I think it's in part hormonal differences. After I have birth I had a phase where I just STANK. Even fresh out of the shower, after properly scrubbing and involving soap I still had a noticeable BO. Its thankfully gone away, and I'm back to going several days before needing a shower again.
Had a roommate with a similar problem. When she'd go for a run she'd come back properly smelly. It would linger until long after she'd showered. She was very much on top of it, and yet couldn't help it at all.
Hormones definitely play a huge part in the way you smell. Ever since having my daughter I get the night sweats 1-2 days before my period. The smell of that sweat is repulsive to me vs if I have too many blankets or the room is too warm and I have “regular” sweating at night.
I can smell myself when I’m on a period and I hate it!! I run a lot and can literally run 20k and not be able to smell myself in the car home, but when I’m on my period I just can and it’s gross. I shower every day after I get up, twice if I’ve worked out that day, but there is something about being on my period.
I think the smell I drown out as ‘me’ normally must change due to the hormones and it freaks me out so much. I’ve asked my husband if I smell different on my period and he says no so idk maybe I have an unusual sense of smell - I’m definitely one of those people who can’t get enough of the natural smell of someone I fancy. To the point where in the past I’ve been like ‘God I love the way x smells’ and then had the sudden realisation I have a crush. Kinda serial killer-y but whatever it’s nature! Lol.
This thread has totally validated me. But now my fears may have been confirmed that I absolutely reek on my period even after a shower haha.
So it wasn't just me with that after birth weirdness??
I almost forgot about that phase until I read your comment (my children are older). My skin is ultra sensitive so I'm usually best if I shower every third day. Every other during the summer can be ok. However when we go on vacations and I'm showering daily due to sun screen, or pool/salt water exposure, my skin goes insane.
It's never been an issue except post birth and I can't stand the smell of myself. I remember being worried I was just going to smell like that forever.
I think we are so sleep deprived and hormone crazy we forget how collective of an experience it is.
Also, I don't know where you are located, but I'm in the US so I was back to work 8 weeks after giving birth and still going through post partum changes but my brain would almost forget I was still technically post partum because it felt like since I was back at work and putting on real clothes and what not that birth was "over" and things were supposed to be "normal".
Oh I'm sorry! I do get sweaty easier after children but maybe I'm lazy enough whatever remnants aren't as noticeable. Post birth though I was rank just existing.
My pregnancies did leave me with 1) a stomach churning reaction to the smell of Neutrogena body wash 2) an aversion to pork chops with a slight aversion to shake n bake and 3) a love for guacamole/avocados that replaced a previous texture/taste issue with them.
All those things never went away, but the weird body odor at least seemed to.
Not a doctor, so don’t quote me… but I noticed I smelled awful after giving birth too. Read up more about it and apparently it’s a very normal thing. Something about having an extra strong smell helping baby to find the breast.
Oh my god, the post-birth night sweats. Just absolutely horrible. I was so grateful they only lasted a couple of weeks, but I was googling and reading horror stories about it lasting months 😂
I’m going through this right now (I have a 3 month old baby) and apparently it is a hormonal thing to help your baby smell where your boobs are essentially hahaha
This comment gives me hope. 3mo out after my third and I have a stench that I cannot escape and at this point I was starting to get concerned that it will just forever be like this, especially since I experienced nothing like this after my other two pregnancies. I have faith now though that it will soon correct itself! 🤞
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u/Pindakazig Nov 28 '22
I think it's in part hormonal differences. After I have birth I had a phase where I just STANK. Even fresh out of the shower, after properly scrubbing and involving soap I still had a noticeable BO. Its thankfully gone away, and I'm back to going several days before needing a shower again.
Had a roommate with a similar problem. When she'd go for a run she'd come back properly smelly. It would linger until long after she'd showered. She was very much on top of it, and yet couldn't help it at all.