Breastfeeding and hives

[BumWad]

I have a 12 week old ebf and all of a sudden last weekend along with my period I got a terrible rash all over my tummy and boobs. I thought it was an allergic reaction to stretch mark cream (Palmers body butter) however it has now spread to my entire body, legs, bum, arms.
It is incredibly itchy and I can't cope with it!! I've got big red bumps everywhere . My GP has prescribed antihistamines, hydrocortisone cream and also an emollient.

Have had a Google and there seems to be a correlation between breastfeeding and hives. Or is it the post partum hormones? Is this going to continue throughout breastfeeding??

Never heard of this one before. Behave you talked it through on one of the Bfing Support Lines, they will probably know

Ok I think I've figured out what it is.

Something called a PUPPP rash (Puritic urticaric papules and plaques of pregnancy). Except a lot of women get it post pregnancy too. It starts in your stretch marks on the abdomen and spreads.

It is horrific. My legs have massive red blotches and now it's on my arms and back. Took a week for my tummy to start clearing so I think I'm going to have to ride it out.

You poor thing. Hope it heals soon

This is something no one ever talks about or writes about but if you start chatting at an nct or other bf group several of us have it. It's a nightmare!! Mine lasted till 6 months.

I found witch hazel worked. Also regular cooling showers with unscented talk. Any treatments that had grease or oil made it worse apart from bepanthen or very thin sudocrem with talc over.

Ugh. It's vile. I dunno if it's a bf thing or just postpartum but it's like it doesn't exist on paper/the Web. Then you ask and it's common! Well I know 3 people at least ... plus me.

Yes squiz.

The rash is improving thank goodness!!