help!20 wk old clamping down on boobs!OUCH!

[*happy*]

please help!my dd clamped down on my nipple 3 times during this morning's feed....OW!!!!!
how should i react?!what can i do to avoid it happening again?brought me back to the initial days of bf when it hurt so bad!

[ashley10]

Hello I had exactly the same thing with DS1. He used to get hold of it clamp down and yank with all his might. I would just try and break the seal with my little finger. Good luck!

[*happy*]

ya, that's what i did, but my god, the pain!!!!!a mdreading the next feed....

[Erin M]

Ouch!  Usually there is some sort of reason -- is your let down fast?  Some babies will try to slow the flow by clamping.  Are teeth coming?  When in the feed is he clamping?  In the beginning or towards the end?  Keep in mind that when he's nursing, his tongue has to be on top of his teeth, to clamp be probably has to move it out of the way, so if you keep a very close eye on it, you can end the feed and keep him from doing it.

[essexlemon]

As Erin says, they usually change their latch just before biting and if you can find the reason she's doing it you're a good deal closer to stopping it - I know DS1 noticeably changed whereas DS2 tends to gradually slide down the nipple and then take a nip so do keep an eye and see if you can see a pattern.

I know I got advice with DS1 (I think from the HV but can't remember) that I should say 'no' loudly and end the feed but that felt a bit harsh to me personally.  I tended with him to say 'no, that hurts Mummy' in a firm but calm tone (although sometimes there was quite a loud 'argggghhh' beforehand) and take a short break in the feed (unless he was distressed at stopping, in which case I'd continue the feed straight away).  With DS1 it was a teething thing - he found it soothing but with DS2 it tends to mean that he's drained the boob he is on and swapping breasts stops the biting.

Are you single side feeding?  Any chance that she is getting big enough now that she needs the second breast?

[Fiver]

A strong, loud reaction is probably likely to startle him, so I'd try to avoid that if you possibly can (I know, really hard!!)
Other options are to quickly get that little finger in and break the seal to get him off, or to pull him in really close to your breast so that he needs to open his mouth in order to get a breath.

[*happy*]

thanks so much for all the-i honestly don't know how i'd have survived the past 20 weeks without this site!xxx

i got such a fright the first time she did it, i jumped & yelped....felt AWFUL then coz i ovbiously scared her-poor pet started to cry which nearly made me start!!! i'm holding back the yelps now-just about!

she has no teeth yet,so i'm thinking she may be starting to teethe maybe?she is dribbling but no more than usual & doesn't seem  to have any other symptoms.i've noticed the past 2 days though,for the daytime feeds,she is feeding less & gets quite cross with me when i lay her back across my lap (after a burp or whatever) but is in flying form as soon as i sit her back up-in other words, cross when she thinks she has to feed but fine otherwise!!!'could that be linked to the teeth maybe?

she seems to clamp down after sucking for 5-7 mins-i feel like she's had her fill at that point so i've been much more aware of her latch the past couple of feeds and can kind of feel the change as she goes from suck suck suck to CLAMP!

i'm single side feeding.always have!!!!i know i should probably be using both,but tbh,i had forgotten that rule!!!!i always found it impossible to tell when one side was "emptied"!!there are mornings when i think that she has drained one side, & yet i'll pump 2oz from that same side 30 mins later.

honestly,there are times when i think formula feeding would have been so much easier....sorry...just having a bit of a tough day

[*happy*]

sorry...forgot to say that i am on day 1 of my cycle....not sure if that has an impact on the milk....it's definitely having an impact on my emotions!

[Fiver]

Yes, menstrual cycle does affect things.  Some people find they have a dip in supply after ovulation when progesterone levels are higher.

[Erin M]

(((hugs))) on the tough day!
And there are many people who single side feed the whole way through so if it's working I wouldnt worry.

[*happy*]

thanks....amazing how things seem easier in the morning!ya,seems to be working with single side-she's in the 75th percentile weight-wise!!! no clamping this morning-phew!

[Claudiamummy]

It wasteeth for us..... Now at 14months dd does for reaction!!

I have to try and not scream (hard!!!) and sit her up imdiatley with a " oh you must notwant any milky"..... Whilst trying to get my breathing back to normal!!! Lol

[*happy*]

lol! smiling thinking of all the breastfeeding mammies out there holding in their screams & yelps!!!we are a powerful breed!