Rash - Cincinnati, OH

Don't want to scare you but if I were you I would let a Doctor look at the rash----could be a form of Breast Cancer.

The breast pads have a silicone beading inside them to soak up moisture. You might try using a fabric breast pad instead. I know this sounds weird, but... I have really sensitive skin and I cut the shoulder pads out of old shirts and used them as breast pads. They can be washed by hand, fit perfectly in the bra, and I wasn't allergic to the fabric or foam inside.

Sounds like good old yeast infection. When I was pregnant with my second one, I developed BAD itching.
Yes, you can get yeast infections there.

Hi T.,
I am with Verna on this one--GO TO YOUR DOCTOR! My cousin died in December from inflammatory breast cancer at the age of 53. This cancer moves FAST. It doesn't present as a lump, so mammograms don't catch it. She found out when she went to her doctor for a rash, and when the rash didn't respond to prescription lotion or antibiotics, the doc said, "We have to biopsy this".

So, dear ladies, always check your breasts for rashes as well as lumps!

Good luck and let us know what happens

K.

Hey T.! Could it possibly be a yeast infection? Try some Gold Bond cream or powder. I'm a nurse and have used it on patients forever. Give it a shot, I bet it will help tremendously! Good luck!

Silly question here; what are you using the pads for, just to prevent leakage? Did you know that just pressing on your nipples when you get that let-down feeling will stop the milk? You can be pretty subtle about it, just cross your arms like you have a chill, and push back with your forearms.

Your rash is probably just a yeast infection. Call your doctor to make sure, you'll sleep better.

As long as you don't put anything on the nipples, you'll be ok. You can put lotion on the actual breast. I had to when I was nursing. Not for a rash, but for dry skin. You may want to call your OB and see if they can recommend anything. Hopefully it will clear up soon!

it sounds to me that you could have an infection called mastitis or even maybe thrush..do you have red streaks on your breast and are they warm to the touch(if so it could be mastitis) if you have white, red, cracked itchy nipples it could be thrush...hope this helps if your concerned ask your childs doctor or yours during the next visit

p.s if it is thrush and you breastfeed you will keep getting it back but your child would have it to

Out of curiosity are you using lanolin? or another soothing cream for them? I found out after I had my first child that I am allergic to lanolin and it is in EVERYTHING that the hospital recommends for sore nipples. If you are allergic to wool or even have a sensitivity to it you should check to see if this could be part of the problem. The other thing I found out is that the cloth pads hold the moisture too close to the skin so I couldn't use those. I transitioned to the Lily around 6months. That was after the leaking was more under control and then the moisture wasn't quite so irritating.

Hopefully you can resolve your problem!

We have something at Beauticontrol that is nice and natural and helps itchy, rash skin. Its called SKINLOGICS CORTICURE COMFORT LOTION WITH CHAMOMILE.

I had broke out where I wear my watch and it took care of the rash and itching!

Check it out on my store: www.beautipage.com/michelewells

I would see your doc. It sounds like a yeast infection. You can get one from wearing the lilly pads and from not changing your pads often enough. Also, check your baby's mouth for white patches. Babies this age often develop thrush, an oral yeast infection, and can give it you while nursing. The doc will most likely prescribe an anti-fungal cream for you and possibly and oral anti-fungal your baby if he/she has thrush. Good luck!

T.

If it cleared up when you stopped using them and then came back again when you did, it is a rash. I would not overreact and run to your doctor. If it had not cleared up, then yes, it is something more serious. I have skin allergies as well and certain soaps and lotions as well as latex will give me a rash.

You can buy washable pads at Target. That's what I used. They are made of cotton and should not give you a rash. Just wash them with the baby's clothes so that they will be cleaned in a mild detergent. Good luck!

N.

I don't recall using pads very often while I was nursing because they were very uncomfortable and made me itch. Sometimes that meant being a bit damp, but everything was always able to dry out fairly quickly.

The best thing I found for this yeasty sort of rash (on me or on my baby) was calendula baby cream made by Weleda. It's very soothing, not toxic to baby, and smells nice too. And you don't want your baby to ingest cortizone which is in many anti-itch lotions that are wonderful products for areas not next to your child's source of nourishment.

Try going braless as much as you can. It allows your breasts to heal by removing the close, warm, damp environment created by the pad. If you're uncomfortable going completely braless, try just leaving the front of your nursing bra open. If you're like me and own a zillion t-shirts,just wear one and change it when it gets wet. Another thing I remember doing while nursing was to put a cloth diaper in front of whichever breast (like stuffed in my bra) I was NOT currently using to nurse (and was probably leaking!). This helped take care of the worst of it, allowed me to keep my shirt dry, AND to remove the dampness when I was done nursing (by taking the wet diaper out of my bra) (except sometimes when I would forget and walk around the house looking all lumpy because I had a diaper in my bra)

And don't forget, wet leaky spots show less on print shirts. ;-)

If you need more good nursing advice/support/comeraderie, contact your local La Leche League. Some of the women I met there 22 years ago (while pegant with my oldest) are STILL my best friends.