New Tooth and Nursing--ouch!

Hi Juliet,

Is it possible that he is nursing with a different latch because of his tooth? Maybe the normal latch makes his gums hurt?

I'd try the following:

Everytime you feel his tooth, unlatch him (with your finger) and then say "no teeth", and start over with a new latch. Make sure his mouth is open wide and he has his tounge out a bit before you let him latch on. You could also try a different hold.. lay down with him, or try the cross cradle or football hold.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

J., SAHM to 2 year old Charlie and 5 month old Joey

Try a new position. Not only is this tooth thing new to your breast, but its new to him too, and he is probably pulling his tongue back to rub it a little, may still hurt and could be using your breast while nursing as a 'rub' for it.

Try side lying, football hold, or having him sit up on your leg facing you, holding your breast in the C hold. Might work, and it also will take pressure off the same spot all the time.

It'll pass, just give it a day or two. Have him relatch or try an new position, because he needs his tongue out to nurse properly. :)

Juliet

I still nurse my 19 month old son who has 8 teeth. I notice that every time he gets a new tooth it does hurt for a while. If you really want to keep nursing him, which it sounds like you do, I would just tough it out a little while longer and expect this to happen every time he gets a new tooth. It will get less painful with each new tooth, your breast just needs to callus and toughen up like when your son was first born.

When my son got his first tooth, I remember that being a very trying time for my nipples. The first week was a bit irritating as much from that little tooth as from him sucking harder to relieve the pressure in his mouth. This is normal. Of course, once the teeth come in, you never can go back to the soft newborn mouth, but the irritation does subside. I really don't think I did anything special, but I guess I would say make sure to nurse before he gets really hungry so he's relaxed and less likely to draw as hard, and maybe something that relieves the pain and pressure of new teeth before nursing - ice or washcloth or ambesol, whatever you might be using to help the teething pain. And, when he does bite down, make sure to let him know gently that that is not ok.

Good luck and happy nursing!

Hold out. It's kind of like when you first start nursing and your breasts have to get used to it and there is pain fro a ittle bit. It will go away in a few days. And as for the teeth making contact, try switching sides. y daughter will begin to bite when there is no more milk coming out of a side. Switch and it is fine.

What worked for all my children when they started biting was my mother's advice: each time that they start to clamp down break the suction, look directly at them and say a firm (but not loud or angry) "No." It takes a few times, but then they always stopped.

What you're talking about otherwise, feeling contact from the tooth whether he bites or not, I experienced that with my youngest. All you can do is make certain to have a good latch-on where his tongue is down flat. After that it just takes some getting used to. :/