Getting help for breast refusal and baby biting breast
If you’d like some help with breastfeeding, support services are available. Your midwife, child and family health nurse, GP or the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) can support you with breastfeeding your baby. They can also help you find a lactation consultant if you need one. An ABA counsellor can also help – phone the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 1800 686 268.
Breast refusal: causes
Now and then a baby will refuse the breast. Breast refusal is often just a passing phase, which can be caused by one or more of the following:
Your baby has a cold.
Your baby is uncomfortable or in pain.
Your baby is having trouble attaching.
Your baby is overstimulated, overtired or distracted, which is normal in older babies.
Your milk tastes different, possibly because you are taking medication, are experiencing hormonal changes (you might be about to have a period again), or have eaten something unusual.
Your milk flow is faster or slower to let down than usual.
Your baby might have a strong preference for one breast.
Your baby’s feeding pattern is changing.
Your baby is full after having other foods or drinks.
Most of these causes of breast refusal will either go away on their own or can be sorted out with a few simple changes to your routine. None of them means you have to give up breastfeeding.
Breast refusal: options
You might want to try the following to get your baby on the breast:
Relax and be as patient as you can.
Have some skin-to-skin contact with your baby to trigger your baby’s feeding instincts.
Try baby-led attachment.
Try a new feeding position – see our illustrated guide to breastfeeding positions.
Hand-express some milk into your baby’s mouth. This might encourage your baby to feed.
Give your baby a breastfeed after their bath, when they’re warm and relaxed.
Try breastfeeding in a quiet place.
Play some relaxing background music, or feed in a rocking chair.
Offer a feed when your baby is first stirring from sleep or just going to sleep.
Try again later when your baby is more settled. Forcing the issue can make breast refusal worse.
If your baby seems unwell, treat your baby’s symptoms or take your baby to see your GP.
For help with working out why your baby is refusing the breast, talk to a lactation consultant or ABA counsellor.
Baby biting breast: causes
As babies get older, they get more playful – and they get teeth. It’s almost physically impossible for babies to bite while sucking, but they might find it fun to bite your nipple once they’re finished – particularly if they think you’re not paying them enough attention!
Some babies might bite because they can’t wait to start feeding and your let-down is slow. In this case, it might help to express a small amount of breastmilk to trigger your let-down before you offer the breast. Luckily, biting breasts is usually a passing phase.
Baby biting breast: options
If your baby does bite, say ‘No’ calmly and firmly, and take your baby off your breast. But try not to get too cross, because some babies might think you’re playing a game – or it might frighten them.
You can also try offering your baby something else to chew on, like a teething ring.
If your nipples are very sore, you might need to express your breastmilk for a few days, until your nipples feel better. You can express your milk gently by hand or with a good-quality breast pump on a gentle setting. You can use a feeding cup, spoon or bottle to feed the expressed breastmilk to your baby.
Take care if the bite breaks the skin on your nipple, because this can lead to infection.
Talk to a lactation consultant or ABA counsellor for help working out why your baby might be biting.
You might want to watch: Breastfeeding problems: getting support
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Article originally published by raisingchildren.net.au
All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional.