His latch or my nipple!

[Millie1]

Help! DS, 7 mths, is about to take my nipple off with his two top teeth and I can't seem to get him to latch on any better. He's leaving tooth marks at the base of my nipple after every feed and if we keep this up it's not going to be long before the skin breaks - either that or he'll decapitate it when he nips me (as he does!)!! What can I do? I've been taking him off whenever he goes on badly (ie. every time) but he simply won't open his mouth any wider, tucks his tongue behind his bottom teeth (has a tongue-tie but can put his tongue out to reach his lips) and thrusts himself back on giving me a nip as he does so!!! His tolerance level for going on and off trying to correct this is ZERO ... any more than twice and he gets really cross and refuses to feed at all.

Any advice??

Thanks

Sounds nasty.

I have read (though never met anyone who has tried it) that a couple of sweeps with an emery board on the teeth takes off the very edge of the sharpness. Check with your HV that this would be ok to do.

I don't understand the geography of this though, Millie - it's his top teeth, but the toothmarks are at the base of the nipple???

He cluld be teething - maybe try him with a teething ring to chew on so he doesn't try to adjust his mouth in the way you describe?

What would happen if you put a plaster on the affected bit? i wouldn't suggest this for a newborn, and I am assuming you'd be careful so he didn't swallow it, but maybe he would tolerate feeding with this sort of 'mask'.

Thanks Tiktok ... it's hard to describe but basically the marks are where the nipple itself (say the stalk for want of a better description!!!) meets the aereola, hence me using the term 'base'. Because of where it is, I don't think the plaster would work whilst it's a good thought.

I think if I asked my HV if I could file his teeth with an emery board, she'd have a blue fit ... let's just say she's an old-fashioned kind who I had run-ins with whilst BF my first son although she's been very supportive lately in relation to allergy issues with DS1. Oh, I can just imagine the horror on her face!

He is chewing on absolutely everything and if this gives any clues I feel like this has really got bad since I introduced a cup last week.

A few months ago another HV/Lactation Consultant was here and helped me with his latch - whatever way she held his head, he opened sooooo wide and went on beautifully but I could never do it as she did - but never as bad as this - it's like he's sucking the end of his figure, that's how closed his mouth is.

Do you have any other ideas based on my new description of where he's chewing??

Thanks

Can you get to see that consultant again???

I suspect this is a temprary thing, from what you say.

If you think the emery board is worth trying, then you don't need your HV's permission, yer know!!! Maybe ask someone you know will say 'yes' - phone the dentist??

I can Tiktok - she's the lady from the milk bank and I've got milk in the freezer for her so will ring and ask her to come and collect it!!!! Thanks!

Hello Millie1,
Have you tried a variety of feeding positions - this could reduce the effect of him nipping you at the same place each time. If he likes being supported lying down could be comforting. It could be that his bottom teeth are causing him discomfort making him want to press down onto them. If you've been using a dummy this could be confusing him in that he can chomp down on the dummy and hold it just in his mouth whereas your nipples are different! Hope things improve - all the best