Violent feeding...

[Madbee]

My 10 week old LG has suddenly become really violent when feeding. It's since she's discovered her hands belong to her I think, and she can use them for stuff!

She is EBF, but with her clawing at me and head butting I am not sure how much longer this will be the case! It's her fingernails on my breast I can't deal with - is there anything I can do to dissuade her, or desensitise myself? It makes me want to crawl out of my skin

You could try swaddling her in a cotton blanket while she feeds?

Socks or mitts on her hands?

It’s horrible when they do that!

Could she be having a growth spurt and is impatient for your let down do you think? If so you could try expressing to get let down before you latch her on.

I used to hold their hands or give them a rattle to holdwhen they were old enough, there are also nursing necklaces you can wear that they can grip onto/play with as well.

Failing that, swaddle if she tolerate it?

will tolerate it

Pinklink, scratch mitts! Of course! Why did I not think of that??!!!

Swaddling is hopeless (or rather, I am hopeless at swaddling) - it takes her about 10 seconds to extricate herself!

Gunpowder, you could be right about the growth making her impatient, she does it throughout the feed though so I think the initial expressing to get letdown would have limited benefit. I like the idea of a necklace to fiddle with, will have a scout around on eBay,,,

Definitely try a fiddle/teething necklace!