biting and twisting

[wonderma]

My little guy (14 weeks) has seemed very frustrated with his feeds lately. He has been diving his head into my breast and then pulling back, often biting down and twisting his head to one side. It is painful and frustrasting for me too. Sometimes offering the other side helps. I check the side he has gotten frustrated with and milk still seems to squirt out. So I'm not sure the problem. Sometimes a toot or a burp seems to calm him. One of my friends said to yell out "no" or "ouch" and take them off the breast for a short time when they bite you. But I'm not so sure that you can actaully discpline such a young baby. I do yell out "ouch" anyways, it does hurt. He is a  baby that only poops once per week and I wonder if it's a full bowel that is bugging him. Please help. I'm really committed to breast feeding but I'm considering pumping and giving him a bottle for a few days. 

[Samuel's mum]

I know it's hard but if you can do try and avoid pumping and bottles. Your supply will be affected and you may find you can never return to breastfeeding if he becomes used to bottles. Some people are able to exclusively pump with dedication but it is common to find your supply just dwindles away without the stimulation of the baby.

This feels bad now but it will be such a short phase. I promise. I would suggest keeping a little finger at the corner of his mouth and break him off as soon as he starts. Or even better try and anticipate. Sam used to get a 'glint' in his eye. It may not be anything to do with your supply (it sounds not). In my case Sam was just trying out a new skill!!! Perhaps in your case too.

I think with a young baby yelling 'no' is probably unhelpful though a natural 'ouch' is clearly understandable. I have heard however that some babies find it intriguing that mummy seems to make a loud noise and it might be more attractive than disuasive! I would go with a quick removal, a "gentle please" and otherwise act as normal. Another post talks about this. https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=60914.0

You could offer some muslin cloth for a bit of chewing fun. Some people talk about pulling the baby in towards the breast so they have to break off in order to breath but that sounds a bit aggressive in your case.

It will pass. Sam did it for a few days. I'm not even sure it was more than a week. He is now almost 22 months and has never bitten me since. I've never been 'bitten' with teeth. Good Luck.

[wonderma]

I've been pumping quite a bit, because at first I thought it was a supply problem. Is this the worng thing to do?  I've been trying to pump an hour after feeds and then feed it to him in a bottle for the next feed. He has no problem with the bottle and switching back to breast. I try to give a botle every few days, so I can get a break and dad can feed him. I always pump when I miss a feed too. I don't get very much when I pump after a feed maybe an ounce or two.

[daisymelan]

Your baby may be getting used to the faster flow of the bottle nipple and wants it to come from your breast just as quickly.  Babies have to work harder to get milk from the breast.  You may want to find the slowest flow nipple as possible to help avoid confusion as best as possible.

Pumping will help increase your supply.  If you want to save up breastmilk, then it is fine to do.  I would just be consistent with it and do it the same number of times each day and around the saem time. 

PUmping when you miss a feed is a great idea.