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This is a discussion on Biting! within the Breastfeeding forums, part of the Feeding Baby category; Well I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd get bit - and it happened last night. ...
Well I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd get bit - and it happened last night. I screamed, then dd cried, and after 5 minutes, I tried again and got bit again! So I screamed again (this time it bled!) and didn't feed her again until morning. I know that I'm not supposed to scream - but I couldn't help it. The problem is now I'm afraid to feed her again! I've fed her today and only had one minor bite, but I'm scared the entire time I'm feeding her. And of course the bit nipple is sore today, so even with regular feeding it is still painful!
Tonight I even pumped a little to give her in a bottle b/c when I stuck my finger in her mouth to 'test' her, she bit. So she drank ebm from a bottle for the first time in almost 4 months.
So how have others gotten over the fears of being bit again? I really don't want to stop bf now, it has been so easy for us, I hope teeth don't put an end to our 7 months of bf!
The usual advice is to bring her head in toward your breast so she can't breathe and that will make her let go of your nipple. Then babies learn that biting = not breathing and they stop. Not very practical though when she bites you so hard you automatically pull back and/or pull her off.
I know some mommies have only had success by flicking the baby's cheek with a finger, not enough to hurt just enough to startle.
Believe me, I feel your pain!
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Kara (formerly wannaBmomma)
Co-Host of the Breastfeeding Forum
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
--Henry David Thoreau
Oh, I hate that. I remember that from my first. It's truly an act of heroism to face the next nursing session.
Most babies just experiment with it, they don't make it a habit. Which isn't to say you won't get bitten again, because you probably will. But it probably won't be an ongoing problem.
I remember with my first, after getting bit a few times, I started taking her off the breast and actually putting her down and walking away for a moment. Like a baby time-out, LOL. It didn't take her long to get the message.
This one would be biting if she had any teeth. She has started pulling off, holding it and inspecting it like it's a roast beef sandwich, and then diving back on. It would scare the heck out of me if she wasn't still Miss Gums 2007.
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Jessica 35
DH 43
DD #1 born August 28, 2003
DD #2 born January 17, 2007
So tonight after feeding her the bottle, she wouldn't bf!?! She fought and fought but would not bf!
So I gave her another bottle with ebm and she drank that. As she started falling asleep I took the bottle from her, then she rooted around, and she finally bf!! I didn't know that she would prefer the bottle over me that quickly - after having only one bottle!
I'm really hoping that everything goes okay in the morning - maybe she'll forget about the bottle overnight and bf w/o biting!
I also should mention that last night when she bit me I had just given her some orajel. Now that I've been looking over some articles online about bf and biting, I realize that was a big mistake! As long as I'm bf I will never give that to her again! What a mess this has started!
instead of the orjel (or any other numbing med like that) you can give teethign tablets there are a couple of brands, but hy;and's are pretty mainstream now and are widely available at hfs and most pharmacies even now.
also, you cna use a cold (not frozen) wet washcloth to dop massage on her gums, using firm pressure.
the pressure feels good, and she could have been just trygin to get relief from sore gums the first bite, and the second bite was maybe because the reaction was interesting the first time so she did it again? (not sure on that).
the refusal to nurse was likely a short nursing strike, brought on by the screaming.
maybe try nursing sooner tomorrow to mkae sure she isn't overhungry?
and have your finger ready to break the sela right away if you need to. pulling them in to make them let go themselves is the most recommended way, and the most effective one that i know, but if you don't feel you cna do that, breaking the seal with your finger, taking her off the breast, and setting her down for 5-10 minutes before letting her finish nursing should make her realize that biting=no nursing for the time being.
We had a much better day yesterday! She nursed fine and no biting!!! Hopefully she won't try to experiment anymore with her new chompers! I'll have to check out those teething tablets though.
Just had to say the baby girl in your signature is soooo cute!
My son just knawed down on my nipple for the first time the other day and omg I never knew gums could hurt so bad. My nipple still hurts when he drinks.
Biting!
Re: Biting!
ANA MARIA
and mama to 2 
cubs
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