The ABC’s of Breastfeeding: Biting
(I mean this is what it feels like when a nursing baby bites you, amirite?)
Last week we started a series going through the alphabet with nursing; you can see the first post (3 A's: adoration, anger, and asking for help!) here. We'll sink our teeth (aren't we punny?) into a new topic today ~ biting: why it happens, and how to handle it.
Many people assume that biting only happens when baby is teething, but there are actually several different reasons for it and it's important to get to the root of the issue so it can be more easily fixed.
If you have oversupply or forceful letdowns, your baby might be biting down to help control the flow. Imagine a fire hose spraying down your throat ~ yikes! You'd want to slow down that flow asap, right? Babies might be doing the same thing; they can't quite say, "hey, mom! slow this faucet down, please!" so they do what they can do with their mouths. And it hurts. Other signs of forceful letdowns include baby gulping and gasping, wriggling, or pulling off suddenly while your milk sprays everywhere (btdt.... awkwaaaaard). They may also be gaining weight rapidly. One way to help with a forceful letdown is to hold a spit up cloth or towel up to your breast and massage the milk out and onto that before latching baby. Nursing baby while laying on your side also can help them control the flow, as it's easier them to let milk dribble out the sides instead of going straight down their throats. The La Leche League has a fabulous article on oversupply and heavy letdowns here, if you think this is you.
Biting can also be caused by boredom. Babies are people, too; this means they like to see and do different things, experiment, and have fun. If they're nearing the end of a nursing session and getting distracted by other fun things going on in the room, it's easy for them to just bite down. It's also a whole lot of fun to watch mommy shriek and react to what happens when a bite happens. It is really important to try and stay calm when baby bites; if they're an older baby, remove them from your breast calmly, say, "no," and stop the nursing session for a while before resuming again. Try to pay attention to their body cues during a session too. You can engage with them while they eat, helping assuage some of the risks of boredom; make eye contact with them, sing a song, talk to them about the day (babies just ADORE it when their mothers talk to them!), play with their fingers and toes. Keep your little one stimulated, basically, or they'll seek out their own entertainment!
And, yes, biting can be caused by teething. This is hard since you know they don't feel good, but being bitten is not good for you. If you're using a teething gel or medication, you might consider giving it to them about 20-30 minutes before a nursing session. If you are pretty sure they want to nurse for comfort and this comfort nursing is leading only to biting, you can also offer them teething rings or cold wet washcloths to chew on (instead of you...).