7mo, on and off, really hurting my nipples - any way to make it stop?

[papillonrouge]

I've been bf ds since birth and have largely found it a pleasant experience but recently, especially for the first feed of the day, he bobs on and off the boob constantly throughout the feed. I think this is largely due to curiosity - he's looking around and checking things out. When he comes off he maintains suction which means that each time he extends my nipple to twice its normal length and feels like he is giving me a carpet burn! It's starting to get really painful and really annoying which means my first interaction of the day with him is not the most positive. Any tips to make this stop or do I just grin and bear it? It's really making me want to stop bf but I had hoped to carry on to 12 months or beyond. Thanks for any help.

papillon I had similar problems when DS was the same age and was on the point of giving up so you have my sympathy.

I rang the NCT Helpline and they were really good, got the problem sorted in no time.

It's possible that he may be teething and trying to get the nipple away from sore gums.

Plus he will be hungrier first thing in the morning.

JJJ how did they help? I've called about the same thing and she didn't have an answer other than maybe teething.

OP I have found that gently but firmly holding him in place when he's about to yank off stopped him (although he kept trying to do in the same feed but at least I wasn't getting yanked). He did it for a week or so then stopped.

organic my DS started biting at that age and I very nearly gave up. The Bfing Counsellor suggested that I may find feeding lying down helped and it did. I fed DS in the bedroom for about a day or two and no more biting. Looking back I'm so glad I didn't give up. All the hard work had been done and I carried on Bfing him until DC2 was on the way. It helped him through lots of things including Chickenpox at 1.

I have the same problem im an experienced feeder he is my third bf baby but he has 5 teeth at the front and my nipples are getting cracked feeding is sore and there are indentation on my nipples and he sometimes bites is sore as hell now even lying down at nght. starting to wish i wasn't breastfeeding as it is os sore, but the alternative is not good either, owuld rather it stopped hurting

Thanks all - have tried the NCT but haven't managed to speak to anyone yet - will post again if I get any different advice. It's the pulling off that is the problem rather than biting. Will try lying down though and holding him on to see if anything works.

Hi organic - you have offered me some great advice recently! Had just got my head around potentially term feeding then ds decided to make feeding painful!