Nothing feels better than the vice grip of your baby’s pearly whites on your precious girly bits. Can you say OUCH?!? Breastfeeding a teething baby can be a pain in the butt nipple at times. Literally. But when those teeth finally emerge, it’s a whole ‘nother story. One thing’s for sure, breastfeeding is a teeth-scraping good time!

When Alana’s top teeth emerged last week, I quickly realized that things had changed. The scraping of sensitive skin – my sensitive skin, from my sensitive nipples! - against her sharp teeth were a bit of a wake up call. Wrapped up in my own little bubble of pain, I failed to consider the change that my daughter was experiencing as well. In addition to the pain and discomfort of growing new teeth, she’s struggling with the strange sensation of teeth blocking what was once a clear path to the Milky Way.

Ladies and gentlemen, we’re knee deep in teeth-scraping hell and looking for a way out! Through trial and error, I’ve found that the following tips have really made a difference when it comes to beating the teeth-scraping blues.

• Learning the art of proper latch-on…all over again: Remember, nursing with teeth is a new experience for both you and your baby! Assisting my daughter during latch-on by tilting her head back and encouraging her to open her mouth as wide as possible, I’m able to guide my breast deep into her mouth. I have much more control with the latch-on and positioning of my nipple, making nursing a lot more comfortable for both of us.
• Proper support: I don’t know about your baby, but my little girl is getting heavier by the day! Positioning her close and supporting her weight really cut down on the dragging and scraping of her teeth against my nipple. Use pillows for additional support!
• Experiment with different nursing positions: By switching things up, I learned that the cradle position worked best for us. The cradle hold allows me to hold my little one close and tilt her head into a comfortable position. Find one that works for you!
• Be diligent: Some babies get lazy at the breast and begin to slip off, scraping along the areola and nipple with their teeth. I’m constantly on guard, ready to protect and defend my nipple from my little girl’s chompers. Being attentive means that I can prevent most of the teeth scraping.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the breastfeeding relationship that my daughter and I share, it’s that it’s constantly changing. As my daughter grows, our breastfeeding relationship evolves and goes through changes of its own. I’m learning that in order to keep up with the many challenges and changes we face in this here breastfeeding relationship, I must step outside the box and experiment with new techniques. With a little bit of patience and a willingness to persevere, we’ll beat the teeth-scraping blues in no time!

So tell me…

How are you navigating your way through the ever-changing breastfeeding relationship between you and your child? Do you have any additional tips to pass on to other moms who are currently riding the teething wave? I’d love to hear from you!

*For breastfeeding tips galore, visit La Leche League or kellymom.

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Tags: Motherhood