I posted a thread a while ago regarding my recent discomfort with nursing. It seems that every time I nurse DD now it just is not comfortable. I'm thinking that it is because her top teeth are starting to dig into my skin while she's nursing, but I can't seek any relief. It almost makes me want ti quit nursing altogether! It's awful to think that, but I don't know what to do. She'll sometimes bite down on me and that's a clear indication of where the pain is coming from, but while nursing, I just don't understand. I never experienced uncomfortable nursing until now. What should I do? Any suggestions? DD is 14 months so it's hard to explain to her how to gently nurse while I'm feeding her.
Painful Nursing
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I find that it comes and goes. Right now it's almost unbearable, but I take comfort in the fact that I know it'll get better. I have this weird suspicion that the composition of her saliva changes when she's teething. But that's a totally unscientific guess. I also think it's worse when I'm ovulating.
At 14 months, it should be totally reasonable for her to be taught not to bite you. I used "No bite!" and when it got really bad I would pop her off and re-teach her to open her mouth really wide (kind of how they tell you to do it in the early days of nursing). Also use a lot of sad faces and "That hurts mommy!"
Not much help, I know, but hang in there!
At 14 months, it should be totally reasonable for her to be taught not to bite you. I used "No bite!" and when it got really bad I would pop her off and re-teach her to open her mouth really wide (kind of how they tell you to do it in the early days of nursing). Also use a lot of sad faces and "That hurts mommy!"
Not much help, I know, but hang in there!
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I think I might have posted before on your other thread...
Just hang in there. DD has been doing this more or less constantly from about 15 mos and is now 23 mos. She is down to 1 or 2 nursings a day due to this problem. I really wish there were more answers. I totally know how you feel!
I understand advice to unlatch when biting, but if you are like me, this is not really biting as much as a bad latch where the child opens wide, but then clenches and grips with the jaw and teeth instead of letting the suck provide the closing of the mouth and using the lips to hold on. That is *very* hard to explain to a baby/toddler!
The only advice I got after consulting 3 different LCs and LLL was to get some dental wax and put it on her teeth prior to nursing so it would lessen the painful indent of her teeth. DD would never go for that!
On our own, we finally came up with a little system that helps sometimes. I will have dd suck on my finger first and tell her to hold on with her lips not her teeth. Put index finger in with pad of finger back on the soft palate (this is actually a suck exercise used to help establish nursing with preemies or tiny babies or others having trouble). B4 doing this I explained that she needs to hold mommy with her lips not her teeth. And I also demonstrated gently the difference on her finger in my mouth - using my teeth just enough to be a bit uncomfy but not to hurt her (don't worry, she still asks me to show her so it didnt' hurt).
That's the only thing we have found success with. I know it's related to teething. The last of dd's 4 eye teeth are just coming in so I'm hoping we will have some relief at last and the 4 yr molars won't be a pain too. (no pun intended). Maybe some nipple soothing stuff from Earth Mama Angel Baby would help - i keep meaning to order it.
I understand wanting to wean!! Oh, do I understand! Can't tell you how many times I swore that was the last time. What's worked for us is to tell her if it hurts that we are all done and say happily "Ok, we will try again later!" This doesn't get the best reaction at first, but if you say it cheerily, eventually (if she's like my dd) she will be ok with it and even say "tie gain yater!" I will even tell her before we nurse. "We open wide, nurse gently, and if it hurts mommy... try again later" the last part always said with a big smile to let her know it's ok.
We have had to night wean (it was much worse at night) so she only nurses right b4 bed and not during the night. For us, having a bedtime snack of something filling - oatmeal, lots of cheeriois etc - some sort of carb is helpful. And for a short while we had to give her a snack of mashed banana or applesauce (something super quick and no chewing involved) in the wee hrs of the Am. Just had her sit up and fed it to her quick in the dark.
Instead of weaning completely, think of cutting back - and try not to feel guilty (like I often do), but instead be grateful that you can still give her the wonderful gift of your milk even through hardship. Some is always better than none.
I wish Mothering would do an article on this o- maybe they could find better resources than I have been able to.
Good luck!
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Good luck
Just hang in there. DD has been doing this more or less constantly from about 15 mos and is now 23 mos. She is down to 1 or 2 nursings a day due to this problem. I really wish there were more answers. I totally know how you feel!
I understand advice to unlatch when biting, but if you are like me, this is not really biting as much as a bad latch where the child opens wide, but then clenches and grips with the jaw and teeth instead of letting the suck provide the closing of the mouth and using the lips to hold on. That is *very* hard to explain to a baby/toddler!
The only advice I got after consulting 3 different LCs and LLL was to get some dental wax and put it on her teeth prior to nursing so it would lessen the painful indent of her teeth. DD would never go for that!
On our own, we finally came up with a little system that helps sometimes. I will have dd suck on my finger first and tell her to hold on with her lips not her teeth. Put index finger in with pad of finger back on the soft palate (this is actually a suck exercise used to help establish nursing with preemies or tiny babies or others having trouble). B4 doing this I explained that she needs to hold mommy with her lips not her teeth. And I also demonstrated gently the difference on her finger in my mouth - using my teeth just enough to be a bit uncomfy but not to hurt her (don't worry, she still asks me to show her so it didnt' hurt).
That's the only thing we have found success with. I know it's related to teething. The last of dd's 4 eye teeth are just coming in so I'm hoping we will have some relief at last and the 4 yr molars won't be a pain too. (no pun intended). Maybe some nipple soothing stuff from Earth Mama Angel Baby would help - i keep meaning to order it.
I understand wanting to wean!! Oh, do I understand! Can't tell you how many times I swore that was the last time. What's worked for us is to tell her if it hurts that we are all done and say happily "Ok, we will try again later!" This doesn't get the best reaction at first, but if you say it cheerily, eventually (if she's like my dd) she will be ok with it and even say "tie gain yater!" I will even tell her before we nurse. "We open wide, nurse gently, and if it hurts mommy... try again later" the last part always said with a big smile to let her know it's ok.
We have had to night wean (it was much worse at night) so she only nurses right b4 bed and not during the night. For us, having a bedtime snack of something filling - oatmeal, lots of cheeriois etc - some sort of carb is helpful. And for a short while we had to give her a snack of mashed banana or applesauce (something super quick and no chewing involved) in the wee hrs of the Am. Just had her sit up and fed it to her quick in the dark.
Instead of weaning completely, think of cutting back - and try not to feel guilty (like I often do), but instead be grateful that you can still give her the wonderful gift of your milk even through hardship. Some is always better than none.
I wish Mothering would do an article on this o- maybe they could find better resources than I have been able to.
Good luck!
Good luck
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I could have written this post!
I am starting to resent nursing my 14mo. for this same reason. It hurts SO much! My 1st son weaned at this age (I was pg) and so I have a LOT of pressure to wean this son now, which I totally didn't want to do, until now. I really would appreciate any more advice for really non-verbal toddlers. I have tried to explain to him, but he doesn't get it.
I am starting to resent nursing my 14mo. for this same reason. It hurts SO much! My 1st son weaned at this age (I was pg) and so I have a LOT of pressure to wean this son now, which I totally didn't want to do, until now. I really would appreciate any more advice for really non-verbal toddlers. I have tried to explain to him, but he doesn't get it.
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