Weird question: Do your breasts itch when your baby empties them?

[heva]

At 3 weeks, DS is doing a great job at the breast, and I couldn't be happier :) As I'm planning to go back to work in late December, I've started pumping a bit and he's taken a bottle several times without trouble. I'm making plenty of milk (he only takes one side at a feeding), and he rarely empties the breast all the way. I've noticed when he is able to empty the breast completely (rare), it ITCHES. Not unpleasant, and very transient...no redness, no pain... Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

And just a general, heartfelt thank you to all of you who have posted all of your trials and tribulations with breast feeding here. I think all that I learned from you (along with some key advice from my midwife, and a baby that just "gets it") has made all the difference!!!

[houseof3boys]

ooooh. I hate to say this and it may have nothing to do with your case of the itchies, but when I have had thrush that has been one of my first symptoms.

http://www.drjaygordon.com/bf/thrush.htm

Kelly mom recommends a vinegar rinse:
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/natural-treatments.html#vinegar

and last but not least if you want to know more than you ever wanted to know about thrush....

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush-resources.html

Make sure that if it *is* thrush that you both get treated! There a zillion threads on this if you want to read through them here.

[heva]

Thanks for the warning, but we don't have any other signs/symptoms of thrush, and it's not my nipples that itch, but the breasts themselves...

[billysmommy]

I know exactly what you mean :) My breasts used to itch like crazy the times that Billy would actually empty them. Now that he is a much more efficient eater they itch just about every time he nurses. I've asked the ped and she wasn't sure but said she had heard this before.
We both had thrush when Billy was about 3 weeks old and that itching is MUCH different. HTH

[Rachels]

Yep!!! It still happens sometimes. They itch after I take her off, as the ducts refill.

But I agree that it's worth keeping an eye out for thrush. It doesn't always cause many symptoms. We've had it several times, and sometimes an increase in that vague breast itchiness is the first sign. I do have the itching without thrush, but it can't hurt to peek in your baby's mouth from time to time just in case.

-Rachel
Mom to Abigail Rose
5/18/02

[pritchettzoo]

Yes! Woohoo! I'm not insane! (Well, not on this point at least!)

Anna
Mama to Gracie (9/16/03)

[heva]

I feel much better, too!!

[lizajane]

i itched because the skin was so streched from the incredible SIZE change! just like pregnant belly itch... i smeared lanisoh all over my breasts. ahhhhhhhh... relief.