Nursing Hurts- Help!

Perhaps he's ready for you to cut out a feeding once a day so he's slightly more hungry at meal times.

We went through and are still going through this! My son started doing the same things! He was to into what was going on around him- he's still into everything! I would take him off and put it away until he decided he was hungry again. They are just discovering their worlds and don't want to miss a minute! He still hasn't outgrown it, but has gotten better. My advice would be as soon as that starts, meal time is over. It doesn't take long for them to get the idea that meal time is only offered once. My son figured it out quickly, and now when he does it we finish the meal. I figure he must not be starving if he is to busy with everything else. They will eat when they are hungry! Don't give up, this too shall pass. One day you will miss the smiles you get during those times!
Good luck!

Try talking to a lactation specialist. They know all the tricks. I relied on mine for several months while nursing both by daughters. Good luck.

I feel your pain, I just went through this with my son about a month ago. I read the breastfeeding booklet they give you at the hospital (don't know if all hospitals give it?) but it's got illustrations and lots of good info. My baby would suck and pull off, suck and pull off, no matter what I did. I had horrible blisters and was in excrutiating pain every time I nursed. I read this booklet, and the info that helped was the part that said where to point your nipple while feeding. You must make sure he opens his mouth all the way, don't let him try to latch unless his mouth is open. If he only opens it to scream, do it then! He will learn quickly that he has to open up. Next, you point your nipple at his upper lip. When he latches, the nipple should be at the very top of his mouth. It didn't make sense to me until I tried it, but it made it so his gums clamped on the aerola instead of closer to the nipple. After I started doing these things, it didn't hurt while I was nursing anymore, and I healed within a week. The book says it doesn't need to hurt to nurse if you are latching properly. I was amazed because I thought that it was just part of it. Anyway, I hope this helps somewhat. The booklet is called Nursing The First Two Months and is an excerpt from the book The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins, RN, MS. I hope this helps! I know nursing is tough. Hang in there!

I have the same problem. My son has been doing this for the last two months and it drives me crazy. I have found it helpful to nurse in a very quiet and dark room. I also try to nurse when my baby seems super tired, so I know he'll be 1/2 asleep while nursing, and he'll eat better.

These things really helped me. I like the necklace idea that one lady gave you. I'm going to give that one a try.

Good luck!

It was a phase that my daughter went through, but it usually only lasts a couple months.....Just keep trying to do what your doing, but just make sure his mouth is wide open and his tongue is under the areola.

I have to confess to stopping nursing when my daughter started doing this. It was mostly around extended family or friends when she started this and it was embarrassing to me and them since she'd throw the blanket off.

I bought a breast pump and would pump privately then give her a bottle.

I hope you find something that works for you if you don't want to resort to pumping or bottles.

My doctor told me to distract in a different way, such as lightly tapping on the bottom of a foot or tapping the cheek to get them to lock their vision on you. I'm sure you're talking to him, too. Hope it helps some. I know it hurts.

I don't have any advice except that it will get better! My little guy is 6 months and it has only been in the last month that nursing doesn't hurt. He would do the same thing, and it hurts so bad! He mostly holds still while eating now, unless there is a distraction then he just stops. I know this doesn't really help much, but I wanted to let you know that it WILL get easier and it won't hurt eventually!

I breastfed my daughter until she was 17 months old and I would love to tell you that there is something you can do about it but there isn't much to be done:( They go through phases where that's all they want to do is look around and yank your nipples off but it does stop!! I tried this with my daughter and it helped get her a little more focused on eating instead of playing. When she'd start wiggling and squirming I'd break the suction, put my breast away, and let her sit up. When she acted like she wanted to eat again I would put her back on and if she started squirming again I would break the suction and take her off. Once she realized that she wasn't going to get to eat unless she actually ate she stopepd. (For the most part.) Is the room you nurse in overstimulating? Now that he is 3 months old he can see a lot more and the world is probably fascinating him. The blanket didn't work for my daughter either but I would definately try what I did above. Also are you making enough milk? Sometimes they yank to try to get more milk out. My daughter did that too:( I hope you have some success; just remember it's usually a phase and it too shall pass:) Good luck!!

You might try a nursing necklace. It is a long, pretty beaded necklace that babies can play with while nursing. Here is a link: http://lorisnursingnecklaces.blogspot.com

I find it helpful to nurse lying down in bed.