Breast itching during pregnancy is most often caused by pregnancy itch rash. Pregnancy itch rash can be classified as early or late onset. Although the cause is unknown, research suggests that it may be related to endocrine disorders.
Early onset rash is characterised by red papules around the nipples the size of green beans or normal skin colour with intense itching at night during the third to fourth month of pregnancy. Late onset manifests as an itchy rash with nipple itching in the last 2 months of pregnancy, especially 2 weeks before delivery.