Smelly Breastmilk

[chillifly]

Just wondering if anyone else can smell their milk???

I had noticed the strong smell (does change a bit sometime, but usually the same), but then my DH said he could smell it too.:eek: :eek: :eek:

It seems to come and go in waves, more often than not just before I'm about to feed, but it's so strong! I'm worried and embarrassed that someone else might smell it.

Does anyone else have this problem? Do you know why and what can you do???

Oh, and I shower regularly by the way and consider myself to have fairly good hygiene :D

Cheers

[Funkychicken]

Breastmilk has a scent designed for babies to seek out. To a baby, mummys milk is the sweetest smell on earth. I wouldn't worry about anyone else smelling it-they probably wont. If they do and they have breastfed babies themselves they will in no way be offended and if they have never breastfed they will not know what it is anyway. Besides, have you ever smelt formula? Pheeew....
And the bonus is breastfed babies have very little smell in their poo. :D

[fee's]

I doubt any one else gets as close to you as your partner and your own nose. lol. I have smelt a faint milky smell the whole time I have breast fed but I wouldn't call it yucky?? :confused:

[1stbaby]

I kept smelling it when I first started breastfeeding but dont notice it now. I can smell it on my nightie if I leak. Its not unpleasant.

[my babyemmy]

yes i also have that problem but what i hate is if Ive had a shower and within 2 hours its back to being a noticeable smell, sometimes its an ok smell & other times its not so nice,it might depend on what Ive eaten?:confused:

[JodieC]

my breast milk always smells really sweet, i love the smell of it

[lovemybub]

Okay, sorry if this is going to sound really weird, but I've noticed that my breastmilk smells really strongly like cornflakes if I have a bowl - more the breastpad than the breastmilk I suppose, but I'm assuming the breastpad smells like that becuase my milk has leaked a bit. It was a little bit disconcerting at first, and it's not a bad smell, but it is quite a strong one if you get the breastpad near your nose!

But my bub never gets that smell. She only ever smells like that yummy breastmilk smell that everyone loves on babies :)

[andrewsmum]

My husband used to complain about the smell in the bed, because I'd be leaking (sometimes) onto the sheets.

He was often revolted by the smell and would force me to change the sheets just because of the scent?? :confused:

Not to worry, I guess it is a pretty common thing.

[chillifly]

Excellent! Good to know that it's not so uncommon. I've never heard of being able to smell your breastmilk before and sometimes with it being such a strong smell, I was wondering what was going on.

Funny thing is though, bub never has a sweet milky smell on her breath. If she has one at all it is usually a tart kind of smell (almost like sour milk - kinda like what I can smell on me). My husband described it as 'B.O'. Charming! Mind you, he also admitted that being a chef he might have a more sensitive nose.

True about the poo!! Just one more pro for breastfeeding :yelclap:

(Had to put bub on formula for 2 days as taken into emergency and given drugs and didn't have enough EBM, needless to say :barf: )

Thanks ladies!:D

Cheers

[stoked2be-a-ma]

Hey. When my breastmilk first came in ( it took nearly 6 days ) it smelt like off cabbage, it was gross! My nipples were really infected at the time and I found out later that breast milk shouldnt stink and if it does it could be sign of infection. Im sure you would be aware if you had a blocked milk duct or anything, but thats what I was told. Dont worry it did happen to me for a couple of days and I know its not a nice smell, my DP was accusing my mother behind her back of having BO! I hope it gets better for you and you can enjoy the sweet smell we all love!:fingerscrossed:

[SilverStarfish]

I'm rather new at this breast feeding thing too and was wondering about the smell. I don't find it unpleasant, just unusual. I guess once I get used to it I won't notice it anymore.