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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Biting my nipples

44 replies

Princessmama18 · 30/05/2019 13:07

Any advice would be greatly appreciated please I'm really struggling at the moment .

I've recently had blocked ducts which are now unblocked but left my nippers feeling tender, my little one has started biting down in my nippers when feeding, only every now and then and whilst I know this is to be expected, it's agony and brings me to tears.

The issue I've got now is I'm really anxious that every time I feed DD is going to chomp down on my nippers and it is affecting feeds , I'm starting to dread feeding for the first time which is horrible, whilst feeding I an anxious waiting for the bite, DD must be aware as is unsettled, I'm now upset as feel like a bad mum as I can't feed and settle my baby.

This is the first time i have felt this but i am seriously considering stopping breastfeeding altogether now as I just feel so anxious, but I loved breastfeeding, I just don't know what to do.

Anyone had a similar situation?

OP posts:

HoustonBess · 30/05/2019 13:09

How old is she? If over 4 months or so I'd say 'no!' Firmly and break the seal/remove her from the breast when she bites - basically get her to associate biting with an unpleasant reaction.

iknowenoughthankyouygritte · 30/05/2019 13:11

While your instinct on being bitten is to pull away the best way to release your little jaws is to pull them close.

Basically as soon as they bit pull them into you breast so that they have to let go and pull their head back to breath.
Works very quickly, no harm to baby and you don't end up with bitten nipples. A sharp No! In a cross voice when you do it as well.

hookiwooki · 30/05/2019 13:19

YABU to say "nippers"

How old is your DD?

Is it biting or clamping down towards the end of a feed when she's drowsy?

If it's drowsy clamping then unlatch her and offer again. If she doesn't take it she's done, otherwise she'll go back on with a better latch.

For biting:

If you feel her start to bite push her face into your breast. It sounds counterproductive but she will open her mouth because she won't be able to breathe through her nose.

A stern "no" also works for the most part (a little louder and sharper than you would normally speak, but obviously don't shout).

Failing that, removing her from the feed and plopping her on the floor each time should do it.

You need to respond immediately so she associates biting you with losing the feed.

It also helps to have a tube of Lanolin for when you aren't quick enough.

And I highly recommend Gumigem teething necklaces. They're perfect for babies to teeth on and always handy. Teething bloody hurts, and I find when my kids have got fidgety and whingy during a feed, popping them off and giving them a few bites on something else means they can go back to the feed feeling better and less chompy.

It is a phase, and it does pass.

MRex · 30/05/2019 13:23

The teething phase is hard. I remove DS from the boob, say no and offer him his chew monkey. Sometimes he has a lunch on that before going back on the boob. Lansinoh cream is essential for healing teeth marks.

Original poster

Princessmama18 · 30/05/2019 13:27

nipples

She's teething so just started biting down I think by accident, I know it's to be expected and it will probably pass I just find the anticipation of waiting for it horrible and it's so painful

OP posts:

MumW · 30/05/2019 13:28

I had this a few times with both mine.
I'd involuntarily cry out too. I would unlatch them and say please don't bite Mummy. If they then latched on and did it again, I would suspend the feed.
Both got the idea quite quickly.

IDontDrinkTea · 30/05/2019 13:32

If you have bite marks, get some of those burns plasters. Best thing to heal trauma

Theweasleytwins · 30/05/2019 13:34

Urgh i remember ds biting me
Screamed and he wouldnt let go! Husband had to stick a finger in the corner of his mouth to stop him

Turns out you can just lift your boob up. Much easier

Laserbird16 · 30/05/2019 13:38

Good advice here and I'll add I tried consciously to relax before/during a feed when I was suffering mastitis - I completely understand, it is the worst! I found birth less painful! - take a few long deep breaths, notice where you are tense and let the tension go on the out breath. Best of luck and hooe you are soon on the mend

Original poster

Princessmama18 · 30/05/2019 13:40

I think she does it without realising to be honest which is why i feel so bad she let's go straight away!

It's just so painful it's the anticipation that's getting in the way of feeding I don't know how to just relax and feed and not worry x

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 30/05/2019 13:44

It is a phase, happens when they are getting used to their new teeth. It does stop. I found it was a good idea to watch very closely and I can see the signs they are about to bite, at least with my two it has been the same. They sort of pause, get a glint in their eye and then chomp down! When I recognised this pause I would stop the feed very hurriedly. Sometimes that was it, they were done and wanted to get down and play, and sometimes they weren't finished and would protest, so I'd let them feed again and keep watch again.

It never happens during the real strong sucking/swallowing phase, just during the light fluttery bit once they have got their main "fill" so I never worry that I am denying milk.

Teddybear45 · 30/05/2019 13:50

How old is your dd?

Original poster

Princessmama18 · 30/05/2019 13:58

She's 8 months.

I watched for any pattern but it seems random so i find myself just watching her during the whole feed and panicking when she pauses and taking her off, then she cries as is probably wondering what's going on so put her back on and just go round in circles, I feel so sorry for her but don't know how to just go with it

Its been on and off a little while now and ive just got in with it but there was one bite yesterday which felt like a searing pain through my body so I've been worse since then x

OP posts:

Teddybear45 · 30/05/2019 14:01

Honestly I would try expressing for a bit. You can get cups / special teats etc if you want to return to bf after the sensitivity clears. Breastfeeding shouldn’t be something you dread and if it makes you happier to take a bit of a break then do it.

NotSoThinLizzy · 30/05/2019 14:02

When mine did this I unlatched him and put him down on sofa or handed him over soon got the idea if he bites no boob for abit like a whole minute 😂

MRex · 30/05/2019 14:08

They sort of pause, get a glint in their eye and then chomp down!
Haha, this is true and weird, DS gets a little glint in his eye when he's going to bite these days (maybe always but I hadn't noticed before). I say no, he thinks it over... Recently he's been doing a delicate test nip after the glint and the no, which doesn't hurt, but I tell him no and remove him anyway. He cries when I put the boob away but if I swap sides with him at that point he's usually won't bite.

Original poster

Princessmama18 · 30/05/2019 14:23

Urrhh-
I loved breastfeeding and didn't want to stop I just can't face it now
How horrible is that of a mum

OP posts:

Notthetoothfairy · 30/05/2019 14:26

Not horrible at all! Please don’t blame yourself or feel guilty.

fairweathercyclist · 30/05/2019 14:26

If she's 8 months and biting I would say it's time to stop. And no you are not a bad mum to dislike being bitten!

Notthetoothfairy · 30/05/2019 14:26

I definitely wouldn’t breastfeed in those circs, so you have already put up with a lot more than I would have.

gamerchick · 30/05/2019 14:31

found it was a good idea to watch very closely and I can see the signs they are about to bite, at least with my two it has been the same. They sort of pause, get a glint in their eye and then chomp down!

Ah I remember this with my last one who was murder for biting. I did a stern 'you dare' and he'd wiggle and carry on nursing.

Pulling their head in so they have to release to breath is the done way when they start biting. It's unpleasant but doesn't hurt them. It's a phase and it passes.

nutbrownhare15 · 30/05/2019 14:37

I did s different version of pulling them in to the breast which worked really well for me. I would gently pinch her nostrils closed til she had to delatch. Stopped within a couple of days. Baby was a similar sort of age too. Got the tip from this article which has lots more kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/biting/

Watchingthetelly · 30/05/2019 14:44

DS did this for a while at a similar age and helpful advice I got is that they often do it when they're finished actually feeding and get a little bored. So I had to watch him, pay attention and take him off before he got bored and got any ideas. If he did I agree with PP about a stern no and taking him off the breast - he'll learn quickly!

MRex · 30/05/2019 14:57

@Princessmama18 - the painful biting will stop quickly if you're firm and consistent, give it a week and see.

OnePotMeal · 30/05/2019 15:52

Is it bad that I was expecting an altogether racier thread?

(Sorry, hope things improve, OP!)

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