Nipples sore again after 6 months successful feeding - why?

[AlfieBear87]

Hi, my DS is nearly 6 months and has been a great breast feeder from the word go. In the last week however he has started to dribble a lot of the milk back out and my nipples are feeling very bruised so its quite painful to feed. Any ideas as to why this is happening? Do you think his latch has changed? Or is it something to do with teething?

TIA

Very occasionally, it appears that nipples can become sore as a reaction to something the baby is eating - might be worth a thought? If your baby has started solid food, it might be that in his saliva that's making you sore.

I seem to remember this happening and for us it was to change of latch- him being far more interested in the world and being more able to support himself which I suppose must have changed his position.
I was a bit insulted that a hv suggested it was a bad latch, but actually... After doing a bit of a step by step 'audit' it wasnt quite right...

teething?
pregnant?
got a bit lax with positioning?

Teething......yes

Pregnant.......god I hope not (not yet anyway)

Lax positioning.......yeah probably, altho this is because DS is a very nosy baby so as soon as anything makes a noise (DH, TV, phone etc) he whips his head round to have a look.

Is it possible to correct their latch at this age?

Thanks for the replies :)

Yes, definitely possible to do things to improve it. Encourage him to open wide and focus on making sure he is far enough away that his top lip just slides over the nipple. It's easy for them to slip into the habit of going on like a bullseye if this is 'good enough' for them. At this age saying "open wide" and making the yawning mouth face you'd like him to copy may also help .

could you be ovulating?

I found as he was heavier I need to adapt my hold of him so he didn't hang off the boob, as well pesto says, I did a big open mouth face myself which he seemed to copy quite easily (bit scary with teeth!)