9 month old shredding my nipple - helphelphelp

[dairyair]

I've been bf my DS since birth, and after tongue tie and some latching difficulties, which resulted in seriously painful nipples and him taking a chunk out of one (which, it seems, will never grow back?), everything was fine.

Recently, though, he's started feeding as far off the nipple as he can, so he can look around as much as possible whilst feeding. My right side seems to be able to take it, but my left is cracked, bleeding and weeping. AGAIN! I've just had to go out and buy lansinoh (I was given it previously - had no idea how much it cost )!

Can anyone help? I've tried pushing more boob into his mouth, or pushing him further on, but he's strong and will just pull away and perch on the tip. owowowowowow.

[homeedmam11]

I NOTICED WHEN MY SON IS TEETHING badly HE PREFERS ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER AS IT MUST BE MOR COMFORTABLE. Sorry for caps:(
He will leave one side more sore too, it could be his teeth making him postion himself like this. (((Hugs)))

[nikynoo]

I feel for you -I have had the same problem - has his tongue tie snipped and help with latching on and tried different positions but 10 weeks in I still have one breast which is fine and the other one which is constantly sore with a chunk out of my nipple which never heals and is either weeping or really sore. I cant bear to have anything touch it - even wearng a bra is painful but i have to keep feeding him even though its so painful - any tips to ease this would help? X

[Nagoo]

jesus christ he's 9 months! Whip him off every time he does it!

It's different with a younger baby but you don't need to put up with it now surely!?

You won't starve him. DD has reduced her feeds right down now she's almost 9 months. She's too distracted so she doesn't get fed unless she's sleepy. She takes the vast majority of her milk now at bedtime and dreamfeed.

[Nagoo]

nikynoo you need to get help in person. Don't suffer on your own :(

[dairyair]

Nagoo I think I've left it too late - this now seems to just be the way he feeds as standard. It used to just chafe a little bit, so I ignored it, but it seems after weeks of doing it everything's just gone a bit pear-shaped.

I spoke to my local NCT bfing counsellor (in person at the drop-in - nilkynoo I'd recommend them, she was amazing and so supportive in the early days) and she couldn't think of anything to sort it out. He does it in the daytime and at night, and he generally pulls back so he can focus on the top I'm wearing/my arm, and pull/flick/pinch.

He had been reducing his feeds, including not feeding at all at night, but in the past week he's been feeding every 2-3hrs. 9 month growth spurt? He's off his solids at the moment too, so am hoping soon he'll be back to his old self and start dropping feeds again. I'm just not sure what state my boobs will be in by then...

[Nagoo]

I'm not qualified to make any suggestions but if you want to carry on feeding him then I'd suggest zero tolerance and keep taking him off. You can't accept this as a semi permanent arrangement.

He will be able to learn how to do it properly, I've watched DD get the hang of various cups

good luck and I hope someone can come up with the answer :)

[Cosmosis]

Is he teething? My ds?s latch goes to pot when he is, I think because he?s sore.

I think you need to do as above and take him off and relatch to try to relearn a good latch with him again.

[dairyair]

Yes I think he is teething - really dribbly, chewy and narky.

Will try the off-relatch thing, and hope that it's just a phase.

Thanks all

[Cosmosis]

with my ds it sorts itself out once that bout of teething finishes, hopefully that will be the case with you.

[dairyair]

thanks cosmosis, me too!