Is tiktok or anyone else available? I'm in agony!

[pebblejones]

My DS has had his 2 bottom middle teeth since he was 16 weeks old, this has not been a problem until now (22 weeks). Yesterday he bit me, my right nipple has been painful ever since and bleeds every time he feeds on that side. This has made me very nervous about feeding, which probably hasn't helped because 30 minutes ago he bit me again on the other side, thus time much worse, I'm still in tears!
What can I do? He refuses bottles (I've been trying everyday for 2 weeks with both expressed breast milk and formula). I'm absolutely dreading his next feed and think it's time to move to formula if only he'd take it. I'm so upset and I've upset my DS because I frightened him.

Oh, you poor soul, how horrible for you. I had the same thing, but my DS was 9 months and taking a bottle happily. The pain was indescribable!

The second time he drew blood, was the last time I fed him directly. I was crying in anticipation of every feed, worrying he would bite.

No real advice, but as a starting point, you could try taking him off and refusing to continue the feed for a little while every time he bites. A friend swears her DS stopped biting when she absolutely howled with agony - thinks he got such a fright he was put right off biting!

Also, if there's a particular point in the feed you know he'll bite (DS initially did it towards the end of feeds, when he was getting distracted) you could try taking him off before he bites.

As for getting him to take a bottle, have you tried different teats/temperatures/a doidy cup/tommee tippee cup/someone else feeding him while you're out of the house/feeding him while he's more or less asleep?

Okay, first of all, don't worry - most of us have gone through something similar.

You can take paracetamols if you are in pain - honestly - two hours before - it'll help. But you shouldn't be in pain for long. Rub a bit of milk into the sore nipple to help aid healing.

Secondly, he is biting for two reasons, the first is he's probably a bit sore - teething gel before feeding can help (and also numb your nips if he does decide to have a go). The other reason is because when he bites mum makes a big funny noise and that's got to be worth another go to see if the same thing happens. It is vital not to react other than to say 'no' firmly and plonk him on the floor. He will wail. Pay no heed. Wait ten seconds then pick him up and comfort him. He needs to know that biting leads to the end of the feed (and the fun).

It will stop soon. :)

DS bit me and drew blood two weeks ago, and I nearly launched him across the room. I shouted at him , put him in his cot, and left him to cry. After thirty seconds or so I picked him up, put him on the other side... Then the bugger delightful child bit me again. That time I left him to cry and didn't feel guilty at all. He hasn't done it since.

It bloody hurts, you have my full sympathy. Rub some milk into it, and use some Lansinoh if you have any left.

Thank you for your reply.

This was the second time my DS drew blood and I feel like I want to stop too, maybe I'll feel differently when I have calmed down a bit, but I doubt it.
We have tried all of the above regarding taking a bottle, but my DH has just made a suggestion, the only time we haven't tried to feed him with a bottle is in the middle of the night (mainly out of laziness, breastfeeding is so much easier when you're tired), so when he wakes, usually about 2:30am, I'm going to try a bottle then, maybe he will be too sleepy to notice.

I do have lansinoh, I hadn't thought of that.
I'm starting to calm down reading your replies, thank you.
I'm not sure I'll be able to not react if he does it again though, I've not felt pain like it, that coupled with the shock of it.

I think part of it is the shock, isn't it? In a "Hang on, this hasn't hurt for months!" way.

DD - 9 months - has just done this 5 mins ago(not hard as first time) said ow, no! Mummy doesn't like that and plonked her on the floor. She cried came back over and is now feeding nicely.

My ds went through the same phase and it doesn't last long but they DO need to learn not to do it.

I'm not sure my DS would understand a firm 'No' he's only 5 months.

You are all reassuring me though, hopefully it will turn out to be a phase!

No but he will understand that if he does this motion, then he gets taken off the breast and plonked somewhere. It might take a few attempts (hopefully each less hard than the first!) but he'll learn.

How are your nipples doing?

Hee hee, no one has ever asked me about the well being of my nipples before!

I'm feeling better and calmer and I took some paracetamol and the pain has gone. I just know it'll hurt though when I feed him again.
I'm going to try and not let this put me off breastfeeding!

Thought it might make you smile - and make me look slightly perverted, but hey...

Its one of the lower moments. It hurt for a moment when I put DS back on for the first time (though I honestly think a lot of it was me tensing up, thinking it would hurt), but not for very long, and nothing like the first few weeks.

Hey Pebble, how are things going today?

He's not bitten me yet, but I'm watching him like a hawk and pulling him off everytime I think he might be about to bite. But it still flipping hurts, like the early days of breastfeeding. I've tried giving him bottles today (unsuccessfully), DH tried too but without success. It's made me realise I need to really get him to take a bottle because when the top teeth arrive OMG! I ordered this Medela Special Needs Bottle (that is supposed to be good for stubborn bottle feeders) and also a Doidy Cup.
Thank you for helping to calm me down last night. :)