Painful Nursing during Pregnancy
Attachment Parenting, Jack, Peaceful Motherhood, Pregnancy, Tandem Nursing Add commentsAs those who know me know, I can be stubborn as a mule. There were violent protests when I told everyone I’d be nursing Jack even during pregnancy but the toughest part was not the critics but the soreness of my nipples.
A yelp-worthy pain, for the first 10 seconds or so, and then it is okay. But with toddler teeth, especially with a half-asleep baby, it can turn into scream-worthy agony when he bites down unintentionally, like he did tonight. I begged him to let go and in his sleep, he did! Nipple is still stinging though.
At 2.5 years, Jack is not quite yet prepared to wean. He does release the nipple most times and says, “enough” and rolls over to sleep by himself, so maybe he is partway to self-weaning (the most ideal way). It must have been his 5 day bout of the flu that kickstarted his back-to-back nursing again.
There’s really no solution to it but deep breathing, grinning, and baring it. I’ve been doing that since I got pregnant and the soreness is not abating. In fact some articles say it might get worse in the 2nd trimester! Still I’m not giving up, but I am going to try some gentle negotiation during the day and try to be more positive about it myself. (Bought an iTouch with hubby’s blessing to distract during long and painful nursing sessions.)
I’ve been lurking at the KellyMom boards and found some really helpful advice as well as a link to a great article at the LLL about Love, Limits, and Tandem Nursing. Just had to share it.
On a separate note, I just realised that aside from IncomeShield, I have no other health insurance since my corporate one lapsed when I left my last job. Here, maternity insurance is real hefty, so I think I’ll take my chances with the good and competent staff of our government hospitals.
Mephala is a strange and rather interesting human fascinated by 
November 19th, 2008 at 3:18 am
Oooh ouch! Yes, I know the unintentional bites! Boy they hurt! I can’t imagine the pain when it happens while pregnant!
Hang in there dear. I hope I will be as brave if I’m still nursing when I get pregnant again.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:22 am
You will, I know.
I guess as mothers we just do what we gotta do when the time comes.
Gave Jack the other one when he woke just. The other one still stings. Worse, he needs to hold the other. So both hurt to some extent. Mornings are agony cos of overnight soreness. Hope he recovers soon!
November 24th, 2008 at 6:00 am
Hi!
Wow, nursing during pregnacy, you go girl. I didn’t know you could do that?
I hope you got your new owl plush in the mail.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Thanks Windy! Yeah it is possible but not very easy unfortunately. Gentle weaning failed so I am gritting my teeth every time he suckles.
The owl hasn’t arrived yet but I am sure it will be any day now. Will holler when it arrives.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:55 am
[...] Anyway, based on a theory of getting pregnant that I wrote about previously, I guess I must be one of the women classified under low fertility since I don’t seem to be able to get pregnant while breastfeeding. Then again, maybe I should be glad I can’t get pregnant while breastfeeding after reading my BFF’s account about painful nursing during pregnancy… [...]
December 19th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
gosh! i can TOTALLY relate! tim is 2yrs 2months and we just found out i’m pregnant with our 2nd baby at 11 weeks! no wonder my nipples have been painful like crazy esp when he nurses! i literally have to bite down on a towel when he first latches on but hubby says i’m still too loud, the neighbours can hear me scream! haha. it’s comforting to know that i’m not the only “crazy” mom out there who wants to try bf her toddler during pregnancy! MOMS ROCK!!! Godbless us all! tina in east timor
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:38 am
Hey Tina, kudos for hanging on. It may get even more painful in your second trimester but honestly I think you might get used to the pain by then. Thank goodness it is just the first latch that hurts (mostly).
Hang in there!
I think tandem nursing will be one other adventure.
Cheers!
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:49 am
I think ur right, it is MORE painful now i end up crying every now and then. *sighs* Sacrificial love?! I just hope it gets easier as time goes by. Thanks for the note of support. Godbless u.