How to teach newborn to stop gumming nipples?

Natasha - posted on 07/14/2011

Hey ladies thanks for the great tips! though I have to say that I have tried the nipple shield and all she did was bite down really hard on it! this is acctually my 3rd little one. with my 2nd I used the nipple shield and it helped a ton. I am still trying to make things work and have returned to nursing full time with the ocasional bottle from daddy. I am still working with the local hospitals lactation dept. I feel like I have tried everything and am now onto a different latch technique. I am healing and then not at the same time. I recently discovered that I am also having vaso spams in my nipples so that is the cause of some of the pain. I also took her to the chiropractor and found that she had a squished nasal cavity which was making it very hard for her to breathe thru her nose and latch on correctly. things are better with her toungue since the nose adjustment but still not ideal . thanks again! :0)

Kim - posted on 07/14/2011

Natasha I kept looking for tongue tied as well because I did not have the latch on problems with my two girls at all! He is now almost 2 months old and doing much much better. I did have to just keep putting my thumb on his chin and pulling down to try and get his tongue to block his lower gums. If he did not get a correct latch then I broke the latch with my finger in his mouth and tried again. Sometimes he still didn't get it and I was like you about to come off the couch because I didn't want my baby to get so hungry and upset. I did not try the nipple shield but I did buy a lot of nipple cream. I pumped and my husband bought one tiny can of baby formula because yes the thought of BF almost made me cry. But I would use the formula only only only as a last resort. My little guy hates he bottle. I'm not sure if this is your first or you have more children but don't worry this is my third and I'm still learning!

Elizabeth - posted on 07/10/2011

Natasha try the nipple shield, that way they are still nursing on the breast but your nipple is protected and can heal. I had to for abut a month and mu little one had no problem going back to the regular breast in fact he preferred it.

Kristina - posted on 07/06/2011

I didnt have this problem but did have the mastitis in one breast and it hurt like no other. i fought thru the pain and the milk cream helped sooth it as well. Good job ladies and sticking with it. Good luck to all of you! God Bless!

Natasha - posted on 07/06/2011

My daughter is now 16 days old and I am having this issue right now.i ran into having to stop nursing and pump only for a few days to start healing.it hurt so bad my types curled and I had to breathe thru nursing like a contraction. I found myself fearing feeding my baby. I have s seen our talked to LC 's every day.i even took her to a dentist to check for tongue tied issues. I am now breast feeding again as much as I can stand to,i recently took her to a chiropractor to have an adjustment done.they found she had a squished nose and a build up of sinus pressure. Things r getting better but I think that is due to me pumping and bottle feeding to give my nipples a break. However I would not recommend this to anyone at all! It makes my very sad that this is so difficult right now, but I too as pushing thru. I hope that things have gotten better for u. And congrats on pushing thru to give your baby the best. :0)

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 05/29/2011

Yes! My daughter was the same way. I used the shield in the beginning due to flat/inverted nipples. I hated the shield it was annoying and because I had oversupply it caused multiple clogged ducts. I finally got my daughter weaned off of it at 4 months and shouldn't need it for this baby. It's a good option, but only as a last resort.

I had to help my daughter with her bottom lip alot once we weaned from the shield. She kept curling it in. After a few weeks of gently uncurling it and/or relatching she got the hang of it.

Kim - posted on 05/29/2011

Thanks Brandi I will keep this in mind! It's comforting to know you started out with them, and then were able to have her breastfeed without them after a while.

Kim - posted on 05/29/2011

Thank you Sara, yes I refuse to give up on breastfeeding. Sometimes now he gets it a little more right and it's not so painful. He does not splay his bottom lip so I keep pulling down on his chin. And sometimes I wash my hands and stick my finger in his mouth while pulling down on his chin, so it's a work in progress =) And thanks the video was helpful!

Brandi - posted on 05/27/2011

I had a similar problem. My nipples were too short and my daughter couldn’t latch on properly. I even had blisters on my nipples! (it was terrible!) I went to a lactation consultant and she advised me to use a nipple guard. If you’ve never heard of this, don’t feel bad up until then I hadn’t either, but it’s a little cover for your nipple. I absolutely fell in LOVE! I used the nipple guard for about two months and then one morning I dropped it down the drain and tried nursing without it, and my daughter latched on perfectly & has ever since. She’s almost 7 months old now. : ) Good luck to you!!

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 05/26/2011

This is a great video about latching. Maybe it will help you.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 05/26/2011

It does take a while to get the hang of latching. Breastfeeding was painful for me for the first 4 weeks before it started feeling better. Have you seen a lactation consultant or a La Leche League leader? I would keep working on the latch. Make sure that his mouth is open really wide and then quickly bring him to the breast. His lips should be splayed not tucked in and he should have all or most of your areola in his mouth (depending on your personal size). If you feel the latch isn't right then gently break it and try again.