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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Urgent - teeth scraping nipple, can't feed, please help

27 replies

willowstar · 30/04/2010 21:06

hello

my 7 month old got her front two teeth about 3 weeks or so ago.

she has bitten me maybe twice, not a problem.

I have fed her all day fine, then tonight, boom, out of nowhere, every single suck her teeth scraped my nipple and i am in agony. I couldn't finish feeding her properly and manged to coax her to sleep but no doubt she will be awake again soon and I am going to have to feed her. While she was feeding tonight and this was going on I tried her in three different positions and it was the same each time.

I have no milk expressed, never had much luck with it and never needed it.

please please hlep me, I have no idea what to do and I am panicking.

OP posts:
dinkystinky · 30/04/2010 21:14

Willowstar - remember (and repeat to yourself) that this is a phase and will pass. She doesnt realise she is hurting you. Do you have any lanisoh/nursing cream still? Put it on your nipples and let them heal - they will toughen up. If she is biting you/scraping her teeth on your nipples, delatch her (stick little finger in to break latch and make sure her mouth is fully opened before you take your breast out) and end the feed - she'll soon get the idea. You could try calling La Leche helpline or speaking to local bfing clinics next week. Hopefully a bf counsellor/expert will be along soon to help out.

Original poster
willowstar · 30/04/2010 21:30

thank you, no she isn't biting, just scraping...I called the NCT line and the councillor said she is probably unconfortable and is latching on differently because of it. I did wonder earlier today if she was teething again as she was dribbling loads. The NCT lady suggested gel on her gums and ibuprofen for me.

I am just so shocked, out of nowhere my nipples feel like they did when she was newborn and it has only been one feed. I dug out the lansinoh and put it on but I know it will only be a couple of hours at the most until I have to feed her again

I desperately want to carry on feeding her so I really hope I can get through this.

OP posts:
ReshapeWhileDamp · 30/04/2010 21:33

I presume these are the bottom teeth, not top? Her tongue ought to be covering those as she feeds and protecting your nipple (IME, it was DS's top teeth that hurt, but he adjusted his latch after a week!).

I see you've tried changing positions - have you tried sitting her up on your lap, facing you? I think all babies getting their first teeth put their mums through this for a few days - they're getting used to having a mouthful of different things! You may find that as her teeth come out more, she'll change her latch. I know it hurts though - I went through this with DS's top teeth and had a little sore indentation and scab on the side of each nipple.

I'd see a local breastfeeding counsellor, TBH - she may be able to see something about positioning that we can't possibly tell from your posts, and it'll be a problem she's dealt with before.

Hope it gets better for you quickly! It really is just a short phase.

ramblingmum · 30/04/2010 21:35

I used nipple sheilds for abit with dd1 till we both got use to her new teeth.

IsItMeOr · 30/04/2010 21:39

Popped onto your thread, as I'm having this problem with 14mo DS. It's happened a couple of times before, and healed itself in a few days. I've always rubbed in a bit of breastmilk, which didn't seem to do any harm.

Have been telling myself it will pass and trying to relax my shoulders, but today have resorted to avoiding the wounded side.

Hope you're feeling more comfortable soon .

Montifer · 30/04/2010 21:43

Ouch, DS did this when he was getting used to his new teeth, no biting, just a scrape which was really tender.
It was a phase which passed quickly and I found the advice on Kellymom helpful, a subtle change in position seemed to stop the teeth scraping on the same sore spot every feed.

Reesie · 01/05/2010 12:25

I agree with Montifer - dd2 has started doing this at 12 months but advice on kellymom has helped lots. Good luck!

BertieBotts · 01/05/2010 12:27

This is a good reason to use nipple shields if it's really bad. Hopefully the latch will improve in a couple of days anyway - in my experience this is what happens. But in the meantime, try the shields if you really can't bear to feed!

Original poster
willowstar · 01/05/2010 19:24

thanks everyone...I am trying to encourage her to open her mouth more...not sure what is going on but it horrible, I am walking around clutching my breast!

I really hope it settles soon. Determined to see this through but my oh my it is sore.

Thanks for your replies, it really helps to know you are not alone when something like this happens. None of my friends in real life are breast feeding anymore so it is great to get help here.

cheers

OP posts:
Original poster
willowstar · 02/05/2010 19:06

I fed her a couple of times over night and it was awful, this morning when I fed her she had blood dripping down her face which gave me a fright...my nipple was bleeding.

what a disaster.

so I went and bought nipple shields which she used for two feeds but then just tried to yank them off the next time and is now refusing to go on at all.

I am trying to express but i can't realyl get any milk out, I never have been able to.

I don't know what to do...she is 7 months and weaning but still very boob dependent and she is really really unhappy that there is a bit of silicon between her and her milk.

I am heartbroken and just want someone to tell me that somehow we will get through this.

OP posts:
mears · 02/05/2010 19:11

willowstar - it will get better. Is the problem just with one nipple? If so, feed on the good side for now and hand express the milk off the sore side. You will be able to get the milk to flow after some practice. It is amazing how quickly the nipple does heal.

mears · 02/05/2010 19:12

Personally I didn't use nipple shields - I don't think that will help in the long run. Talk to her when latching on encouraging er to really open her mouth properly. Her tongue should come forward over her teeth.

Original poster
willowstar · 02/05/2010 19:16

I now don't think that her teeth are the problem. Yesterday when it all started I encouraged her to open more and I think that is what has caused the nipple to break down, because it was further in her mouth. The broken skin is on the opposite side to her teeth.

She hardly feeds from the other side at all though I am doing everything I can to keep her on it.

i am using the shields because there was a fair bit of blood when she threw up this morning, I am not sure that ingesting my blood is good for her? Also the unbearable pain is eased slightly when using them...I know they aren't a long term solution, I just want to heal and I don't see how I will if she is feeding on it every couple of hours.

OP posts:
oldbea · 02/05/2010 19:24

I have breastfed 2 children through the arrival of full sets of teeth. I found the only approach that worked for me was to have absolutely zero tollerance on an uncomfortable feed. I have a rule that I never ever just put up with an uncomfortable latch, even just for one feed, because as you have found out it only takes one bad feed to wound the nipple and then every feed is a nightmare while it heals.

I will unlatch and try again a hundred times if that's what it takes. If the feed takes 3 times as long as it should, so be it. There is a comfortable latch possible - just keep on trying until you and your lo find it.

mears · 02/05/2010 19:35

If it isn't her teeth, have you any idea what it could be? I once got a very raw nipple which I think was irritation with food after DD had had solids. It bled but was like a patch of eczema. GP prescribed a milk steroid cream which healed it quickly. I also did not tolerate an uncomfortable latch either. Also, if I did get a bite I stopped the feed immediately. Babies soon realised that they shouldn't do that. Very sadly my last baby self weaned at 15 months after I yelped out in pain when she bit me. She got such a fright she wouldn't feed again despite 2 weeks of trying. That was 15 years ago and I am still sad about it.

mears · 02/05/2010 19:36

Blood will do her no harm btw, but if she accepts the nipple shield then carry on. I thought that you said earlier she wouldn't feed with it.

Original poster
willowstar · 02/05/2010 20:15

I am so confused about what to do. The damage has been done, it is agony and a sore bleeding mess.

the initial problem started two nights ago when it felt as though her bottom teeth were scraping my nipple when she fed. I didn't know what to do but carried on and it was painful. she fed a couple of times through the night and then I spoke to a friend who said her latch probably wasn't wide enough so all yesterday I tried to get her to take more of the areola.

so last night and this morning the pain is now on the opposite side to where her teeth are, so I think it was because I encouraged her to take more breast into her mouth and the nipple rubbed the top of her mouth, that is all I can think of.

She took the nipple shield for two feeds today but the third she kept yanking it off with her teeth and then cried when I put it back on.

I have foudn this very shocking, that probably sounds strange but after months of breastfeeding being very very natural (after the initial few weeks of course) I was just completely unprepared for this.

OP posts:
Original poster
willowstar · 02/05/2010 20:41

oh and mears, I am sorry to hear about what happened with your daughter. what is going on for me right now just brings home to me how profoundly I feel about breastfeeding my daughter...I never expected to feel like this before I had her, I can't believe the bond it brings.

OP posts:
mears · 02/05/2010 21:37

You may well have a patch of irritated nipple like I did. The nipple shouldn't rub in her mouth if she is on properly. Try to restrict her feeds on your sore side and use the other side more. You might even have surface thrush infection. You could try daktarin gel. Do you have a breastfeeding support contact number? They may be able to advise? Alter the position that you feed her as well no that there isn't the same pressure going on the sore area. Also try taking brufe/ and/or paracetamol to help with the pain. It will get better.

mears · 02/05/2010 21:38

In an earlier post I said milk steroid when I meant to say mild. Think it was hydrocortisone.

choccyp1g · 02/05/2010 21:41

Bumping to try and get it next to the Henry thread.

Original poster
willowstar · 02/05/2010 22:40

thanks for the encouragement.

actually, it has been quite revealing...today when I have not been able to feed her as much myself I have been offering her more food and actually I don't think she has suffered as much as I have with it all! Admittedly my OH is here today and has been able to spend time with her, not sure if it would be the same if just the two of us, but she hasn't needed to feed as much as normal.

i am used to her feeding every two hours at least and more if we are in a strange situation and she doesn't feel comfortable...interesting that she seems to have coped OK with a lot less today.

OP posts:
lovingmy2 · 03/05/2010 18:44

Willowstar, how are things today hun x. Hope your nipples are healing and that things are better for you x

Original poster
willowstar · 03/05/2010 20:06

hello...well I am now even more confused. Last night she refused to feed with the nipple shields, I couldn't bear the screaming and rage so of course let her feed on the hurt nipple (holding my husband's hand for support!) anyway...it was sore, it is still sore today, but now I am wondering if I have thrush perhaps. It is sore on the surface but also deeper into my breast and sore after I have fed her, well pretty much all the time. the part of the nipple that was bleeding has healed over well I am pleased to say.

from what I have read about thrust it is supposed to be excrutiating, and I wouldn't say that this is, it is bearable but very unpleasant. (though a couple of nights ago it was unbearable)

I am going to the GP tomorrow if I can get an appointment and hope to get some fluconazole and zap it if it is thrush.

My little girl is weaning well and is probably ready to drop feeds but as she isn't really drinking and is getting very constipated I am trying to keep feeding her but she is staying on for less and less time. I don't want this thrush or whatever it is so finish our breastfeeding journey.

thanks for your replies and support.

OP posts:
dinkystinky · 03/05/2010 20:29

Willowstar -am really sorry that you're still suffering. Hopefully the GP will be able to tell you if it is thrush or not - if it is, then both you and DD will need treatment but it should clear up really quickly. It may be that its starting to clear up anyway. You're doing amazingly in continuing to bf and you and DD will get through this stage.

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