my 7 week old "bit" me and now I have a bruised nipple!

[fernie3]

my 7 week old has no teeth but last night she clamped her jaws shut so tightly and suddenly around my nipple that now I hae a big red/purple bruise!. It really hurts when she feeds from that side now - whay would she do this! Is it likely to happen again?

Ouch :(

That's so upsetting as well when you're only doing something nice for her!

IME, they just do it sometimes...possibly because it was a reflex-type moment, or an uncomfortable jaw (teething pain can start wayyyyy before teeth show up as the teeth buds move a bit in the jaw). The best thing to do is either remove her from the breast immediately (use your little finger to break the suction) or you can pull her into the breast so that she has to let go of you to breathe (you may want to leave that technique until she's a little older) In this way she will gently learn that the pleasure of feeding stops if she bites.

Have you tried using arnica (not sure if it's ok with B/F-would need to check) or a cold flannel to sooth the bruise?

Take care :)

I've read about babies clamping down on the breast if let down is too fast, but would have thought this would have happened way before now, if it was the case...