Everything You Need To Know About Biting and Breastfeeding

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Melissa Portunato MPH, IBCLC, RLC

Not all babies bite and the ones that do learn pretty quickly that mama does not like it and stop. If you’re part of the lucky few that does have a baby shark don’t worry mamas! Biting down at the breast is almost always temporary. With patience, time and support your breastfeeding journey doesn’t have to come to an end. Check out our expert tips to keep your baby from chomping down and get you back on track with breastfeeding pain free! 

Why does my baby bite down when nursing? 

Teething 
Every baby is different, but generally babies will start to cut their first tooth between 3 months and 12 months. During this time, baby’s gums can get sore and the pressure of biting down can bring them relief. Freeze a washcloth dipped in breastmilk and before nursing let baby chew on it. Breastmilk triggers the production of endorphins, a natural pain numbing effect. The anti inflammatory properties in breastmilk may also help reduce soreness and pain. Wrap your finger around the cold washcloth and softly massage the gums providing counter pressure before nursing. Massaging the cheeks and ears from the outside can also help soothe pain. These techniques can relax baby before nursing and they will be less likely to bite down. 

Sometimes teething can result in a shallow latch which overtime can make nipples tender. Try “breast shaping” and compression when nursing to better position the baby on the nipple. Using lying back breastfeeding and dangle feeding can help your nipple go deeper into the baby’s mouth. 

Baby not feeling well 
Other reasons babies might bite down when nursing could be because of a sickness like a cold, ear infection, sinus pressure, headache, or a stuffy nose. If baby has nasal congestion, use a mucous removal tool, like a nasal bulb or the NoseFrida, to clear baby’s nasal passage before nursing. Use breastmilk or saline water to moisten the inside of the nostrils before suctioning to make the process less irritating. Nursing your baby in an upright position, straddled on your lap, or using a sling or carrier can help make the airway stay clear and make breathing easier.

Oral Restriction
Sometimes newborns will clamp down when nursing at the breast. It doesn’t always mean there are oral restrictions but it could be an indicator. Oral restrictions can vary and can come in the form of a tongue tie, lip tie, and buccal tie (these ties can be found on the inside of the cheek). The shape of the palette and tongue can also influence how a baby will nurse at the breast. If your baby continues to clamp down when nursing, work closely with your pediatrician and connect with your local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, IBCLC for a thorough breastfeeding consultation to determine the cause of the issue and develop a plan for resolution. 

Forceful Letdown 
If mom has a forceful letdown this can also cause a baby to clench down on the nipple. Using nursing positions that are counter gravity can slow the overactive letdown and baby will be able to manage milk flow easier. Nursing lying back with baby’s body flat directly over you or sitting baby upright to nurse can slow the flow, allowing baby the rhythmic suck and swallow necessary for nutritive feeding. In addition, hand expressing first or pumping for 5 min prior to nursing sessions can help baby latch on easier and slow forceful letdown too! 

What else can I do to make baby stop biting? 

No matter the reason for biting it can be painful. Try not to scream! Instead, put your baby down in a safe place and leave the room. It’s important to know a baby that is actively nursing can not physically bite down on the breast. Babies tend to bite down towards the end of a feeding, when distracted, or not interested. Watch your baby closely when nursing and end the nursing session before baby has the opportunity to bite down. Babies are pretty keen at sensing our body language and behavior. Talk to your baby often when nursing. Tell your baby things like “we don’t bite mama” or “biting hurts mama, outchy.” Babies look for facial expressions to communicate. Be expressive with your emotions when you talk to your baby. Smile and positively reassure your baby when latch on happens carefully and smoothly. 

Managing Nipple Pain and Milk Supply
If baby’s biting has your nipples sore, caused abrasions, or cuts be sure to treat them to prevent infection. Air dry as much as possible and wash with non antibacterial soap in the shower. Applying a cool hydrogel can soothe sore nipples and keep them healthy. For deeper cuts and abrasions temporarily applying a mupirocin, prescribed by your doctor, can help speed up healing and avoid infection. Small amounts on the nipples do not need to be wiped away before nursing. Always remember mamas! Your doctor is always a quick call away if something doesn’t seem right. 

If nursing directly at the breast has become too painful, pump to maintain your milk supply. Use the slow 38 cycle steady with the Spectra breast pump S1/S2 and lubricate the tunnel well with breastmilk or olive oil to prevent friction and further discomfort. Be gentle on your breasts and nipples. Use massage and compression to stimulate more effective letdowns allowing for less time on the pump. 

Remember you and your baby are a dyad. You are one. Your baby will learn quickly biting hurts mama and they will stop. Your baby loves you and doesn’t want to knowingly hurt you! You’re an amazing mom and your baby thinks so too.

References

Nishitani S, Miyamura T, Tagawa M. et al. The calming effect of a maternal breast milk odor on the human newborn infant. Neurosci Res (2009) 63(1): 66-71

In: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2018 Oct 31.

http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/breastfeeding-resources-1/2016/6/10/your-breastfeeding-baby-is-biting-you

Re-lactation: One Mother’s Journey

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By Jacquelyn Ordner BSN, RN, IBCLC, RLC

I had met my breastfeeding goals with three out of my four children, with the fourth still nursing once or twice a day.  Number four was about 2.5 years old and had decided he only needed “milkies” at naptime and bedtime.  I was comfortable with this, and we were moving through this transition happily.  But, when my husband and I decided we were going to adopt, my thoughts around weaning began to change. What if my next child needs my milk too?

As we completed the international adoption application process and began the home study process, we really began to think about the little person who would be joining our family.  We had told the agency that we’re open to parenting a child with significant medical needs. Our child could need a myriad of medical interventions, and I immediately began thinking that I needed to store breastmilk to help support him or her.  I’m an RN and IBCLC, so that’s just how my mind works. I KNOW that just 15 ounces of breastmilk can provide up to:

29% of a toddler’s energy requirements

43% of their protein requirements

36% of their calcium requirements

76% of their folate requirements

75% of their vitamin A requirements

94% of their vitamin B12 requirements

And 60% of their vitamin C requirements (Dewey 2001).

Breastmilk does not suddenly become non-nutritious or suddenly lose its bioactive and immune boosting components at a certain age! So, in the waiting and through the mountains and mountains of paperwork, I could be working toward making more milk to save for our fifth child! 

I began with the basics…..pumping! In an effort to store every ounce, I gently encouraged our current youngest to cut back to nursing just once a day.  This was easy at first, and he didn’t even seem to mind me pumping. I was double pumping with the Spectra S2 just 3-4 times a day to start. Let me tell you, this wasn’t very encouraging!  I was only yielding a total of 1-1.5 oz per DAY! That’s when I hit the first major setback….my toddler became jealous of my pump! He cried when he saw me pumping and asked for “milkies” multiple times per day.  I felt so conflicted at this point because my natural instinct was to scoop him up and provide that loving comfort as we had done thousands of times before. However, I also knew my goal was to collect and store as much milk as possible before we brought kiddo #5 home.  Knowing that an effectively nursing baby (or toddler in my case) was far more efficient at stimulating milk production than my pump, I allowed him to nurse up to three times per day while I continued to pump 3-4 times per day. 

We were hitting our stride, and my pumping output was SLOWLY increasing, when we had another setback.  My work schedule changed, and this put stress on the whole family. My little guy had to start a new daycare during at this time as well.  So, I took a break from pumping for a couple of weeks. I could kick myself for this now, but I can’t go back to change it. That two week break set me all the way back to the beginning. Still, once we found our new rhythm, I was determined to get my production up.  I began faithfully pumping 5-6 times per day and VERY SLOWLY started to see an increase! Over the course of 4 weeks, my pumping output went from 1-1.5 oz per day to 3 oz per day in addition to the milk I was providing to my nursing toddler. Though my output is small, I’m confident that I can continue to increase my supply with dedicated pumping. Re-lactation takes time!   If you are considering starting the re-lactation process, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  •  Milk supply is easier to influence in the first 4-6 weeks postpartum.
  • The amount of time and pumping needed to re-lactate depends on many factors such as how long you were nursing or pumping before stopping, how long it has been since you stopped nursing or pumping, and how much milk you were producing at the time you stopped.
  • Pumping alone can be an effective way to stimulate re-lactation.  The use of galactagogues should only be done so with the help of a knowledgeable practitioner.
  • An effectively nursing baby is the MOST efficient way to stimulate milk production.  If your baby will latch, this is very helpful to the re-lactation process. The use of an at-breast-supplementer can be significantly helpful as well.
  • The knowledge and expertise of an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, who has experience with re-lactation, can be extremely beneficial for a mother who is pursuing this goal!

Dewey KG. Nutrition, Growth, and Complementary Feeding of the Breastfed Infant. Pediatric Clinics of North American. February 2001;48(1).

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Issues Updated Breastfeeding Guidelines

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By Melissa Portunato MPH, IBCLC, RLC

On June 27, 2022, The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its existing policy statement on breastfeeding. The revision has come at a controversial time amidst the current formula crisis, failed legislation, and the recent Supreme Court ruling on reproductive health rights. Read on for the full breakdown and what this means for public health in the US. 

What’s NEW?
The previous AAP policy recommended breastfeeding for the infant’s first year and has now been updated to 2 years and beyond. The policy now states, 

“ The AAP supports continued breastfeeding, along with appropriate complementary foods introduced at about 6 months, as long as mutually desired by mother and child for 2 years or beyond.” 

This wasn’t the only change that came with the revised policy. Social and cultural calls for action were also at the center of the guideline revisions to support parents who want to meet the new recommendation. The official statement includes the need for paid maternity leave and more support in public, child care, and workplace facilities. In addition, maternity care practices were urged to improve breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity. The organization also acknowledges that babies born to gender-diverse families may not have equal access to human milk, and clinical support may be more challenging. Overall, the AAP calls for clinicians to equip themselves to provide evidence-based quality medical care to ensure all families best meet their personalized breastfeeding goals. 

Why Now?
As the formula crisis rages on, parents may be asking themselves, why now? The truth is this has been a long time coming, but the formula shortages did help to revive the conversation. Significant research has long backed up the nutritional and immunological benefits of human milk feeding past one year. The extensive studies are not limited to the above benefits; instead, they reveal psychological advantages when the young child continues to nurse directly at the breast and boast benefits for the mother as well. It’s important to note that the new revision is now in line with the World Health Organization’s long-standing breastfeeding recommendations for 2 years or beyond. 

Now What?
We all know exclusive breastfeeding is the goal, but that can seem far-fetched or unattainable for families struggling to make enough milk, experiencing latching difficulties, or simply lacking breastfeeding education or support. Nevertheless, many experts still agree the revision to the AAP policy is a step in the right direction. It will likely prompt the availability of more community resources for pre/post-natal education, diversity of lactation clinicians, and easier access to low-cost breastfeeding support platforms, i.e., telehealth.

Unfortunately, the Pump For Nursing Mothers Act which would extend breastfeeding mothers pumping rights to 2 years, was denied in the wake of the AAP’s updated guidelines. The failed legislation covered salaried breastfeeding individuals that were not covered under the Affordable Care Act. Another bill already introduced to the Senate, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, prohibits employers from discriminating based on pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. This bill appears ready to pass soon and is set to protect working breastfeeding families similarly. Good news! 

How can Spectra Help?
Breastfeeding for 2 years or beyond may not be realistic for all families, yet there are ways Spectra baby USA is making it easier for parents that decide to breastfeed past one year. All Spectra Baby USA’s high-quality electric breast pumps have a 2-year product warranty. Complimentary virtual consultations with a Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) are available with the purchase of any Spectra baby USA breast pump. No matter the amount of breastmilk you can provide or the length of time, breastfeeding is an accomplishment, and human milk provides irreplaceable health benefits to your baby. If you have questions about achieving your breastfeeding goals, message us at ibclc@spectrababyusa. In addition, we always recommend connecting with your local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant for evidence-based advice and community support. 

Sources:

American Academy of Pediatrics calls for more support for breastfeeding mothers within updated policy recommendations. Home. (n.d.). Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2022/american-academy-of-pediatrics-calls-for-more-support-for-breastfeeding-mothers-within-updated-policy-recommendations/ 

Text – H.R.3110 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Pump for Nursing Mothers act. (n.d.). Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3110/text 

Bonyata, K. (2018, January 15). Breastfeeding your toddler: What to expect • kellymom.com. KellyMom.com. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/toddlernursing/