Oh my goodness. Help! I'm 13 weeks pregnant with my 1st. (Yea!) I have suddenly developed OOBER flaky, dry, itchy areolas and nipples. Is this normal? What is causing it?
I know you can get irritation once you start breastfeeding, but I'm not there yet, obviously. Besides, they don't hurt. They just itch and flake. Sorry if TMI, but I took my bra off the other night, and it was like a blume of flaky dandruff flew into the air! AHHH! What's wrong?
I've tried cocoa oil, lanolin/petroleum lotion from the hospital, tried wearing a bra to bed (because my night shirt actually did make them red and hurt-bad). I dunno what I could put on there to keep the moisture in. I even used a supposed long-lasting moisture lotion. The hospital's lotion seems best, but I'm still peeling/flaking and itchy as all getout.
Like I said, am I alone? Is this from massive rapid growth (which is what my husband thinks). Help!!
Re: 13 weeks - dry flaky nipples?!
You are NOT alone! I seem to have been able to keep it at bay though. In the shower, I buff my nips with a loofah (and shower gel). As soon as I get out I moisturize with a lotion made from Goat's Milk. I love GOAT BOY:
www.goatboy.us?
I should add... you might want to use a LOT of lotion. I know our nips are small, but I use the same amount I would use on my hands... and sometimes they stay dry and I have to reapply.
It's also really important to put on the moisturizer when you just get out of the shower so you're still wet. You want to lock in the moisture.?
Yikes!!! That just totally made cringe! My nips are so sensitive I can barely stand to gentlely dab at them with a washcloth.
Oh, honey... I'm so sorry! My t-shirts used to hurt the boobers, but now I'm fine. The loofah I use is really one of those puffs... it's not one of those hard spongey things. I read about this in a pregnancy book, and they said to to this routine everyday and then breastfeeding won't hurt as much because we've "toughened" them up!?