kneading
Feb 10, 2015 17:10:58 GMT -5
Post by QOTRnew on Feb 10, 2015 17:10:58 GMT -5
Hi All,
I'm not an active poster on this board, either here or at the old place. I have an 8 1/2 month old and breastfeeding has always gone pretty well. I'm having my first real painful issue and welcome advice.
At least 3 weeks ago, maybe longer, my LO started kneading/pushing at the breast while pulling his head back and stretching the nipple. I didn't give it much thought at the time - I thought it was just another phase - but I now have a sore at the base of the nipple and his tugging/pulling is extremely painful.
My lactation consultant provided tips for promoting healing of the sore, and advised me that I needed to break him of his "bad breastfeeding manners", but didn't really give me any tips other than to remove him and pump if necessary. I'd welcome any tips or positioning suggestions for discouraging kneading. In addition to trying to discourage him from kneading, I'm curious about what caused him to start. If you've experienced kneading in the past, do you have any thoughts about what causes them to do it? About 8 weeks ago, we introduced solids and decreased the number of nursing sessions. I just wonder if maybe the associated decrease in supply has impacted the force or speed of let-down and led to his desire/need to knead?
Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.
*Edited to add - as is mentioned in my post below - that he seems to be doing the kneading/pushing thing as leverage to stretch out the nipple. I'm not sure if this speeds up flow for him?
I'm not an active poster on this board, either here or at the old place. I have an 8 1/2 month old and breastfeeding has always gone pretty well. I'm having my first real painful issue and welcome advice.
At least 3 weeks ago, maybe longer, my LO started kneading/pushing at the breast while pulling his head back and stretching the nipple. I didn't give it much thought at the time - I thought it was just another phase - but I now have a sore at the base of the nipple and his tugging/pulling is extremely painful.
My lactation consultant provided tips for promoting healing of the sore, and advised me that I needed to break him of his "bad breastfeeding manners", but didn't really give me any tips other than to remove him and pump if necessary. I'd welcome any tips or positioning suggestions for discouraging kneading. In addition to trying to discourage him from kneading, I'm curious about what caused him to start. If you've experienced kneading in the past, do you have any thoughts about what causes them to do it? About 8 weeks ago, we introduced solids and decreased the number of nursing sessions. I just wonder if maybe the associated decrease in supply has impacted the force or speed of let-down and led to his desire/need to knead?
Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.
*Edited to add - as is mentioned in my post below - that he seems to be doing the kneading/pushing thing as leverage to stretch out the nipple. I'm not sure if this speeds up flow for him?