The Weird Postpartum Odor No One Talks About (and How to Fix It Naturally)

Got postpartum body odor? You’re not alone. Try my postpartum armpit detox!

Postpartum body odor has to be one of the most challenging postpartum symptoms ever! According to research, we adopt a new odor during postpartum is so that our newborns can recognize us and tell us apart from others.

Um, yay? Come to me, my darling newborn…

This makes sense because newborns generally have undeveloped eyesight. So, their sense of smell is heightened and fine-tuned to their mom’s individual smell.

After I had my son, I really struggled with this and didn’t know where to start, to rid of it. I literally smelled like a bag of raw onions (I had no idea how common this actually is!) and it made simple tasks pretty embarrassing because I felt like everyone could smell me.

What also made me super uncomfortable was the fact that my newborn son was always so close to my underarm area, due to the fact that he was exclusively breastfed! So not only did I feel bad for myself, I felt bad for my son. Although he never seemed to mind! 

Aside from adopting a clean(ish) diet and drinking a gallon of water daily to help keep my system hydrated and cleansed, I used this regimen to keep my body clear of that annoying smell.

Got smelly postpartum body odor? Here’s an all-natural postpartum body odor remedy you may want to try.

Here’s everything you need:

1. An all-natural deodorant

The Mineral Deodorant from Wellnesse and the All-Natural Deodorant from Rowe Casa Organics are the best natural deodorants I’ve ever tried. I’ve had nothing but positive results using these deodorants. AND, because I regularly clean my underarm areas with lime juice, I also don’t really feel the need to put on deodorant every day unless I know I’ll be super active that day.

Another alternative is to use magnesium oil as a deodorant, but I have to be honest and say I have not tried this while dealing with postpartum body odor.

2. Fresh, organic lime juice

I no longer rely on soap to wash my armpits. I use about a third of a lime to rub into my armpits about 5 minutes before I shower. I squeeze it to release some of its juices, and I rub it into each armpit.

Lime juice has a high pH level which makes it difficult for bacteria to survive- it’s the perfect ingredient for getting rid of postpartum body odor! I know this works really well because even after one of my sweaty workouts, I still smell fresh! It also helps lighten up the underarm area which for many moms gets darker during pregnancy.

If you have sensitive skin, you may want to dilute the lime juice first in some water. Also note that lime juice will make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so if you sunbathe, keep this in mind.

3. Bentonite clay

I use this clay for a variety of reasons in my home. From detoxing face masks and detox baths, this powerful all-natural Indian healing clay really does its job and you feel it also as soon as you put it on your skin.

When I first started this remedy, I would detox my armpits with a mixture of this clay and organic apple cider vinegar every couple of days to help get rid of my postpartum body odor faster.

Now I only detox my armpits with this clay every week or so. I create a medium-thick paste with the clay and cider mixture, and I apply it to my armpits. Then I keep my arms lifted up slightly to help it dry and really begin drawing out toxin and heavy metals. After about 5-7 minutes, I rinse my armpits. This healing clay is strong so you don’t need to apply too much.

Note: Never use metal utensils or containers when mixing this clay mixture as it can draw out the metals in them

4. Organic apple cider vinegar

I love apple cider vinegar! It has so many benefits, one of them being its ability to neutralize body odor.

It is naturally antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic, and it works on the skin by destroying odor-causing bacteria. I use this as part of an armpit detox mask made with bentonite clay. It helps balance the skin’s pH levels while eliminating odor-causing bacteria.

If you’re a fan of baths, you can mix in 1-2 cups of apple cider vinegar to a bath. This is not only soothing, but will also change your skin’s pH, making it difficult for odor-causing bacteria to thrive.

Postpartum Armpit Detox Recipe

** Please do a patch test beforehand to check for possible negative reactions. If so, please DO NOT proceed!

Step 1: Rub the juice of a freshly squeezed organic lime into your armpits before showering (if you have sensitive skin, this will have to be diluted with water). Let sit for 3-5 minutes and rinse. Do not use soap on your underarms afterward. Use an exfoliating glove to remove any dead skin and plain water to rinse.

Step 2: Dry armpits with a clean towel and then air dry until armpits are no longer damp.

Step 3: Apply Wellnesse Mineral Deodorant or Rowe Casa Deodorant.

Step 4: Every 2-3 days, detox your armpits using a medium-thick paste consisting of 100% natural bentonite clay and organic apple cider vinegar.

Repeat as needed, no more than twice per week. NOTE: Keep your underarms shaved to help prevent odor-causing bacteria from clinging to your underarm hair.

Recommended:

• 8 Tips to Help Relieve Postpartum Hair Loss
• 14 Common Postpartum Symptoms (And What to Do About Them)
• 10 All-Natural Postpartum Recovery Essentials You’ll Actually Need