I really hate breastfeeding now

Marcilene1 · March 2012

I really wanted to make it to at least a year, but I simply cannot tolerate DD at my breast anymore and I feel terribly guilty over it. She has 8 teeth and she bites down pretty hard. She also clutches my breast really hard and scratches with her nails. In addition to this the nursing is beginning to cause pretty strong BH contractions that are making the overall breastfeeding experience awful. The problem is that this is how DD falls asleep at every nap, at bedtime, and at all of her night wakings. I just really can't do it anymore though. What can I do to help her? She is already on formula because my supply is pretty much dried up at this point. It's just a question of helping her to sleep.

sometimesalwayschaotic · March 2012

I know what you mean! I absolutely hated nursing pretty much my entire pregnancy also. It's exhausting, and it hurts. My DD would also scratch me while nursing. Could you wear a necklace that she could play with so she isn't scratching you. She may be biting because she isn't getting any milk. I would start not letting your DD fall asleep at the breast. Limit how long she can nurse and then do something else calming such as rocking and reading stories. It might be hard on her but you probably won't want to have to nurse two to sleep. This will also make shorter nursing sessions so hopefully it won't be as taxing on you. Good luck, it is so hard to keep nursing while pregnant.

honeybee #1 · March 2012

With my little sister my dad took a week off of work so that she could be weaned. He laid her down for every nap and every night, usually with a sippy cup so that she wouldn't be tempted be the smell and the habit. It worked great.