• Nipple Biting OUCH 4/25 08:41pm

By Natasha on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 - 11:06 am:

Can anyone please give me some help and advice as to what they di have done or are doing for their littlies who went through teething and feeding issues!! My little one is having a few rotten days. I have used teething rings, gel, teething relief (homeopathic stuff) and we just seem to have those days where he goes off his milk and won't drink, yet he will eat his solids, and its just so draining sometimes that you run out of ideas!!! He is on the bottle (we had breastfeeding problems -long long story!!) and has a few solids - rice cereal, pumpkin, sw potato, potato, pureed apple and pear. I just don't want him missing out on his milk and when I talk to people in Child Health they tell me that he must be having this much milk in this many feeds and etc and so on. I just can't help thinking that that is a load of crap too!! So, what do I do and how do I make this time easier for both of us ???

By Natasha on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 - 11:15 am:

Forgot to add that it also takes an hour to feed Sam again - this hasn't happened in such a long time, and the most frustrating part is that he is hungry but screams when the bottle is put in his mouth. He will suck, then pull off and cry. So, what next?? I have put him on every teat under the sun, and he drinks from a sipper cup but when he is upset he won't even drink from this! My last resort is a straw!!!

By Kimberley on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 - 10:59 pm:

Hi Natasha
it sounds like you've tried everything. One thing I did find helpful at this time, was offering a 'sooper dooper' (ice block in a plastic sleeve). It numbs the mouth and is fun and lasts about 20 minutes. For a healthy alternative, you can fill the sleeve up with diluted juice or watery pureed fruit and re-freeze it. Hope this helps. cheers Kimberley

By Natasha on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 07:23 am:

Thanks Kimberley, will give it a go!!
cheers

By Amanda on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 07:26 am:

Hi Natasha, Welcome. I found the Weleda Teething Powder very good if you wanted to try something else. Jesse was in allot of pain. He got five teeth in quick succession...two almost at the one time. Very unfomfortable and painful. On the feeding, could the flow have changed? Perhaps coming too quick or too slow? You could try experimenting with adding a hole or two or buying a teat with fewer holes? You could also try putting the formula or at least a portion of it into an ice cub container or as Kimberley suggests the plactic sleeves and let him suck it or with the ice cub crush it up. This way hes consuming the formula but releiving the pain at the same time. Also you could try treating his pain before feeding. This may reduce the sensation long enough for him to take in some formula. Hope this helps and good with it. Take care Amanda

By Amanda on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 07:46 am:

Oh I had a couple other ideas; try popping the teat into the fridge - it may be nice and soothing against her sore gums which again gives her some time to consume a little before they get to sore. Also you could try feeding her from a spoon or cup and bypass the sucking for the moment. I go this idea from Breastfeeding with Confidence by Sue Cox. Same idea of administering even if its a different origin. Anyway good luck Amanda

By Pinky on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 05:41 pm:

BTW -I Highly recommend Breastfeeding With Confidence by Sue Cox - a lovely book!!! Another nice Australian midwife.

Pinky

By Natasha on Saturday, August 6, 2005 - 06:42 pm:

Okay - well a big thank you for these suggestions! We have gotten to the point where I take the top of the bottle off (teat and all) and then try getting him to drink like that is a cup. It goes okay for two or three sips and then bang more crying and we stop feeding. I have tried giving him teething stuff before a feed and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't!! I am going to get onto the "popsicle" type idea tomorrow and I will get back to you and let you know how that goes!! (I'll try it with milk first). Also, I keep all the teats in the fridge already, so I know that helps to a certain degree!! It looks to me like the top and bottom two sets of teeth are going to all make their way out very quickly and all at once - he has very pronounced gums!! I will stay in touch and look for that book too!! Thanks for your help!
N

By Natasha on Saturday, August 6, 2005 - 06:43 pm:

BTW - I haven't seen the Weleda Teething powder - where can I get it?? I am on the Gold Coast and haven't seen it in any of the chemists I go to....

By Amanda on Saturday, August 6, 2005 - 07:21 pm:

Yay a GC'er too hey. Flannerys has it! I get mine from there. And almost any Health Store...Pacific Fair and Robina Town Centre...stock it. Good luck with it and sorry I cant thing of anything else to try.
PS I found two more teeth today...man oh man I didnt realise they come in this quick! He now has three on top and four on the bottom. We already have his first toothbrush which he sucks on and likes the sensation on his teeth and gums (so cute) but when should we start to teach him to brush. I head read to just make it fun after you brush yours Ie everyones wahsed, dressed and brushes their teeth together. Interested to know what other do? Thanks

By rebeccab on Saturday, August 6, 2005 - 08:59 pm:

we do teeth in the bath. nicholas will brush them for me but refuses for daddy so i also keep a toothbrush for him with ours and he points to the jar and says 'teeth' and thinks that cos it's on with ours that it is someone elses. so i say oooh, look, do you want daddy's toothbrush and he'll happily brush then (same theory as them wnating to drink from everyone elses water bottle, i think). also for teething relief i find nicholas loves frozen peas straight from the freezer. i put them in a little cup and he scoffs them. same with frozen corn too.
becc

By Michelle on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 11:13 am:

What a great idea with the frozen peas and corn, Becc!
So far, Taliver just plays with his tooth brush also (Taliver has 4 on the top and 3 on the bottom, Amanda!). But the other day it was most useful for getting the soap out of his mouth! YES, SOAP! My husband and I were getting dressed after having our showers, and in walks Taliver, munch munch munching on something white. Well, he's been 'investigating' the bathroom as we'd accidentally left the door wide open. In particular, the shower. EEEEW! Anyway, he started crying because of the taste, and it was all stuck to his teeth. hehehe. Ahhh, he is so funny!

By Natasha on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 12:47 pm:

Thanks Amanda, I will check out Flannery's this week!! If not, I wil try Pac Fair! I like the frozen peas idea but unfortunately mine is too little for that yet!! I have found that Sam loves to chop on the soft rubbery end of the dropper after I have given him "teething relief" now!! Quite amusing!
N

By Amanda on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 08:16 pm:

Sure thing, I just hope it helps! I find depending on the level of discomfort he needs more than one dose. Lol Jesse likes the end of the eye dropper too!

By Kimberley on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 11:37 pm:

That's cute Michelle about the soap, I bet TJ won't do that again! Elsbeth has a toothbrush, but she tends to put it in handle first and teeths on it. cheers Kim

By beck on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 03:28 pm:

ok oscar is teething he has one toofa through and i think by his cranky pants mood must be cutting another. my older kids didn't teeth until one so a big surprise when mr 8 months put my finger in his mouth and i felt it sticking up. yesterday he attached to my breast i don't help him at all now a days and he got onto the areola and not the nipple so i have a huge painful hicky there and now he has came off the breast, i call it stripping it, and his tooth has hurt my nipple. i have never had a bleeding nipple in my life (i know lucky me) having breastfed my 3 kids for about 7 years so far but have a very sore nipple and am really scared for the first time in my life of bfing my bubba. i know i am having a delayed letdown so am trying hard to relax but it is so painful to feed him as well. any suggestions? i feel so dumb having fed for so many years and have no ideas.
thanks beck

By rebeccab on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 04:05 pm:

i got loads of support when i was in a similar situation and just reading you makes me realise how quickly it passed although it seemed like forever at the time. for me the following worked to various degrees at various times till things sorted out
*feeding expclusively from the good side and expressing form the sore side to give it a rest
* ABA helpline (don't have to be a member, can get the hotline numbers from www.breastfeeding.asn.au) fantastic practical ideas
* a little hand expressing from sore side to help letdown then bung the baby on
* a 'peek-a-block' in my hand waving it about to keep his concentration (my el cheapo variation on the breastfeeding necklace!!)
good luck and ouch,in sympathy
becc

By Michelle on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 06:45 pm:

Hi Beck, ouch, you poor thing, it's happened to me too, not to the point of bleeding, but i've had a few teething episodes which have been a bit sore (its funny how now with a full set of teeth it is less sore.) Rebecca's advice is all good. Another thing i would suggest is anytime you think he is teething, go back to attaching him yourself so you can make sure he's got as much booby as possible in his mouth. That way he won't be chomping on the tender bits. I wonder if our nipples get tougher as our bubby's get more teeth?? I noticed a couple of red spots on my aereola the other day (tj has been getting his eye teeth) which I usually notice after a particularly painful BFing session, but I didn't feel a thing, I was surprised and wondered if he had been chomping down without me noticing LOL.
If you feed only from the good side, your breasts will accomodate just fine- my 'bad' side is usually TJ's favorite and then when your nipple heals and your brave enough to feed from that side again, your breasts will accomodate back to normal in no time, well, that was my experience anyway and I hope that it will be for you too.

By beck on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 09:07 pm:

thanks girls i am really watching o feed so i can sorta tell when he is going to nip. i am still a bit scared but we are doing ok. i don't remember having such problems when the older 2 were little but maybe i did but it's been a long time.
thanks for the input
beck

By Pinky on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 10:34 am:

Hi Beck =- all great suggestions girls- remember to "BREATHE " beck - helps relaxation . Im sure babies sense our tension. In through the nose - count to 4 - out through the mouth - "let go" as you coun t to six - or repeat the mantra -"I am breathing in . I am breathing out" as you breathe.

Pinky

By beck on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 08:08 pm:

thanks pinky, we are having a really challenging time at the mo. o is teething still only has the 1 toofa still and he has a shocking cold, feeding ALOT even for one of my babys! lol. i am exhausted, argh. o must be feeding alot over night as i only feel this tired when he feeds frequently overnight. den is walking around sorting washing with o in the sling happily chatting, da da da. when i hold him he is either whinging or feeding or both! give me strength!

beck

By Kimberley on Sunday, April 9, 2006 - 09:32 am:

Hang in there Beck, it's a drag isn't it. Hopefully his cold will disappear quickly and you'll get more rest and be back on track. I'm getting over the flu and Elsbeth's got some symptoms of it tho gets her medicine through the boob (wondering if I should express some for me - is that gross or have others thought of this too). Bloody DH complained about the pile of tissues I've left on the floor near my side of the bed - I reminded him I don't give a hoot about the tissues and I've felt like crap and have still kept up the pace with Elsbeth. Anyway, he's making bacon and eggs for brekky with Elsbeth so I think he got the message
Kimberley

By Pinky on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 09:38 pm:

Hi Girls- GET WELL SOON!!!

kIMBERLY, i EMPATHISE - last time I had flu I 'moved out' to lounge room - tissues by the bed/ vaporiser etc - all my mess that he hates was right where I needed it! I 'hogged' the lounge room til I was well and truly feeling better.

You are doing a fabulous job caring for babies while sick too- thats mummy flu as opposed to men flu - they would be sitting in bed waiting for hot drinks and moaning (probably expecting You to wipe their noses/ remove tissues). Sorry guys if I am offending.
Pinky

Pinky

By Kimberley on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 11:19 pm:

Aaaah Pinky, you crack me up. It is so true!!! Damien has one sniffle and he's dying. Why do men always get the flu, when a woman only has a cold? Good on you for hogging the lounge room, I hope you made lots of noise and hid the remote from him too!!!
I'm on the mend, tho Elsbeth seemed to be feeling yucky for a few days, with a low appetite and disturbed sleep. Yesterday, I noticed some blood had come out of her mouth in her sleep, which was scarey, tho the doctor said it was most probably mouth ulcers or the like. No medication recommended and she seems to be getting over it, poor thing. I thought maybe from carrying her with my arm across her chest and facing out (she was wanting to be carried more than usual understandably), I had squashed her oesophagus and damaged it as I thought it could be weakened by being sick - the things we think and of course blaming myself - another mum trait. She was so cute at the gp's, letting her look in her ears and mouth, she actually enjoyed having the big paddle pop stick in her mouth. i was proud of myself as we weren't getting far and the gp said well what do you want to do as you can hold her arms down and I can grab a quick look in her mouth. I had already decided before going, I wasn't going to let it be a traumatic experience for her, so I asked if I could give it a go. With some prompting, she opened her mouth for mummy with the big paddle pop stick of course and poked her tongue out and said aah and the doctor got a good look. I think I'm learning that if you show that you will stand up for your child, people ask your opinion more and work with you. You learn something everyday eh. Thanks for the support Pinky, it is really hard for all mums out there looking after sick bubs or themselves when they're sick. I think we need to complain louder!!!
cheers
Kimberley

By Michelle on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 12:48 pm:

I have to come in to defend the men here, in our house, it is always me who gets the flu and David who merely gets colds!

Its so hard though when your own your own feeling sorry for yourself, and only want to be mothered, but you have to be the mummy yourself!

thats lovely kimberley, how the doctor let you help to get Elspeth to open her mouth volunterily rather than forcing her, and upsetting her when she already wasn't feeling too good! I'm glad it was nothing, I'm sure that was quite scary, seeing blood in her mouth!

Take care, I hope Damien 'mothers' you if he's off this long weekend!

Michelle

By Kimberley on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 11:10 am:

Oops, didn't mean to offend, David sounds like a real trooper. Just indulging in a bit of a feminist whinge, but hey I come from a line of strong women - 'woe any man who crosses a Thompson woman' - actually we all tend to marry nice men, maybe they don't have a choice but to be nice eh. Damien just doesn't tolerate getting sick very well, though he does lots of great things like always making sure we've had lots of healthy food to eat. Though Elsbeth has decided she loves a bit of the old chocolate easter egg for brekky, well it's only once a year!
Have a great Easter everyone!!!!
cheers
Kimberley