18 wks old biting, I'm bruised he won't feed when awake - pls tell em we can get over this

[Piffle]

I'm so upset
my 1st 2 only ever tried it as older babies and it was "easy" to get them to stop.
DS2 is teething (18wks) and feeds wonderfully when asleep or just woken.
But when he is awake as soon as he goes to latch on he clamps down hard and it hurts so much I yelp (tried not to but cannot) it has now freaked him out so much that he won't go near my nipple awake today. this has been ongoing about 3 days - I thought it would be a temp blip only but now it seems ingrained.

I have given him teething toys, prior to feeding, tried bonjela before a feed.

He won't take expressed milk from a bottle. So I end of forcing him to sleep so I can feed him - luckily he is a good sleeper but i am now so full of fear when feeding him and he knows it.


I fed my others til 16 mths and had wanted to feed ds2 as long as possible can anyone pls help me sort this....

[harpsichordcarrier]

sorry to hear this piffle.
how about changing the way you feed him and see if that stops the association?
can you try feeding him in the bath? or outside? or in a different position from tehe usual? or walking about?
what are your plans for the weekend? can you get some time just on your own with him? and do lots of cuddling and stroking (baby massage? lavender oil?) and have some relaxing time away from the rest of the family, just quiet time with you?

[Piffle]

School hols and have dd 4 and ds 13 around as well. He is prob still getting enough milk just from the sleepy feeds, and I always try to feed in a quiet room as he is easily distracted but the biting occurs anywhere when he is awake. He does feed in the sling most days but he even bites there now too.

[harpsichordcarrier]

can you send them off somewhere tomorrow? I know it isn't always easy.
a nursing strike like this can be turned around but you do need lots of support.
I wonder if it is the school holldays that has disrupted things - change in routine and lots of people around?

[Piffle]

could be...
tis certainly noisier but I do keep him away for feeding and ds and are good at keeping the volume down.
The weekend is packed with things
bbq's
driving to PIL to see BIL SIL and kids over from the Middle East.

Am dreading the whole thing although dp is off all next week.

[harpsichordcarrier]

how would dp react if you asked him to take the other children out for a couple of days next week to give you a bit of quiet time just you and the baby?

[Leati]

Piffle

I have done this and had the same reaction. He will get over it soon but your poor boobs probably won't.

[harpsichordcarrier]

boobs heal just fine

[MrsJohnCusack]

oh mine (20 weeks) is really biting too, have had some very tough days (and nights grrrr) recently. Teething and a cold too I think. INterspersed with back arching and extremely loud groaning and grumbling. DD (2.7) not really helping matters either as when he needs more time, she gets crankier.

harpsi knows more than me, but it does sound as though trying to get a couple of quieter days if at all possible might be the way to go. I've not been feeding DS whilst out and about when he's being bitey because the distraction/noise makes him worse and because I keep yelping in pain

so not much advice but much sympathy. I wish these damn teeth would just get on and emerge, I can see the buggers just under the surface where they've been for WEEKS

[Piffle]

yes 2 very bulging lumps on ds2s gums
Well today I have got him on really close and firmly - as this is my 3rd I prob am a bit to blase about feeding and it was time to reinvent the basics. He took milk ok but was not happy feeding close as I have oversupply and he controls it by clicking the latch which in turn makes it easier to clamp down on
Ho hum
But he is fed at least and it was more positive - the one time he did try to bite I took him off said no thanks and ended it.

[Leati]

This stuff worked well for me

www.hylands.com/products/teething.php

[Piffle]

just wanted to report that ds has calmed down and now no longer bites