, I hadnt read this thread before. AandCsmum jsut told me about it after we had a conversation about this.

I had something like this too. It started shortly after I had my first and it would flare up if I got hot (like had a bath) and would cover half my body with hot, itchy welts. I was going insane!!!! One pharmacist told me I couldnt take antihistamines and recommended pinetasarol (smells awful, used for chicken pox). Thankfully another let me take zyrtec. I cant remember how long it lasted...I took one tablet a day and it kept it away. Then one day I tried without it and I was fine.

This didnt happen with James and I am still BFing after 13 months.

I never considered stopping BFing. It never entered my mind. My MW had suggested it was a reaction to oxytocin but it still never entered my mind that stopping BFing was an option. I was totally against the idea of FFing....because it looked like far too much effort...not any philosophical reason..I was just too lazy.

ANyway, it did stop.

I had PUPPPS and the itchy rash drove me insane. my naturopath said to take Rhus Tox 30C and it disappeared after a couple of days. i know it's not the same thing but might be worth a shot? Or even talking to a naturopath?

I scratched mine so bad they turned into sores but haven't scarred so hopefully you'll be ok too. I also took anti-histimines but don't think they did much.

One thing that helped the itching at night (when it drove me completely nuts) was hot water bottles filled with icy water and frozen wheat packs.

Lavender oil in a cold bath is nice too but only temporary.

I hope you find a solution!

Funny how pain is preferable to itching when the itch is that bad isn't it?

Just to threadjack briefly, I am a weirdo, I LOVE the smell of pinetarsol...