Just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to nurse without pain when your child has 4 upper teeth. He doesn't bite or anything, it's just where they are when he nurses that really hurts. I would like to continue nursing because I enjoy it, but... it's difficult when it's painful. He has a health condition so he would need to continue receiving my breastmilk to stay healthier, but he won't take a bottle, so I would like to continue nursing if possible... Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!
I nursed all of my children for up to 2 years. When their teeth would hurt me, I'd adjust them until it didn't hurt. I really got used to it anyway and it never was an issue again. I'm about ready to have my 5th baby and I look forward to nursing him too... Congratulations! And Good job breastfeeding!!
Make sure you get as much breast tissue in his mouth as possible to avoid any irritation. Try to point your nipple toward the roof of his mouth, this will keep his teeth off your breast and on his top lip. If you use the 'C' hold and when he opens up, point your nipple up towards the roof of his mouth.
i had a similar painful experience breastfeeding at that age due to teeth. not much advice, but maybe try to:
- limit nursing sessions to "active feeding", not just comfort nursing... mine used to stay latched for ever if i'd let her
- nurse in quiet dark places, reduce distractions, so he doesn't detatch all of a sudden to look around the room. that for me was the most painful.
one other thought: i never tried this, but what about a nipple shield?
I had the same problem with my boy for about 4 or 5 weeks when he was nine months. Nursing him was so important to me that I just muscled through the pain. It just got better. I have no real advice except for you to hang in there and keep at it. Good luck!
Jaimee and Becky are right. Just keep readjusting him till it feels better. My son is 20 months old and he has plenty of teeth. Occasionally they rub, but I just adjust him and it goes away. My daughter I nursed till she was 3.5 YEARS old and it never bothered me with her.
Peace-Love-Boobies!
congratulations and thank you for breastfeeding! :) it truly is the best! :)
#1: find a local or nearby la leche league leader or group. www.llli.org
#2: make sure that your baby is actually latching on properly (which is probalby something the la leche league leader will ask you or help you with). this means he has to open really wide and you have to make sure he gets your breast in his mouth far enough that you shouldnt have this problem. its hard to do especially if you are in a habit with him of him not getting on far enough. i nursed my son until he was 20 months old (then he self weaned) so i know what its like to nurse a kid with teeth, and i dont remember having any problems. the one time he did try to bite, i just put him down to play and ended the nursing. so thats a tip in case that does happen to you. i only had to do it once, but other kids might need to be reminded over and over, i dont know..
anyway, just try to get more of your nipple area into his mouth. that should help.
Try a nipple shielf and contact the LaLecheLeague asap! They know it all :)
Does it hurt because the area where his teeth hit is already irritated? Try rubbing Lansinoh (purple tube) on the area after every feeding. It is totally safe, and there is no need to wipe it off before the next feeding. Sorry I don't have advice for during the feeding, but hopefully this will help relieve that lasting irritation I know teeth can cause!
I second the suggestion to use a lot of different nursing positions. It seems like that's about the age where they start inventing positions anyway-- like nursing while practically standing on their heads!
It shouldn't hurt just because they have teeth.
I nursed my daughter until she self-weaned at 2.5 years old, and my son until he self-weaned at about 1 year old.
Make sure he latches on properly...
LIke some other ones said, the latch is key. Make sure he's getting ALL the nipple in his mouth, and if it hurts, break the seal and try again.
Sometimes it helped me when my son would open his mouth to latch on I'd kind of push the nipple in with my finger.
Good luck, and congrats for nursing! :)
*also, if he just got the teeth your nipples will be more sensitive at first, but the pain should go away soon. :)
Try rotating nursing positions too. I would rotate between football hold and cross cradle to help alleviate the pressure in the tender spot. I also put a small amount of lanolin on right BEFORE nursing to reduce the friction from the little teeth. I found that it went away after a few weeks after you build up a "callous".
My daughter's two front top teeth came in first. She has BIG teeth (thanks to me) not tiny baby teeth and they were really splayed apart. My breast would get sucked into that space if she wasn't latched on just right...the most painful thing I experienced in 18 months of nursing!
The other two replies sound right on the money. You might be able to call LaLeche League for support or for a lactation consultant/specialist. I don't know about the resources near you, but LaLeche would be a great starting place. You can google the number.
I also want to really congratulate you for breastfeeding. You are doing such a great thing for your son, your self, and the world. Yay boob juice! :)
It will take some time for your son to learn to adjust his latch for his new teeth. When my youngest started getting teeth I would say ouch when he latched on so he knew he needed to reposition (I didn't yell it or anything, just gently said it and told him to be gentle).
