My eight month old is teething and bit me hard on one nipple. This was bad but I could muster through the pain bc I knew I at least had the other non bitten nipple. Well, now he has bitten both. Ahh! I try to tell him no, press his face in, etc. I think he thinks it's kind of funny. Anyway, it is so painful right now I'm thinking about getting some formula just so my nipps can heal. If it was only one then I would stay off that side but it's not. I guess I have two questions...Is there something I can do to make it less painful so I can nurse. I am not giving up breastfeeding bc I love it and so does he! And second, have any of you supplemented with formula. Not sure how to start bc I have breastfed both my kids. Should I start out with just a little bottle? Also, thinking of the formula bc I try to pump but never get much. I would love to have my hubby more involved with my son's feeding. Also, it would be nice not to stress about having enough milk if I go somewhere!! Thanks!
Well, I did buy some formula. I made my husband do it, lol! When I first gave it to my son, he was not impressed but the second time I used slightly warm tap water and he drank it like a champ. I also bought some lanolin cream (found in the baby section, btw) and applied that quite a few times. It smells kind of like a permanent marker but has helped heal me. I didn't quit nursing. I pumped when I became full and fed my son the pumped milk. I also nursed him when I was full. It seemed to not hurt quite as badly when I was fuller. I'm healed most of the way so it's back to nursing for me. Of course, on date nights, etc., he might get a little formula since pumping has never produced to much for me. Thanks for all the responses!!
I never supplemented. From what I've heard, it makes the baby breastfeed less. or not want it at all.
What i do did with my DS, and now with my DD was when they started to bite I would stick my finger in their mouth and remove the boob. If they were going to bite, I was taking that away.
Lanolin *sp* helped with my soreness.
Also you could try to pump and bottle feed instead of the formula.
http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/14747932220308193281
That is my post for the same problem and the same age. =) He finally stopped and I finally healed. I just suffered through the pain. It took two weeks but I'm better now. I found that using renew lotion from Melaleuca and then putting lanolin on afterward, helped the fastest. I tried just the lotion and just the lanolin but both together took about 4 days. Whew! You can try breast shields and pumping. The breast shield didn't work because he thought it was a chew toy and he bit worse. I didn't pump because I didn't have a pump but I did express my milk on the sore side a couple times.
Hang in there!! Good luck!!
Well first of all when he bites you or course you are going to scream or whatever b/c you are surprised but try not to. Immediately pop him off set him down and leave the room. Seriously you want his head spinning b/c you left so fast. Don't come back for a few minutes. You want his whole world gone in a second. I used this method with my son and he only bit me once. Also you are at an age where if you start to nurse less your supply will start to go down and it will be hard to get it back. Since your son is a little older your body is already in the "weaning" kind of mindset and if you start to give formula you might not ever have enough breastmilk. That being said you have nursed for a long time and he probably wouldn't be hurt by a little formula. Also you could start to give more solids at this age instead of bottles. You can also program your body to make a few feedings of breastmilk a day. I nursed my son until he was 2 years old so he had teeth for a large portion of that time. For the last year we only nursed maybe 2-3 times a day and then down to 1-2 times a day for the last few months. While your nipples are healing find some of those gel pads that they sell at Babies R us. They can be stored in the fridge or warmed in the microwave depending on what feels best for you. Also use lanolin ointment and you could even try green cabbage leaves from the fridge. I hope this helps and remember breastmilk is the best food for your baby so try to stick it out as long as you can, but it's not worth it if you are in so much pain that you can't enjoy it. Good luck. I hope this advice helps.
The first time it happened to me, I said "No!" so forcefully that my daughter cried. I felt really bad, but it never happened again. Come to think of it, that is exactly what I did with my son several year's earlier (don't remember if he cried!!), but I was only bitten once.
I supplemented formula w/my son b/c I worked and my supply dwindled as he got older. I think I mixed half formula, half BM, then went full strength for the afternoon bottle, but kept nursing and pumping. Suplementing or bottlefeeding NEVER gave me a problem with my kids wanting to nurse at other times.
You may also want to make sure he is hungry when you feed him. If he is not hungry, then he may just be playing around,
Good luck...I know it can be tough!!
Pressing in works, really, press harder! You have to press them in far enough so they can't breathe through their nose, then they will let go so they can breath through their mouth. they will not sufficate, but they will find it unpleaant enough to get tired of that game in short order!
No formula if you want to continue nursing. You can give an occassional bottle of water or diluted fruit juice, just to give your breasts a rest, but don't stop nursing or you will get painfully engorged & end up with mastitis, which is even worse than a bitten nipple! Vit E on your breasts & letting them air dry as much as possible will help them heal faster. Don't use waterptroof breast pads, or wear a padded bra as that causes the moisture to be held in & not absorbed, which fosters bacteria & yeast growth. Nipple shields can also help you to continue nursing while healing.
My son started biting around 10 mos and wouldn't stop. I ended up pumping and feeding him during waking hours with bottled breastmilk and then nursing during the night if necessary (he wouldn't bite when tired). If I were you, I would pump and bottlefeed it rather than do formula. With all the plastic and bugs and everything they have been finding in it lately, it just doesn't seem worth the risk (and my daughter - baby #1- was formula fed for 8 mos because she never latched well and my supply dipped from pumping with a regular pump....so I have done both). Get yourself a commercial grade pump rented from a pharmacy that carries them or a hospital (you can find places to get them at Medela.com) Good luck!
I feel your pain literally! My little one thinks it funny too. I try not to react but it is sooo hard not to react when you are being bitten. I would try pumping until you heal so you can continue. I have been going to add a little formula to my little guys diet too just in case he ever has to have it. Good luck and may he be gentle on you!
Ouch! I would get some formula until you feel better, but you might have to pump a little to keep your supply up.
Just "telling" no didn't work with my guy. I barked out a really stern "no" that startled him and it seemed to make a difference. Good luck!
As far as the biting goes, I mashed my first childs face into my breast long enough for it to almost take his breath away - it sounds cruel, but it did the job - No more biting and smooth eating for the next 5 months. As a mother of two - both breastfed babies, I want to let you know that there is no problem with supplementing with formula on a need-to basis. I would not have told you this before I had my second child. I was a gung-ho breast only mom who went through enough highs and lows to make one crazy, but I continued to breastfeed. With my second child - now 10 months, I have lightened up and realized it is ok to do both. Start out with a small bottle to see how your child reacts to the formula - some formula caused my little one to spit up and another gave him crazy gas - take advantage of all those free samples you were sent when expecting. You will also find that since you are not feeding you should be able to pump more. Good Luck
I understand your pain, I had that happen as well. I could always tell when she was about to bite because she would stop & her bottom lip would kind of quiver and so I would immediately w/draw my breast and say NO firmly, not men or loud, but firm. And if she did get a bite in, I would w/draw the breast & flick her on the lip again with a firm NO. That worked really well.
As far as supplementing, not that experienced with that, she never bit me hard enough to make it where I couldn't nurse. I do know that it does appear that babies will nurse less once formula is introduced, however, if it weren't available after you heal, he may go back just fine. Have you even tried nursing? My right nipple cracked & bled so much and hurt to have the nursing pad touch it. When she was latch on, it would hurt but once she got going, it was fine. Lanolin worked great at healing it so you may want to try that for this situation.
Best of luck to you. I loved nursing my 5 children, but only one did I make it past 3 months and it was with the biter, LOL. I nursed her 18 months and yes it was very enjoyable for us both.
