My 5 month old is getting teeth. She's got two on the bottom--they're about halfway out. When she latches on, she fails to cover her teeth with her tongue until after she's latched on--then she kind of slips it over her teeth so she can suck properly. I noticed she did this when she was a newborn, but I was so tired and we had a lot of weight gain issues--so I didn't put forth the effort to train her to put her tongue out properly. Well, now it's killing me! She doesn't scrape me when she's coming off. If she's super calm and dozy she doesn't do it either. It's just when she's excited or we're out and about. Maybe she's too distracted?
I'm not sure if going to an LC would make a difference at this point, but I'm desperate! I am fearful of what will happen when she has teeth on the top, too! My older daughter nursed until she was 3.5 (when I was 12 weeks pregnant) and I would like to have a similar child led weaning with this baby. But it needs to be pleasant!
We're definitely not the bottle kind of family. I nursed my first daughter until I was 12 weeks pregnant with number two--and she was 3 and a half years old. To us, these quirks are definitely worth working through.
I got some advice from another board and spoke with an LC. Everyone told me to return to my initial new baby holds--and make sure her neck was extended and her mouth open, then smash my breast in there quickly when she was ready.
This has worked wonders and as long as I take it step by step her latch is right 90% of the time. Yay!
To other mothers.. DO NOT GIVE UP! Your baby was born to be breastfed and deserves nothing less!
Lucinda--.. I'm very sorry that you lack the education that would tell you that the World Health Organization as well at the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend nursing until 2 and beyond. Obviously your children are grown and you can't change the past. The least you can do is not hand out poor advice to people who choose to do what's best for their children. My baby is 6 months old--hardly old enough to be weaned by her choice or mine. I implore you to keep your mouth shut concerning this topic if someone asks your advice--because you're not helping anyone. Your feelings on the matter don't really have any effect and SHOULD NOT play any role in when a mother and baby choose to stop nursing.
My advice is once they get teeth it's time to ween them. I am sorry but there is nothing more unnerving than seeing a 3-5 year old pull up their mothers shirt and latch on. I am a mother of 5 ages 20-12 so I'm not talking from inexperience. If you want to continue breast feeding then you will just have to deal with the teeth.
Both my boys had short frenulums (the tissue that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth) so I had similar issues. Really all they taught me was to pull down firmly on their chin when they were latching on. It might be an uphill battle starting at this point, but I would recommend atleast trying it. I also used the technique when they were teething on me later in our nursing adventures. Good luck!
Hi. I have two daughters and I nursed the first for 18 months and the second for 3 years. My second daughter was born with several teeth already visible and the scraping began right away. I had to train her to let go without scraping by vigilantly inserting the pinky of the hand not holding her as soon as I felt that she was about to stop sucking. It took about two weeks but established muscular memory in her nursing. At first I had her stop sucking purposefully by putting my pinky in and having her pull off just to establish a bit of control in the process and that also helped. I learned this procedure from my La Leche League leader. If you have a chapter in your town, I cannot recommend a more supportive group to be part of and the meetings are a great way to learn ways of dealing with these problems and others associated with raising children. I hope this helps!
Have you considered having her checked by the M.D. to she if she is "tongue tied" also known as ankyloglossia? It is possible for babies to have too short of a frenulum which keeps their tongue from extending as far as it should. Can be corrected if that's what it is.
My first baby just turned one. I used an LC for the first 5 months because it seemed through development and habits we fall into there was always something. The LC would always bring me back to the correct way to have the baby latch on and the position I was holding him; then everything would be fine. So, my advice, set an appt with the LC.
I used the Lactation Center at Sutter Memorial on F Street. It's free to anyone, you don't have to have delivered there.
My boy scraped when he first got his teeth, I think it's just a new thing for them and they are trying it out. He stopped after a while. When he would start to scrape I would stop him by sticking my finger in his mouth to undo his latch.
See a LC, you'll be surprised at how much they can help you.
I needed one even with the second child, cause we tend to forget a little. Plus she can help you find positions that are comfortable for both of you and help you teach her to latch on properly. It will save you a whole lot of pain!
Besides, if you see an LC and it doesn't help, then you did what you could and it might be time for a bottle.
Older nursing babies often know when they are biting down, but if this is a behavior you have ignored until now it will be harder to correct. Start by having your milk "ready" by hand expressing for a few minutes before you nurse. Then, when you start the latch, place your nipple deep in the babies mouth, avoiding the tender area next to the end of the nipple. Once latched, if the baby bites down, scoop you nipple out and say "no bite". Your baby may get upset that you are setting limits, but if you do not do so know, you may end up stopping breastfeeding. If this does not work, or you want other options, try a good Lactation Consultant, breastfeeding clinic, or La Leche group
Good luck!
I see that you've already got a solution so congrats! I also wanted to suggest nursing with your pinkie finger. It helps when my son (he's 12 months with 13 teeth!!!) tries to latch or chew on me. She'll still be able to nurse, just not scrape your nipple. It's annoying so she'll also not do it as often. Maybe you can try this the other 10% of the time? Good luck and I'm pleased to hear you are still nursing!
Hi M.,
So sorry to hear about your nursing difficulty, I haven't had this experience but I would definetly encourage you to consult with an LC. The other issue I wanted to respond to was your older child attending kindergarten. I'm on a mission to let as many parents know as possible that kindergarten isn't really kindergarten anymore, it's first grade. I highly recommend that you hold off one more year even if your child appears to be academically ready. There are other issues to consider which affect a child's emotional development. Many schools have lengthened the day for kindergarten to accomodate the change in curiculum. Also, due to this curriculum change many parents are waiting an additional year which means your child may be in a class with older kids, this may or may not have a huge affect now but as they begin to physically develop later it can create some unnessecary emotional insecurities. I'm sorry to bring this up now with your current issues with your youngest (which I wish you the best in resolving) but I feel it's so important for parents who have not yet entered the school system to be made aware. Take care and God bless you and your family.
Lysa
M......I know what you are going through only because my son started getting his first tooth at 9 weeks (he just turned 21 on the 7th of March...they grow up to fast)so imagine trying to breast feed with a mouth full of chompers? :-) I finally just had to stop breast feeding but before I did that I decided to pump some of my milk and I would go back and forth from the pumped milk to the breast that way I would get a bit of a break but yet he would not miss out on the nutrition of my breast milk and since she gets so excited when you are out and about I would suggest the pumped milk as well that way she is happy because she has a full tummy and you are happy because you are not in pain. Just a thought I would pass along since it worked for me it might do the same for you and that way everyone is happy!!
Sounds like she is weening herself from breastfeeding if you ask me. Maybe you should pump bottles and breast feed at night when she is calm and relaxed. My son stopped at 6.5 months his choice. He had teeth by then and I was thankful he was done for that scaping reason-good luck. Each child is totally different from the other-Enjoy the fact that this child has her own way. If you are fearful of regret have another baby!
