Feel trapped by breastfeeding

[Rumblemumble]

My baby is just over 9months old and I feel like I've now got the the point where I can't breastfeed him any longer. He bites so hard my nipples are bleeding and bruised at least every other day and I'm spending a number of feeds in tears. I've tried pressing his face into my breast and placing him on the floor with a firm no but neither seem to have any impact, and this has been going on for over a month. He also still wakes up to 6 times a night for feeding so the exhaustion isn't helping. He has always been a bottle refuser so I feel like I don't have any other option than to put up with it. My DH thinks I should just stop feeding him and 'if he's hungry enough he'll have a bottle' but I don't think I can put him through it...

[hearyoume]

Could you express and use a sippy cup for a few months?

[shmarphoneschmarehouse]

Weaning him off the breast is of course an option at this point - you've done really well to give him this long.

I experienced a very similar period of painful biting. Lasted about 2 months and was bloody agony. I did persist with the putting down firmly, though it seemed to have no effect, and eventually it stopped.

Is there a chance it's linked to teething? Have you tried applying anbesol to the gums before a feed?

RE the night feeds, at 9 months it's likely that a lot of the waking is for comfort rather than calories. Lots of advice on other threads RE gentle night weaning so I won't repeat it. But it can be done without stopping bf altogether if that's what you want.

[Rumblemumble]

Thanks for the quick replies. I've just ordered a new manual pump from amazon prime and will give the expressed in a sippy cup a go as well as the anbesol before feeding. Ideally I would like to continue to breastfeed for longer, but now I'm back at work the constant nightwakings are taking a toll and the fear of/actual biting means I'm not enjoying it.

[Whatsername17]

In your position I'd wean. Try a sippy cup rather than a bottle or get your dh to feed him. His night waking are most likely habitual now of he's eating in the day. Hopefully, if he stops using the boob as a comforter he might wake less. I wouldn't expect him to sleep through, but he should be able to go for longer stretches. At 9 months they start to experience separation anxiety too so you might want to look at other ways to soothe him when he wakes to help him get back of to sleep.

[Rumblemumble]

No such luck with the sippy cup.. tried expressing but he does exactly the same as he does with water, takes a mouthful and then spits it all down himself, wouldn't accept it out of a bottle either. I just don't know what else to do except cry.

[DoodleCat]

Have you tried nipple shields? Won't help with the night feeds (I totally empathise...) But could help with reducing the pain from biting.

[Catcrazy008]

La leche leage are very good for advice, you can call them and speak with an advisor for tips on anything regarding bf or stopping, used them several times when bf, also went through biting stage, fed until 18 mths.
Stop anytime you are ready, should not feel pressure

[Sparrowlegs248]

I used a nuby grip and sip.cup, as ds also refused a bottle and didn't luke a normal sippy. It took s while but he soon got the hang of it.

Re biting, I did a firm.no, and stopped the feed. It did work but again took a while.

Night feeds - I feel your pain here, ds was just the same. I left it and left it and night weaned when he slept through til 5am one day, I took my chance and carried it on. It was very easy, and I think it was easy because he was ready for it. I just used to pick him.up then sit up in bed cuddling. Singing etc with his mobile on, rather than in bed laying down bf.

[sixandoot]

You're doing a great job.
Some mothers find that paying scrupulous attention to baby's attachment to the breast prevents biting. There's info about it here www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/biting.html.

[icklekid]

If he doesn't like a sippy cup might be worth a doidy cup? My dd won't take sippy cup or bottle but is taking from doidy cup. I would second advice on night weaning gently. Hope you are ok

[icklekid]

Also have a finger ready to break latch as soon as he clamps

[ZZZZ1111]

I have found biting definitely happens in phases when my baby's teething. These days I find the only thing that helps is holding his nose briefly so he releases. And then not bf him for a few moments. Some people find their baby more likely to bite when they don't want to nurse / to get your attention ?

I know it's tough, you're doing such a great job and amazing to still be bf at nine months.