Itchy when dropping breastfeeds?

[newcomer]

Has anyone else experienced weird itchiness when starting to wean/drop breastfeeds? I feel itchy sometimes in the evenings and especially when baby newcomer is breastfeeding. It particularly affects my scalp and sometimes feels like ants, sometimes like electric shocks, sometimes just a strange warm feeling. I've def not got lice by the way!

I was wondering if it might perhaps be due to the falling levels of estrogen?

Anyhow, if anyone else had something similar, I'd be very grateful if you could let me know.

[newcomer]

Oh, I should add that, since baby newcomer is now well established on 3 solids meals a day, I've recently gone from 6 breastfeeds a day to 4 feeds (having dropped the 1030pm and 330pm feeds and now feeding at 7am, 1030am, 2-230pm and 630pm).

[Cora]

yes, I have been told that oestrogen levels are very low when breastfeeding and can cause itching (especially down below) - I have also recently got 'dandruff' and itchy scalp since breastfeeding my third (didn't get it with the other two) but have been told this will not be due to breastfeeding or oestrogen levels...I'm not convinced and hoping it will just disappear once I end my breastfeeding days!!

[newcomer]

Thanks Cora. I've also got sore ankles in the morning (I hobble around for the first 5 mins) and insomnia, so I hope this is all a temporary thing!

[charlottep]

i had the ankle thing too, really badly after the birth of my first. i think that's to do with the relaxin hormone rather than breastfeeding though:

"the role of relaxin is to relax the ligaments of the pelvis and allow separation of the joint surfaces. This provides more space within the pelvis to accommodate the growing baby and prepare for labor. The fetus grows from the size of an orange to the size of a watermelon by the end of the third trimester. Without this flexibility in the body the fetus would have nowhere to grow. Unfortunately, relaxin is not confined to the growing pelvic area; it can affect fibrous tissue anywhere in the body such as the hips, knees, elbows, ankles and spine."

Read more at Suite101: Back Pain During Pregnancy: How Relaxin Hormone Effects the Body http://www.suite101.com/content/back-pain-during-pregnancy-a213628#ixzz179bo4247

[newcomer]

In case anyone has the same problem, I went to the doctor who confirmed that changing hormones can affect your skin's sensitivity after childbirth. Skinrelated side-effects can include: itchiness, spots, mild reactions to perfumed showergels etc, and even stress hives. The effects are usually temporary, and often kick in either the actual birth, or when your monthly cycles are re-regulating as you decrease/stop breastfeeding. I seem to be totally recovered now. For my itchy scalp, I used a Philip Kingsley scalp tonic, which really worked, although maybe it would have just cleared itself up anyway given time. He also confirmed the relaxin/sore joints problem!

[Gussy]

Thanks newcomer, useful info. I've had a really itchy scalp for what seems like forever (had 2 kids in last 2.5 years) and my scalp has been a mess and still is. We're dropping down to between 2-4 feeds in 24 hrs...I posted a few weeks back that I've got insomnia since weaning as well. Thankfully it is easing now, but it is strange what the body gets up to with all these hormones....i'll have a look for the scalp tonic as every shampoo I try seems to work for a week or so and then my scalp just starts itching again...