Biting and Breastfeeding

why it happens and how you can get them back to business - milky business!

Many nursing parents become anxious or concerned about their child getting teeth! They may even think about weaning because they are nervous their child will bite them. Every baby is different and not every baby will bite. So rest assured with some diligent watching and observing your baby, you can get back to nursing more comfortably for you and your baby.

First off, babies can not actually bite if they are actively nursing. To extract milk their tongue must extend over the front gum and cover their bottom teeth. Biting typically happens at the end of a feeding or when the milk flow slows down and the baby is waiting for another letdown. Let’s take a look at why a baby may bite when they nurse: 

1. Teething: New teeth can cause inflammation and discomfort. If you notice that their gums are swollen, they are popping on and off the breast, or biting that happens at the beginning of a feed; your baby may be teething. Simply end the feed by unlatching them and offer a cold teething toy, breastmilk popsicle or a homeopathic teething remedy like Camilia and try again in 10-15 minutes after they have had some relief. 

2. Seeking attention: If you are distracted during a nursing session by talking to someone else or you’re on your phone, they may bite down to get your attention. Maintain eye contact with your baby and engage with them during the nursing session to give them the attention they crave.

3. Distracted: Oh the distraction phase!!Your child may be so distracted with things that are going on around them that they end up biting you. Typically this is at the end of a nursing session when they are satisfied at the breast and become more playful. Be on the lookout for your child pulling their tongue back from the gum line and tensing their jaw - this is when they will be most likely to bite. You can simply end the nursing session and offer some snuggles or a toy to play with or chew on. 
   

What should you do it baby bites?

If you have ever been bit before you may already know how hard it is to keep your reaction to a minimum. Sometimes a bite can catch you off guard where you may let out a yelp or yell - and that’s okay but try to remain calm if you can. The most common and effective way is to end the nursing session so that they understand if they bite they will not receive milk at that moment. With older babies, talk it out with them; let them know that if they want to bite you will offer them a toy, but when they are at the breast there is no biting.

Biting is typically a short-lived phase so take each nursing session one at a time!

Set yourself up for success...

Knowledge is power! I’m a planner and when I wanted to explore low intervention/non medicated births, I turned to the experts. No matter what number pregnancy you are on, I highly recommend going back to re-read or review some of your favorite preparation books. 

Here are a few I read cover to cover and were life changing for me: 

• Spiritual Midwifery - this book is full of empowering birth stories, information and advice on low intervention/non medicated births vs. medicated births. It’s great, whether you want a low intervention/non medicated birth or if you are planning for a medicated birth. The birth stories alone taught me to trust in the power of my body to birth my baby; which helped release some fear and made me more confident in making the right choices for my labor.

• Hypnobirthing - A birth education program that helps through visualization and guided imagery to relax the mind and release fear. 

• Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding - I always find something new and inspiring within these pages. This book is a great guide through every stage; from how breastfeeding works all the way through weaning. 

• The Fourth Trimester - If you read one book throughout your pregnancy, make it this one! This eye-opening book provides advice on preparing, organizing and setting yourself up for postpartum healing - on all levels. 

5-5-5 Rule

The 5-5-5 postpartum recovery rule is the perfect way to bond with your new baby and family. It can also help you recover safely to avoid postpartum injuries and reduce your risk of things like postpartum depression, anxiety, clogged milk ducts and mastitis. The basics of the rule consists of 5 days in bed, 5 days on the bed and 5 days around the bed.

This recovery plan may look different for your family, just do what works for you! 

5 days in the bed

This is where you spend your first 5 days at home laying in the bed. You should focus on resting, skin-to-skin and bonding with your baby, breastfeeding, napping, reading and more resting! Ideally, your partner or support person will bring your meals and water right to you in your postpartum space. I know its hard for mamas, but really try to allow yourself to be pampered!

5 days on the bed

During these next 5 days, you can start to sit up and do things on the bed. You should continue to have skin-to-skin and cuddle time with your baby as this will help release oxytocin hormones to help you bond and breastfeed. If you have an older child, this is a great way for you to spend time with them, reading books, doing puzzles, or maybe coloring, while not overdoing it.

5 days around the bed

While your focus should still be on resting, during these 5 days, you can stand up and move around the bed. If you feel up to it, you may fold some laundry or other light activities around the bed, but try to limit standing to 30 minutes at a time, and of course listen to your body!

One of the best ways you can take care of yourself, your new baby and your family, is to ensure you get the rest you need. The 5-5-5 postpartum rule is great to add to your recovery plan!

Postpartum Hair Loss

No one told me that after I had a baby that I could experience postpartum hair loss. For me, it happened at the four-month postpartum mark after the birth of both of my children (one a boy, one a girl; one an epidural, one a natural birth). It did not discriminate! It started off slowly, a lost hair here or there, but then it started to come out in clumps.

It’s kind of unfair, right? You develop this luxurious, healthy hair during pregnancy and then in postpartum when you’re already struggling to find yourself, learning your new body; you experience another challenge… hair loss!

Well, the one good thing is that it's totally normal. I know that might not be what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. It has been estimated that at least 50% of women will experience some degree of postpartum hair loss caused by another shift in those lovely hormones. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything you can do to prevent it, but there are things you can do to help promote healthy hair growth. Here are a few tips that helped me with my postpartum hair loss and regrowth:

Eat nourishing foods and stay hydrated - getting adequate nutrition not only helps hair growth, but will also aid in your overall postpartum recovery. 

• Add quality proteins into your meals like meat, fish (tuna, salmon), eggs, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds (almonds, sesame seeds).

• Include collagen rich foods such as bone broth, leafy greens, berries and chia seeds.

• Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day and limit sugary drinks.

Supplements - If you live in the Northeast like me and get little exposure to the sun, you may have a deficiency of some important vitamins that promote healthy hair.

• Continue taking prenatal vitamins - they still help support you during those postpartum hormonal changes.

• Vitamin D can help aid in the creation of new follicles. If you aren’t getting enough sun exposure or eating vitamin D rich foods, you may need a supplement. Consult your healthcare professional to determine the amount that is right for you. 

Essential oils - Over the last few years, I’ve jumped on the essential oils bandwagon for a myriad of reasons. One of my favorite uses of essential oils is to help promote hair growth. Each oil is great to use on their own, but I made a mixture that I sprayed on my roots, every single day! 

• 10 drops of rosemary

• 10 drops of cedarwood

• 10 drops of lavender

• 1 tbsp of witch hazel

• Top off with water

While these are the things that worked for me, these tips might not work the same way for everyone. And it does take time so try not to stress about it because it will get better.