View Full Version : Breastfeeding & Teeth - Is it REALLY That bad?
It's alright, the hubber that's said something to me about this has already received me "I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT SO DON'T SAY IT TO ME!!" :p
Cobey's grown his first two teefies (:yelclap:) and since then I have had just about everyone I'm told tell me it's time to wean, laugh about how my nipples will be bitten, tell me that it's going to hurt, ask if I'm still breastfeeding, then roll their eyes and laugh.
It's really quite annoying and disheartening. I feel like throwing things at people when they say it.
I understand that he may bite, but he's never used me as a teether before - I understand that he will one day and that he'll explore what's in his mouth and see what he can do - I'll cross that bridge when it comes, but I'm not going to wean him just before he's got 2 teeth. And I don't think I'll wean him when/if he bites me either - I'm trying to make it to 12 months at least... and I'm going to be working so that's another challenge in my way... why do people keep on being so discouraging.
Some people act like what I'm doing is wrong (breastfeeding beyond teeth/breastfeeding beyond 6 months/breastfeeding full stop). Which makes me sad. It's so hard to be a mummy without being put down about the decision that you make.
Rant/Whine over!
You just do what you have to or want to do! It's your decision and I know it's annoying that other people give you their 2 bobs worth but utimately its your life and your child! :hugs:
You just do what you have to or want to do! It's your decision and I know it's annoying that other people give you their 2 bobs worth but utimately its your life and your child! :hugs:
I will do what I want to do, that's not what my rant was about. It's not askking if I should stop to please others, it's a ranty rant rant. :p
Rainbowbrite
30-12-2006, 08:25
You should see the looks i get when people realise i'm still bf MJ & she has 13 teeth :eek:
Honestly though, she's never bitten me, might have closed her mouth abit too much, but never actually drawn blood.
Good on you! I just wanted to let you know that whilst ds has bitten me a couple of times, the first was when his 3rd tooth was coming through and I don't think he realised that it was my nipple he was biting down on, and the second was because he got such a great reaction from the first :rolleyes:. Any time since then that he had bitten me, he got told "NO" but proceeds to LHAO, he obviously has seen the funny side to biting me. He no longer gets a reaction because if he bites me (even at the start of a feed) it's all over! He goes without!! It's funny cause I have noticed that the only time he does it now is when he doesn't really want a milk feed (so not very often) and still thinks it is the funniest thing - MEN! Oh ds just turned 12mths, and after some serious bf-ing obstacles (sp???) we are still in there, it's funny how once you get past the first 6 weeks everyone turns on the breastfeeders.
the_queen
30-12-2006, 08:35
You have to explain to these "well-wishers" that it's like drinking with a straw - when you want to have a drink, you don't bite the straw, do you?
My DS clamps down sometimes, but that's when I know he's not feeding anymore, he's just playing.
The straw analogy is good, I've found it either a) educates ignorant people about the wonderful art of BFing; or b) shuts busy-bodies up :laughing:
DS1 got teeth at 5 months & fed until 19 months - I think most of the comments come from people who have never done it (just like most of the other advice from well wishers!).
The straw thing sounds good - wish I'd known about that a few years ago...
Melissa
vanillabean
30-12-2006, 08:42
DS bit me once and then never again, whereas I stopeed breastfeeding DD at 12 1/2 months because she bit me every time she went on the breast. I was nearly in tears because it hurt so much. I think it depends on the child and if you are happy to breastfeed then don't listen to other peoples silly comments:thumbsup: For the record, I was disappointed to give up with DD at the time but I could not continue with her doing that.
My DS bit me a couple of times, but as you said in your OP I think it was more he was exploring what he could do.
That and he was self weaning so I think it was his way of telling me he didn't want the boob just then!!
I reeeaallly wanted to make it to 12 mths as well, but my milk and my DS decided otherwise for me - so :fingerscrossed: for you - I have no doubt you will get there!!
I am with you though - I got really annoyed when other people kept saying - 'oh, he has teeth, time to go on the bottle then'. :banghead:
Good on you Nik, you're doing great. They can all go bite their bums. :yes: :D
ozzysmum
30-12-2006, 10:37
i'm with you on this rant! especially now ozzy's getting his molars people have started saying "he shouldn't be eating from you, he should be eating real food" as though the food i'm supplying to him is somehow fake :rolleyes: that and the OMG you're still feeding him at 16 months you must be one of those women who want to BF until your kid is 5 or something.
nope, i just want to feed him til he doesn't seem to want it any more and what business is it of anyone's how long that might be or if he occassionally gives a little nibble because he's practicing with his teeth...
rant rant rant :D
lukaelmo
30-12-2006, 11:36
I must have been really lucky, because the only comments I have ever had about my BFing were positive ones. When asked if I was still feeding people were like "good on you, what an effort", and just a few days ago my doctor congratulated me on feeding the dude for such a long time...
I so wish it could be like this for everyone, because I never felt anything but fully supported, and that is the way it should be.
Anyway, now to teeth, Luka bit me perhaps once or twice, I think it was more uncomfortable when he rested his teeth on my boobs while feeding, I would just take him off and out him back on again... no big deal at all.
You keep doing what you are doing and you use that milk to squirt numbnuts in the eye.
Cobey has two teeth?
How cute!!
Having fed 3 children until they pretty much had a full mouth worth of teeth - I can assure you it's really not that bad !
Most bubs only bite once and it's usually an accident and I've never had one draw blood or leave a bite mark.
I think people just like to scare you. The funniest thing is most of the people who told me scary stories about being bitten weren't actually breastfeeders -- go figure :rolleyes: lol
cheezelkat
30-12-2006, 11:52
:) I've breastfed through 5 teethies now and I'm pretty sure I'm in one piece. I've been bitten about 6 times though.
Mariposa
30-12-2006, 13:17
oh nikki, your ranting again :p
JK totally understand where you are coming from, i had no problems with brianna and fed her until 15mths (she weaned herself)
although with natty, it was unbearable, she was a biter all the time, even made me bleed quite a few times, it got to the point where i couldnt handle it anymore, mind you she was 13mths old, when weaned.
and now, lina is gnawing at me, i will keep going.
tell those who are telling you to stop feeding cobes just because he has teeth to go jump!
Not that bad at all! The only time Will nipped me was when he was getting his first tooth, it was like he was trying to learn to feed again because it felt different. After that he was fine and we haven't had the problem with subsequent teeth.
What I did find was that the more tentative and scared I was (after the first nip, I started to anticipate more, and it made me a bit tentative), the more inclined he was to nip. Probably because I even pulled back a little before he'd had a chance to latch properly.
So just try to relax and know that it's not all bad. The little bit of discomfort you may or may not encounter is nothing compared with early feeding or giving birth for most women, and like with those things, you forget about it pretty quickly because breastfeeding is such a wonderful thing.
Every now and then I can feel his teeth a little, but it doesn't hurt and he doesn't bite.
He does do those little pincer grip pinches where he rolls my skin though - youch!! I grin and bear those coz they mean he's dozing off... :sleeping:
"You think two teeth is worth worrying about? My husband has 32 ..."
ozzysmum
31-12-2006, 01:02
"You think two teeth is worth worrying about? My husband has 32 ..."
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
munchkin05
31-12-2006, 01:07
i always swore that when ben got teeth i woudl wean :laughing:
but hes nearly 19mths and still going
he bit me once it was early hours of the morning (sounds like in writing a scarey story lol ) and he bit me and it shocked me so much i think it was cause i screamed so loud that it woke up the rest of the house and that was the first and last time he done it :thumbsup:
i think every child will explore expecially with their first few teeth and i wont lie it bloody hurts
reAllytee
31-12-2006, 01:15
Cmon Nikki what have you done with them balls of yours :p
Tell 'em to nick off !!!!!!!!
The only reason i had dramas was because i had a newborn !!!!
Seriously all will be fine look how you are coping now girlie give yourself more credit :hugs:
I have every confidence you can make it to at least 12 mths too Nik.... BTW Pip must have bitten me the other night cos I woke up with a fang mark on my nipple but honestly don't remember it, so it mustn't of hurt too much!! LOL
yeah it can be that bad when they bite so you bleed on both sides...then it gets better. So glad no one tells me to wean lol
I couldn't ever work out about weaning when the kids get teeth either. DS got his first teeth at 3 1/2months and I think in the 16months I fed him, he bit me once -a firm no (I was so shocked it just popped out) and never again. With DD - no bites yet and two teeth. Think my sister started saying her son must be nearing weaning time as he was getting teeth???
How does anyone get to age 5 or whatever? I'll stop again when DD weans herself like DS did. (However, if she has all her adult teeth I think I'll have to reevaluate - :laughing: ):p
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