Nursing and Annoyed

[Kasey J Smith]

Have any of you experienced this?

This has been happening the past few days with my 13 mo: While he nurses on one breast he aggressively plays with the other - pinching my nipple and rubbing it. He is also switching breasts several times during a session. I don't know if he's bored or what. It's beginning to annoy me because he's nursing so much and it's painful. 

Nighttime nursing has increased as well. He was almost going through the whole night w/o nursing but the past few nights he has been exhausting. I feel like I'm constantly switching sides. He climbs on top of me, sits on my face, grabs my other breasts - I don't feel like I'm getting any sleep. I feel like he's nursing all day. 

Could it be my supply or the taste of my milk? I'm not pregnant either.

Please help! ANY advice would be greatly appreciated.

Edited by Kasey J Smith - 11/28/12 at 3:26pm

[skycheattraffic]

I would work on nursing manners during the day first. Do not give him access to the other breast while he's nursing. Cover up however you can and if he does anything that hurts, calmly say "ouch, that hurts. You must be gentle". I always show DD gentle by lightly touching her arm to illustrate the point. If he does it again, stop the nursing session. You can start again in a few seconds but he needs to understand that if he causes you pain then you cant and won't nurse him. I also had good luck giving DD a soft toy to hold and keep those hands busy while nursing. Nighttime may be harder but if he breaks his daytime habit, night might improve too. Another idea to consider at night is to have him sleep in his own space. It will give you more control if you're not right there to be poked and sat upon and may have the fringe benefit of fewer wake ups. Now for his own space, you can put a mattress on the floor in your room so you're right there, but once he is asleep you can climb into your own bed and let him sleep until he needs you. I hope you find some relief; that sounds very frustrating and tiring!

[rubidoux]

The pinching other nipple thing is so nightmarish!  I HATED that!  I don't think my second child has ever even for a moment had access because I knew better by then.  So...  if I was you, I would put my foot down and NEVER allow him access.  It will be hard and he will get upset, I'm sure of it.  But what if you guys nurse for two or three more years???  I think he'll get over it for the most part within a couple of weeks.  It will be worth sticking to your guns on.  

As for the restless climbing on you and switching sides, I think that might be a phase (though I suppose some kids may be that way more than others generally).  My kids would both go through that periodically, though, and then it would calm down again.

And there have definitely been difficult periods of nursing, for a week or a few weeks here and there, where I was feeling uncomfortable and frustrated and like a poorly treated play structure.  But it always came back around.

[One_Girl]

I'd cover up and make it inaccessible but also massage down on the side he is nursing on to get milk flowing faster.

[Kasey J Smith]

Thanks, mamas!

The past few days have been much better!  He has been sleeping longer and deeper and hasn't crawled all over me. I will definitely try not allowing him any access to the other breasts when nursing and also give him something to play with to distract him.

Even though I love nursing it gets tiring sometimes. I'm glad I'm not the only one going through this.

Thanks for all of the advice - I'll let you know how it goes :)