mastitis ? infected bites on nipples?

[missymoo9]

So my son is 8 months old, in the past week and a half i have been getting really bad pains in my breasts. I put it down to the fact that he has been biting me. yesterday i noticed i had a few punctures under each nipple from where he has been biting me with what looks to me like pus, i went to the doctor and told him he said it was mastitis without even examining. Im in complete agony while im feeding my little man who refuses bottles of formular or breast milk. im wondering how other people who have had this problem improved their situation.

[wocket]

it sounds like mastitis. What do you do when he bites you? I admit it was the only time i've ever hit my little one. not hard, more a tap to the cheek while yelling "no" then putting her down for two minutes. She freaked out and has never bitten again (it drew blood). After that 2 mins she went on the other boob, crying etc but really gentle. She undterstood it wasn't going to be tolerated.

She won't accept the bottle much either, except in the car of all places! Nuk teats work wonderfully. She loves using a sippy cup though, one with a squishy spout so she can control the flow. if you are desperate for a break you can also try spoon feeding for a couple of feeds. it takes ages but they'll be fed.

also try calling the ABA.

[missymoo9]

i rang the ABA last night and got told to exp my milk and give myself 24hour rest from feeding him. doesnt help he is sick with a virus and dehydrated. he just plays with tippy cups/ bottles by biting the teat and pulling it with his teeth. when he does bite me my nurse told me to take him off straight away, ive tried that tried putting him down and raising my voice, he seems to get really vicious and bites more.

[ElizaDoLittle]

i rang the ABA last night and got told to exp my milk and give myself 24hour rest from feeding him. doesnt help he is sick with a virus and dehydrated. he just plays with tippy cups/ bottles by biting the teat and pulling it with his teeth. when he does bite me my nurse told me to take him off straight away, ive tried that tried putting him down and raising my voice, he seems to get really vicious and bites more.
Is he maybe teething? Would explain the biting both you and the teats offered. I would give my bub a cols wet washer to chew on, and rub her gums with it before a feed and it improved abit. Just remember no bonjela or anything like that before a feed, it can make thier mouth feel funny and they can get frustrated and bite more! I guess the doc would have put you on antibiotics which will deal with the mastitis if its that, or infected bites if its that.

I feel for you, we went through an awful biting [hase and its really hard. I used warm washers and panadol before a feed, in the hope that if it letdown quicker there might be less biting, and cold packs after to sooth.

Good luck!

[Bubmum]

I think most of us bfing Mums have posted about biting..it is agonising, like hot pokers....
Do you have a fever as well? That would indicate mastitits. DD gets very bitey when she is teething, and she was very bitey at the same age your little one is, but it has calmed down a fair bit now.
:hugs:Wocket..i wish that had worked on DD. not a chance. Gwen is a great bubba to not bite.

[wocket]

gwen is wonderfully careful, but the horrible thing is that this sunday we have to go off the boob because my immune system is falling over, i can't fight off infection, fungal or bacterial. :(

[Bubmum]

Aw Wocket..That is awful. :hugs:
I have had a few issues with health, brought on by bfing, so you totally have my support and my sympathy.
You are an absolute champion to have come so far, and I hope that Gwen and you get to enjoy the next stage of babyhood:goodvibes:

[La Que Sabe]

i am unsure if the OP isasking for advice on how to stop her son from biting or how to help her mastitus...

mastitus, i can't believe some one from the ABA told you to stop breastfeeding until you were better. yes rest is important and you do need to rest to help, but as much as you need to rest, you need to also breastfeed.
hot showers are good, if not, put a hot [as hot as you can stand it!] flannel on your breast/s.
there is a homeopathic you can get for mastitus called phytolacca, but i think that's more for as soon as you feel it coming on so it may be a bit late for that. if it gets to the point where you are really feverish, anti biotics may be your best bet.
but rest and breastfeed as much as you can. breastfeeding while on all fours and your bub laying on his back is helpful too.

as for the biting....it's a phase, a lot of bubs go through it. like others have said, teething can make them want to bite, i also find that when DD wants my attention and not really into drinking she bites.
when she did it the first few times when she was younger i gave her no reaction. sometimes it's really painful but i find if i give her no reaction, she doesn't do it again because it doesn't give her the attention she wants, so there's no point in doing it.

i hope you are better now :)