Attachment problems when teething?

Hey,

We're having some attachment issues just now with DD gripping my nipple with her teeth - it feels like her teeth are grating me and I looked at my nipple just now after her morning feed and there are definite teeth marks.

She's teething again at the moment, more coming through - could this be why she's losing the proper attachment? Any tips on how to help? I keep taking her off and trying the attachment again but she just does the same. It's causing pain throughout the feed - radiating through my whole boob (or it certainly feels that way).

You'd think after a year of doing this we'd be ok!! AARRRRGGGHHHHH!

Ta.

ETA - could it be thrush?

:bump: Anyone?

You can try giving her a cold face washer to chew on before the feed to help her gums if they are sore.

A different position might be more comfortable for both of you.

hope it settles soon

Support her more, especially her big head!
Lying down feeding can help - it makes it harder for her to pull backwards.
People have had some luck with bandaids or tape on the top of the areola where the top teeth go too.

There will be toothmarks - those top teeth have to rest there. But they should be little dents, not big craters. If she feels that she is slipping in any way then she will grab with her teeth - so keep her really solidly supported, and break out the pillows if you have to.

Subbing as I'm having the same issue - damn those little teeth :D

We actually lie down feeding all the time unless we are out and about. She's really struggling today. And I'm a bad mummy today too because I'm taking her for her 12 month check and immunisations :(

We have the same issue when DS teeths. I just keep taking him off and reattaching.. He eventually gets it.

I agree with supporting her head... maybe experiment with positions whilst lying down. Could you fold a light blanket to lift it a little? Move her a little further up the bed? DD started to really dig in with her top teeth and I always had little dents when she finished, drove me batty, needless to say hurt alot! When I make a concious effort to raise her head a little it takes the pressure off and we now have very few probs.

And you're not a bad mummy for taking her in, my DD is teething and grumpy but we have to go in today for ours too. At the moment I'd be hard pressed to find a day it seems her teeth aren't bugging her so we just have to go for it. If you really feel she's not up for it just have her checked and put off the imm. until another day :hug: it's awful whether they're happy or not :hug: hope all goes well!

Hey Ms, sounds like what happened with me and my DD only a couple of months ago. I found that it wasnt DD actually biting or gnawing on me, so much as her new teeth just rubbing me the wrong way. And as you mentioned, the pain was almost unbearable, and I dreaded feeds. It even left little holes in my nipple which would reopen with each feed.

What I found that worked was to have her in a more upright position, pretty much sitting in a straddle postion so that her teeth were not pulling down on the breast. Also I held my boob so that she wasnt able to pull down on it.

With time as the teeth became more prominent, it settled down and feeding became pain free once again.

Hope that helps a bit hun :hug:

Oh and just rememebered when she was teething really badly, she didnt want to feed much at all, she preferred solids as she could munch down on some hard stuff.

And no, you are not a bad mummy at all, you are doing the best that you can x

Thanks peeps. I've just noticed that it only hurts on my left breast. Not on the right. Will check the positioning of the left when we feed from that side again.

I hate this. We had horrible issues in the very beginning that we worked through - but I have that horrible dread feeling before a feed at the moment. Fingers crossed this is a short lived blip.

I have my ABA meeting tomorrow so will get lots of IRL support then too.

S X

Sometimes bub sitting up facing mum can help