I expected itching but not pain!

Well, I made it 6 months without them, but today I found stretch marks under my breasts (which, incidentally, along with my rib cage, have grown just this past week from a 34B to almost a 37/38 C). But more upsetting is the fact that just under my left breast, on the top part of my belly, the skin is extremely irritated. Raised, red, burning. It isn't itchy at all, and I've been applying creams and oils 2x a day the entire pregnancy...but suddenly I can't even bear to have clothes there. I don't think its a reaction to soap or anything because all last week I was having pain underneath, like at my ribs, on that same side. The only things I can think of to explain the irritation there are 1) that is the same side where the stretch marks popped up so maybe my chest grew more on one side? Or 2) the babies always seem to stick out like little mountains on the right side, which maybe stretches the skin on the left? Anyway...I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this irritation, almost like razor burn or sunburn, and if you have any suggestions for how to make it feel better. Will lotions with lidocaine or benadryl hurt the babies? Will they help my skin?

 

QUOTE(teafor2 @ Apr 25 2009, 08:28 PM) [snapback]1288548[/snapback]
Well, I made it 6 months without them, but today I found stretch marks under my breasts (which, incidentally, along with my rib cage, have grown just this past week from a 34B to almost a 37/38 C). But more upsetting is the fact that just under my left breast, on the top part of my belly, the skin is extremely irritated. Raised, red, burning. It isn't itchy at all, and I've been applying creams and oils 2x a day the entire pregnancy...but suddenly I can't even bear to have clothes there. I don't think its a reaction to soap or anything because all last week I was having pain underneath, like at my ribs, on that same side. The only things I can think of to explain the irritation there are 1) that is the same side where the stretch marks popped up so maybe my chest grew more on one side? Or 2) the babies always seem to stick out like little mountains on the right side, which maybe stretches the skin on the left? Anyway...I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this irritation, almost like razor burn or sunburn, and if you have any suggestions for how to make it feel better. Will lotions with lidocaine or benadryl hurt the babies? Will they help my skin?



One thing I find that helps when I have that burning sensation is pure aloe vera gel. Also, I found that cocoa butter cream and the like ended up irritating my skin after using it alot, so I went to the drug store and bought just pure vitamin E cream. When your skin is dry and irritated, one of the worst things to put on it is fragranced lotions or oils. sometimes even baby oil isnt gentle enuff. I would try the pure aloe vera, or try some with lidocaine in it. the amount of lidocaine that would be absorbed thru your skin is so minimal there wouldnt be an effect on the babies. I would stay away from benadryl unless you know for sure or have spoken to a doctor about an allergic reaction.
whatever you do, do not use VICKS or any other cooling topical treatment, as it irritates broken skin ( and stressed skin) and can cause pain. apply any gels or creams right after getting out of the shower, even when still damp, your pores are open and it will absorb more.

Good luck and Im so sorry your uncomfortable!

 

I agree with going for the aloe vera, it is good for your skin and definitely helps any form of irritation. Assuming you're having an allergic reaction, benadryl is one of the safer things to take, but depending on what is causing the irritation, it may or may not help. It definitely wont hurt anything, like anything else though just try to take the littlest dose that helps. I dunno how warm you've been, but if that area gets sweaty, that combined with the stretching can definitely cause that kind of irritation. Good luck!

 

Down at the bottom of my belly, I felt like my skin was tearing the last couple of months of my twin pregnancy. It was so much worse than regular stretchmarks and quite painful. Vit E oil was the only thing that really soothed it much. It was kind of a pain, because it was so thick and sticky, so my clothes to stick to me. But no lotions or creams that easily absorbed did any good.

 

I suggest benadryl and I use cornstart on the top of my belly. My rash seems to come from sweating and corn starch is the only thing that helps! Lotion makes it worse.

 

I got my strechmarks at 33 weeks when they really started to get bad and itch and hurt pretty bad.. The onlything that gave me releif from the pain and itching was the palmers belly butter, I hated the smell but it helped alot with the itch