Then There Were Six

I thought those front teeth would never come in foks. It started MONTHS ago with his major nursing strike. Remember? It was at least a month or two before the first two teeth came in. No joke...and it was the two to the side of the two center front teeth so he looked kinda funny. Judging by his behavior, by the look of his gums, and by what Aiden's teeth did, it seemed like he was getting all four at once...but no...he got those two side ones and it was another month before the middle two came through...and he was a moody BUTT the whole time. Fortunately we only had a very short visit with the biting phase and it was never very bad, thankfully.

You can't see his teeth, but he's too cute NOT to put in the blog!

But here is chase...he has 6 teeth and a 7th on the way. I knew tooth number 7 was on the way when the pulling resumed. Ooooo the pulling. this has been the worse symptom of his teething (for my nipples anyway) since he was 7 months old. He pulls at the breast, presumably to put counter pressure on his tender gums and jaw. I can't blame him, but I can STRONGLY hate the pulling. About two weeks ago he started the pulling again, repetitively pulling with his hand so much so that not only did it hurt my nipple from the shallow latch, but it was hurting my breast from the rough pushing on the skin. It's pretty flippin' rotten. He gets mad mad mad when I block him from doing it. This is NOT conducive to bedtime boobs, as I'm sure you can imagine. Irritating the mini-man does not help him get sleep.

So out comes the teeth cocktail again for everyone's sanity, especially my cutey baby. Here is what we use:

Amber necklace...ALL. THE. WAY. I was seriously skeptical about this when I got one from a bargain website a few months back, but I was sold the first night we forgot to put it back on after bath. I was up...ALL. NIGHT. LONG. Ok, one data point right? That's just a fluke...but it has happened a few times since, same thing. It really does help. Watch for a review on the product all three of us are using and have fallen in love with soon!

Hyland's Teething Tablets. Ok, that's kind of a lie. For MONTHS the teething tablets were pulled from the shelves while being reformulated. I don't know anything about this...all I know is that Chase started teething in the middle of the and I couldn't find it anywhere. So I had my local Natural Food store order me the Hyland's Kids Kit and until I finally found the teething tablets back on the shelf I gave him a blend of two of these...you'll have to figure out which two on your own, or just get the teething tablets. I'm fairly certain if I divulge my methods we could be liable so I'm not going to go there. It's pretty simple if you read the labels of what is in the kit to figure out what works for teething. I actually really like that Kids Kit for lots of things, not just the teething combo I used.

During Chase's nursing strike, for a few days I had to also give him baby ibuprofen because the amber and the teething remedies were not breaking through the pain for him. I rarely use OTC medications for myself or the boys anymore, but some instances warrant it. Better living through chemistry...hahaha!

Since toofer number 7 is on it's way we have a pretty strict regime of keeping Chase happy with his necklace and with his homeopathics. If he is pulling a lot I know I need to give him the teething tablets...I go by his behavior, not by a schedule. This seems to work for us.

Additionally, Chase wears his amber necklace overnight. This is NOT RECOMMENDED by the manufacturer. I know that Mama Christa and I both do this with the babies but other moms are not comfortable. One way to reap the benefits of the amber overnight (which, frankly, is when we need it most) is to wrap it around a wrist or ankle and put a sleeve/pantleg/sock over it. As long as it is in contact with the baby's skin, it is doing good.  We do not recommend having your baby wear a necklace overnight either, we can't. It's just what the two of us do and you have to weigh options for your own family.

For now, this is working, and that 7th tooth is ALMOST through. I always hear that the eye teeth are real bears, but I don't remember from Aiden's teething how it compares to the rest of teething. In fact, Chase, overall, has been FAR MORE symptomatic about teething than Aiden ever was. He gets loose poops, cranky, low fevers sometimes, nursing strikes, flushed cheeks...the works.  I see some changes on the top gums, I'm wondering if those bears aren't moving into position...maybe. I'm ready. Right now, he's happy, cute, and busy, so I will keep doing what we are doing until it doesn't work!

BOOBS?! LEMME AT 'EM!

I hope you found something helpful here to help with your teether. I never medicate or treat a child who doesn't act uncomfortable. Aiden rarely did, Chase ALWAYS does. For what it's worth, baby orajel is bad news...especially for breastfed babies. It only nums the gums anyway, and the worst of the teething pain comes fromt he movement of the teeth through the jaw bone. I remember this when I was in my very early 20s and I started getting my wisdom teeth in. My jaw hurt like HELL for days at a time, on and off for MONTHS. Orajel didn't help. Ibuprofen did. Having that vivid memory has helped me to help my boys a little better. Orajel has also been linked to choking due to numbness in the throat...so it's not safe to use anyway. A breastfed baby will sometimes have trouble latching due to numbness of the lips, tongue, and gums, so it mostly does more harm than good.

**fist pump** to the teething baby mamas out there. I feel you!

Sleep, Nursing Strikes, and Teething

Remember how I was trying to get Chase to sleep in his own bed? Talk about bad timing guys! ::headdesk::

OK, so I couldn't figure out why I had so much success followed by so. much. FAILURE. We were making great progress, but unknown to me, Chase was working on top teeth. We had several nights of extended midnight parties, then Friday all the poo hit the fans. He was up for three hours, wouldn't nurse to sleep, wouldn't do ANYTHING, and was a crab monster. It then occurred to me he hadn't actually nursed (other than a very short dream feed) since 2 that afternoon...then he was up and wild for three hours that night. He woke up and partied AGAIN at 3 and AGAIN would not nurse. I was growing more and more concerned, my breasts were growing fuller and fuller, my heart was starting to panic. Saturday he would not nurse and was struggling with sleep...then I looked at his top gums.

The face of one seriously teething baby.

Oh dear. They were so so swollen and it looked like at least FOUR teeth were trying to come through.

At this point I throw in the towel on the bed switching because he clearly needed to be with me, and I needed to be sure that if he was willing to nurse, that he could. He did NOT have ample wet diapers on Saturday...and I watched the hours tick by without him taking the breast. In fact, aside from a few sips from a sippy, and three different bottles, he wasn't drinking anything! We gave him some advil in case the homeopathics weren't strong enough for him in the hopes that he would nurse. At nap time (about 24 hours in) I got naked, got him naked, and snuggled him in the dark for nap time. I got him to take 4.5oz from a bottle because he still refused to nurse.  It was kind of tricky because he had wanted nothing in his mouth all day, so as he was sucking his fingers, I dribbled milk between the two fingers so it would slowly go into his mouth...this worked, he relaxed, and I was able to trade the bottle for his fingers. Then I laid down with him in bed...and he latched on.

First nursing in 24 hours.

 Cue giant sigh of relief. 24 hours without actually nursing...I actually cried. The whole situation was so stressful. We napped, but he would not nurse again. We took a bath with some calming essential oils, and went about our day. He did not nurse again the whole day, in fact. We limited his solids, and offered breastmilk as well as water in varies sippy cups and bottles as well as offering the breast but he definitely wasn't taking in enough. I probably pumped 28 or so oz and he didn't even take half of that.

Then it was bedtime. I didn't give him advil since it didn't seem to help any more than the homeopathics and I don't like OTC pain meds for little kids (or myself if I can help it actually). We started bedtime late because of a MASSIVE storm that knocked out our power and that was rumbling away still at 9pm. But again, I got naked, got the baby naked, offered the breast and just let him snuggle with me to see if he would calm enough to dream feed. He was clearly tired but could not settle, I'm assuming because he was hungry. So...I snuck the bottle in his mouth to get him some milkies in the hopes he would settle down with just a little then go on to dream feed. He did half the bottle (maybe 2oz) then wanted no more. He just snuggled there next to me sleeping and I was just rocking and relaxing with him when suddenly...VOILA! He latched on and nursed like he meant it. FINALLY!

We got into bed and snuggled down for the night. He woke at least 3 or 4 times to nurse during the night (1 time to party, and the other time to cry as hard as his darling little body could cry...poor guy). I kept up with his homeopathics during his wakings and he nursed thoroughly. I thought we were over it. But this morning he refused to nurse again. I offered him a sippy of breastmilk with his breakfast and again, as before, he would take only sips. So I went to pump, filled a bottle, and we went out to run errands as a family. While we were out he started getting cranky in the Ergo and wanted to nap but clearly was hungry. I decided to go to a quiet spot and offer the breast again to see if he would take it. Thankfully he did, but not for long. I think just enough to take the edge off his hunger so he could sleep...but it was progress. He did not want the bottle or a sippy (all this wasted milk!) so I let it go and he took a nap. Once we got home it was obvious it was time for a solid nap. So, again, I took a bottle to the room just in case, bared the boobies and the baby, and rocked him...and he nursed....nursed NURSED!

He had two boobs for nap time then slept almost two hours. I think after 48 hours I'm ready to call his strike off. His teeth have not erupted yet, and he's clearly still uncomfortable, but he's back to breast right now. Clearly this is calling the victory a little early and I'm kind of tentative. I am, however, hopeful that our strike was only 2 days and we will nurse happily ever after from here forward. This was probably the hardest two days I've had with Chase, and that's saying a lot. I cried several times, I was so concerned I was destined to be stuck to a pump for weeks waiting for him to come back to breast full time. I was worried that I wouldn't have the stamina to see it through. I was terrified he was done, even though I know better.

The thing that is difficult to convey in the telling of our very stressful 2 days is that whenever I offered the breast I did so calmly and gently. If he didn't want it right away, he wasn't going to, so I didn't force the issue on him since that would only frustrate him further and perhaps create an aversion. It took a lot of deep breathing and talking myself down from panic about the whole situation. I was a bit of a wreck on Saturday and I was very lucky to have friends reminding me that it was a phase, that it would pass, and to just take care of him and keep pumping until he came back to the breast. Another reason why it is SO vital to have a solid support system behind you when nursing.

Tonight he will probably go back into his crib, depending on how the rest of the evening/afternoon goes. We'll stick with the homeopathics and nurse as much (or as little if that be the case) as he likes. I would say his latch is not so hot right now because he is trying to get comfortable...so I'm a little bit sore between that and the pumping. It's nothing a little nipple butter won't smooth out though.

Nursing strikes can be very worrisome and stressful. It is important to remember, however, before 1 year of age, if a baby stops nursing, they are NOT self-weaning. Weaning indicates that a baby is slowing reducing the amount and frequency of their nursing. Few children self-wean prior to the age of 2 although there are some opportunities to gently wean when baby is busy busy busy after the age of one. If your baby is not nursing as they seem like the should, do not automatically assume baby is weaning, first assume it is a nursing strike and work on breaking the strike. Make sure you get lots of support from your fellow mamas online or in real life because this is an emotionally difficult time. Our No Time For Nursing post has some wonderful tips compiled from personal experience as well as research to help with a baby who is refusing to nurse. I would like to add a few tips to this that I have learned (and been reminded of by my dear mama friends) during the last two days.

1. As difficult as it is, try to remain calm, cool, and collected. Your baby can sense your mood. Before offering the breast, take some slow, deep breaths, try to get some snuggles in with your baby, laugh and tickle and cuddle.


2. Get Nakey! Or at least topless, and get your baby, no matter his or her age, down to diaper. Skin to skin is calming for babies of all age. If you bedshare, nap with baby if you are able, the closeness and availability of the breast will encourage breastfeeding. Taking a warm bath helps to calm your nerves and baby's nerves as well as provide more skin to skin time.


3. Don't force the baby to the breast. If baby isn't going to take the breast right away, generally he won't do it in 5 minutes or 10 minutes either. Just be cool about it. Give baby a kiss and send him on his way.


4. Make sure baby is getting fed...sippy, cup, bottle, whatever. You don't want your baby getting dehydrated in the process.


5. Protect your supply. Make sure you are effectively and regularly expressing milk (hand, pump, whatever works for you). Any refused feeding should be replaced by a thorough pumping. If you allow the milk to fill your breasts, your body will assume that it no longer needs to make that much milk. So make sure you keep removing the milk.


6. You can diagnose the cause of the strike to death, but it won't do you any good. Just be persistent, calm, cool and collected. So many things may cause a baby to refuse nursing. In Chase's case it was encountering pain from teething while nursing, so that even when he wasn't in pain, he was afraid he would be at breast. Sometimes babies get startled when you gasp or jump because they bit you and are afraid to nurse. Often, there is no reason that anyone can put their finger on. Maybe a cold? Sore throat? Headache? Whatever, it doesn't really matter. Moving forward do lots of things to make it a pleasant and enticing experience. Sing to your baby, snuggle and tickle, play little games, chomp on little fingers and toes.


7. Be patient. Chase's strike seems to have been short, but some last a week, two weeks, a month! It is very trying, it's emotionally exhausting, it's physically exhausting, but sticking it out, protecting your supply, and letting the baby come back to breast on his/her own terms will yield great payouts for you and for your baby.

Here are some resources I hope you will find useful should you find yourself in the midst of a nursing strike:

• Kelly Mom (of course!): Regards any age baby not nursing, it isn't necessarily directly about nursing strikes, but the tips here are VERY useful if you are in the midst of a nursing strike. It also has helpful hints and techniques if you have a very young baby refusing the breast for any reason.


• Mother and Child Health - Surviving a Nursing Strike, I am not all that familiar, but this article seems to have some good tips though some seem to be more appropriate for younger babies than mine. If I gave Chase my finger to suck on, he would bite it off. ;)


• La Leche League:


• Frequently Asked Questions


• Nursing Strike Resource Page


• Dr. Jay Gordon's Site: Nursing Strikes


• I recommend checking out The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding for great information on strikes. The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers also has some good tips, but in general I do not recommend this book to moms, it's too much reading. It would serve you well to go look at the section on nursing strikes while you are in the book store or library and just leave it at that.


• And for a little hope that THIS TOO SHALL PASS...Chronicle of a 40-day Nursing Strike

I hope that you find some helpful tips here and that this can help you weather your own situation. It's OK to KNOW that your baby isn't weaning, to KNOW that this too shall pass, to KNOW that this is temporary and still feel totally overwhelmed by emotion. I was shocked by my own reaction not only by Chase's refusal to nurse, but by the fact that each time he HAS nursed that I have cried a little and breathed a huge sigh of relief...that's I've felt tension and anxiety melt out of me with each successful nursing over this period of time. I felt like I held my breath for two days, but to me, no matter how long this could have lasted, it is worth it to see it through.

We here at The Good Letdown are here for you too, if you are in the middle of a strike and need mamas to reach out to, information, support, someone to tell you that it's going to be ok...you know where to find us!

And so begins the biting...

Being bitten while breastfeeding is such a taboo and difficult subject. For many woman, just the idea of it is the sole reason for them not breastfeeding at all. For another chunk of women the first bite is the end of the breastfeeding relationship. For me? Well, it's just one little annoying phase to work through.

Chicklett currently has four teeth. Her two bottom front teeth are almost totally up and then her top two front teeth are about 1/4 of the way out. Overall she has been a happy unaffected by teething baby. Whew!

Last night she was trying to have a party until 10:30pm instead of going to sleep around 8pm like normal. I was tired, so I just put us in bed and left a night light on for her. She was immediately super upset, which is not like her. I thought maybe she was actually tired. I turned off the light and tried to nurse her, she arched her back and screamed at me in defiance on the first latch. Owie gums maybe? I rubbed some Hylands teething gel on there and tried again after a few minutes. Same reaction. She gnawed on my arm with her sharp little teeth so I brought some toys in bed for her to chew on instead. Eventually she became tired and nursed to sleep like normal.

Generally Chicklett wakes 2-4 times a night and just does a dream feed. I hardly even know she's there or that we were up. But last night... the first dream feed... it happened. She NAILED me. First latch, full on clamp chomp of ultimate owie owie ow. I was so surprised!! She's half asleep.... why? why? why?? In her half asleep situation there was no way I was going to try and coach her about how completely uncool that was to do to me. She giggled a little at my jump, and just rolled over and went back to sleep. I've nursed her 3 times since then and I am on HIGH ALERT. CODE RED. READY TO POUNCE! As soon as she starts to slow down in sucking I get ultra nervous. This is definitely my least favorite part of nursing, but it is in no way a reason to end it for me. With my son I was only bit 3-4 times before he figured out that it was a bad thing. I'm hoping Chicklett will learn just as fast.

Some moms never get bit at all. I was hoping I would be one this time around because Chicklett is not much of a comfort nurser, whereas Chicken Little was on the boob 20 hours a day whether he was eating or not. Here I was hoping that difference would be the key. Less time on the boob equals less chance of being chomped. Last night could have been a fluke I suppose. When/If she decides to bite me again I will have to go through these tips from a previous post and train her just like I did big brother. Baby's don't want to hurt us, they are just looking for a way to relieve some of that pressure from the teeth. Give them something they CAN chew on and your life will be a lot easier!

Twice Bitten, Once Shy...

Torturing Chicken Little by trying to get a photo of his chompers

This week I've been feeling nibbles and clamps from my 4 month old baby Chicklett. They don't necessarily hurt, but they surprise me every time and it was a sudden reminder that I'm about to go through all of this teething business all over again. Sigh.

Being bitten is a huge fear for many mothers, and is sometimes the deciding factor of not breastfeeding at all - or that is the automatic end point for the relationship. I will admit that in my 28 months of breastfeeding there was a period around 9 months old with Chicken Little that I uttered the words, "I don't know if I can do this." But, you all obviously know that I can and did do this... and you can too!

It is a good test of your commitment to breastfeeding. But with support from those who have gone through it before you will be just super!

• IF you are being bitten your baby is not actually hungry. It is physically impossible for them to bite/clamp and eat at the same time. During teething you will be acutely aware of when they slow down on sucking and probably start to make the decision to end their nursing session a little earlier than normal.
• Nurse with your thumb near the corner of their mouth, so when/if they start to bite you can quickly unlatch and remove baby before injury occurs.
• If you end up being injured, a trick I used was to pump and give the breastmilk to baby in a cup. He thought it was awesome, and it gave me time to heal... and build up the confidence to trust in nursing again.
• If you are bitten, try your best not to laugh (baby will then think it is funny too). Tell baby "NO, that hurts mama" in a firm serious voice and end your nursing session (since they obviously aren't hungry anyway)
• Remember that this is a relatively short period of time in your nursing relationship. Once those teeth poke through baby is usually done looking for something to chomp on.

Who could resist that face??

While nursing him now I do occasionally have that, "Eekgads, if he really wanted to he could take a nipple off" thought in my head while looking down at his mouth full of teeth... but I trust in our nursing relationship and it's been over a year since I was last bit. Your baby isn't trying to hurt you, just looking for a way to relieve the pressure of that tooth popping through. Give them something they CAN chew on and stay strong. This can be a big speed bump, but it's not the end of the road.

Additional tips: http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/teething.html