Ouch

holley79 wrote: I was just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to solve this minor/ painful problem. Annika likes to latch on, suck for a little bit then pull off my nipple really hard. This is killing me. Her other thing to do is get her feet inside the pillow and push off while she is still latched. This is killing me. Any suggestions on how to stop this or at least make it to where it's not killing me?

TeagansMom609 replied: When you think she is done, dont even give her a chance to pull off like that. Just stick you pinky finger in between her gums and break the suction and take her off. Thats what I do when Matthew falls asleep when he's done but has a good grip on me still. Make sure you dont just stick your finger between her lips, you have to actually get it between her gums. I hope that works for you!

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I'm no help, Andrew did the same thing and I never figured out how to get him to stop. He eventually just stopped on his own, but it was frustrating trying to get him to stay latched once he started eating ~ he seemed to think it was a fun game to keep pulling off. And he was constantly pushing off with his feet like you said Annika is doing too! He'd push off the pillow or the arm of the couch, and once his legs got longer he started pushing off the back of the couch. He actually still does this sometimes - but his newest favorite thing to do is pop off and try to sit up every few seconds.

Sorry I'm no help at all. But I do feel your pain!

Jamison'smama replied: Could she be pulling on you when you let down? That is often what babies do to slow down the flow. Do you have a forceful letdown?

holley79 replied:
That's a good question. I thought maybe it was because I was only when I was engorged and she was getting too much milk at one time. Talk about a mess. I think that she is making a game out of it. (Can a 3 week old make games like this?) She will latch on, suck just a couple times, jerk off my nipple then root to latch back on. She will normally do this for a new minutes then she finally gets down to business.

I guess we will wait it out and see. No one said this was going to be easy.

1moremakes4 replied:
Kamryn does this some too. You're right, IT HURTS! I've noticed, though that she'll eat really good on one side and do this when I put her on the other side. If I can't get her to calm down and really eat, I usually just take her off. I'll give her a few minutes, change her diaper, whatever, then offer it to her again and she usually does good. I don't know what causes it.

luvmykids replied: She sounds a little young, but one of my kids definitely did that kind of stuff for fun. I had to start telling him "no" and make him relatch and he got the picture that it was eating time, not play time. Sorry you're having a rough patch!

coasterqueen replied:
She's too young IMO to make a game out of it. Sounds like flow/letdown issue to me.

Here's a link on fast letdown: Fast Letdown See if that helps any.

Megan did this at the very beginning because my supply was atrocious and so fast it was bad.

akelly replied: I've read what Kelly said in several different place....most recently in my La Leche Book "THe Motherly Art of Breastfeeding"....just when it seems baby has lost interest, do the finger between the gums thing so breaking off isnt' so painful. Good luck - I can't wait for this part, and am glad to know what ahead of time to help lower the risks of the 'ouch'! ;-)

Amy

holley79 replied: Today she has nursed every hour on the hour. I am wore out. I'm afraid to go to bed, she's going to wake up as soon as I fall asleep. (Not to mention I can't slepe right now which really stinks.) She does it on both sides and I have done everything I can think of. Guess it will just have to be on of those "ride it out". I will check out the "fast letdown" article though. Thank you!!!!!!

kimberley replied: hang in there Holley i thought i was going to lose my mind nursing my first. it is definitely not easy the first month but it does get better... believe me. Jacob was a nibble nurser. 10min then unlatch, 5 min then unlatch. i felt like i was feeding him all day ask as many questions as you need to and definitely try to get dh to do a couple of feeds so you can sleep. you really, really need your rest to keep up with Annika. we are here for you.

coasterqueen replied:
Sounds like she's going through spurts too. They go through a LOT of spurts those first 6 weeks or so, then 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and so on. So just ride it out. It will end soon!

LilaGrace'sMom replied: Sounds like she thinks you are Stretch NipStrong!

I have no advice. Lila does it too at times, but it isn't painful to me.

Good luck, I hope things get better.

Bamamom replied: Tripp, my 5 week old, does this too! I feel your pain - literally. I haven't found any solutions but it helps to know that he's normal. It does make you feel like this is just some kind of game their playing though. Who knew BF was so difficult?

Hillbilly Housewife replied: my solution - remove the pillow.

Naomie did this too (still does on occasion) and getting away from where she ppushed off helped. Then she started pushing off from my thigh... so i'd just hold her tightly, with my other hand stroking her cheek - kept her "distracted from pulling and wanring to see th eworld"... and my finger would slip in to unlatch her the second she'd start pulling.

Now, my problem isn't pulling, it's biting. Or gumming, rather.

LilaGrace'sMom replied:
Smart move getting educated! What a terrific book. I still read it even now that BF has gotten to be second nature to us. It's all dog-eared and a little tattered.