Teething and Breastfeeding
Before I know anything about breastfeeding, I have always puzzled how baby is going to suck when they have teeth? Won’t they bite? Yes, they do, initially, but there are ways to stopping it.
Justin was easier. When he started teething at 5 months old and biting me while nursing, I’d detach him, and told him sternly that he was not allowed to do so. After a few times, he got the message, and stopped. But he would bite his own thumb as he sucked his thumb to sleep.
As for Isabelle, she doesn’t have thumb sucking habit. I’m her pacifier, and she sucks on demand, sometimes just won’t let go when she sleeps. Yes, if you see my post being posted in the middle of the night, it’s very likely that it’s typed single-handedly as I was breastfeeding Isabelle who just wouldn’t let go!
Yes, I know it’s my fault of creating her sucking to sleep habit. I’ve read so much about training baby to sleep, let them cry and learn how to sleep by themselves, but the method just won’t work and I gave up! I couldn’t bear my babies crying too long, so I’ve putting myself in hot pot and being a pacifier now! LOL!
Ok, back to teething. No matter how many times I told Isabelle, or likely pat her cheeks asking her not to bite, she will do it accidentally when she’s sleep. Imagine me finish blogging at 2am, climbing up to bed to catch up with some sleep but Isabelle’s crying to suckle, and I let her nurse while trying to snooze off. But before I could see “zhou gong”, I was awaken by a sharp pain! Where? My nipple! Ouch! It’s so painful! Most of the time, Isabelle was almost asleep, and I knew she’s not doing it on purpose.
Once, it was so bad, I got a cut from her teeth. It took a week to heal, and whenever I nurse or pump on that side, I’d be biting on my lips and holding back my tears. It’s really really really painful. The cut was infected and there was a small blister. I poked the blister by myself and I almost screamed in agony!
Ok, enough of pain and back to joyful writing….
It will be over, not teething, but this being a pacifier state! She’ll wean off when she’s ready, so for the time being, I got to “tahan” a bit. 
A friend of mine use this method. She will put pacifier to let the bb suckle for a while, then only nurse the baby. This is to avoid baby to bite on the nipple.
I had breast abcess twice and it was so bad that i was admitted to hospital (fever too high). Ever since, I used nipple shield and no more worries.
It took Ern 2 days to get use to the nipple shield and that time she was only 3+ months. So, I am not sure if Isabelle can cope now…
She’s too old for nipple shield, but anyway, thanks for telling me. I’ve never thought of that!
You have lots of breastfeeding experience to share.
wow…even when she continue biting you still persevere…really salute you!