Toddler Nursling Latch Change, is there any resolution??

[claddaghmom]

About 2 months towards the end of my pregnancy, things changed in our nursing relationship. I wrote it off as hormones on my part and literally gritted my teeth and continued.

Now the baby is here and I am thinking it is not hormones but her latch has actually changed. I keep trying to help her reposition but then she relaxes her jaw and goes right back.

It's really sad, but the way she suckles incites the most horrific feeling, like a stomach twisting, nasty, creepy crawlie UGH get-away sensation. I've heard of this before. I've heard it can be hormones. I've heard it signals the natural "end" of nursing....but she definitely definitely does not want to stop.

What can I do, if anything?? I'm not even sure where to start....other than, she can latch on for about 10 seconds before I want to jump out of my skin...

[claras_mom]

How old is she?

Dd1's latch got kind of sloppy toward the end of my pregnancy with dd2 (who will be 18mo tomorrow). But she was old enough--4 and a bit--that I flat-out told her she needed to do something different. I was getting tooth marks so it was an easy visual aid for improvement.

Anyway, I do know the feeling you're talking about and believe that it's possible to talk about it with your kid. Something like "Sorry, honey, but the way you're latched on feels really weird and funny to me. Can we take a break or can you do something different?"

[porcelina]

I am in the same boat -- my 2.5 year old had a latch that was hurting! Since baby was born, it started to HURT so much!!! Like as if there were a knife jabbing through the top of my boob. I talked to him about using his teeth, had him demonstrate what he was doing with my finger, showed him teethmarks, etc., but it turns out that what fixed our problem was simply the position. We used to nurse side lying, but I found that if I had him lay his head on a pillow instead (while side-lying), it didn't hurt anymore. So, maybe experiment with other positions, as well as work with her on latch?

Admittedly, though, I do get that irked feeling after just a bit, and when I start feeling that, I tell him 2 more minutes, and then cut him off (usually in less). He's gotten used to having limited sessions.

[claddaghmom]

She's almost two. I've been talking to her about opening wide, putting her tongue forward, etc...but I think you're right...I think it's a position thing b/c sometimes she nurses and it's not a problem at all. Guess it's just another journey to explore.

[claras_mom]

Harder to have the semi-rational conversation with an almost-2!

I hope experimenting with a change in position helps.

[claddaghmom]

Well I cannot for the life of me figure it out. It's the most mysterious and horrific thing going on for me right now. I am a lactivist to the core and I am ready to just outright wean her. I've experienced so many painful things in life and I cannot even stand this sensation for more than a minute or two. Is that not downright weird? I'm so done. Talking to her went downhill. She just screams and says no now.