DD 15 mo, DS 3y old. I tandem nurse. I am upset, disappointed and SAD. When I nurse my son I feel discomfort from his teeth and sucking. I have been dealing with this issue for a year. I am so disappointed because I never thought I would be the one who would have issues like this. I LOVE nursing my children and was ready to let them wean themselves. When I read other stories similar to what I am describing, I use to judge and say they didn't really want to nurse. I want to nurse my son, my son wants to nurse but the physical issues are so great that I have cut back on the amount and duration of his nursings. I need help, I need my prayers answered. I am sooooo sad, I am crying right now. I feel his teeth 99% of the time, his tongue causes a tickle sensation that is uncomfortable. I have tried everything I could think of, I reattach sometimes several times a session, I put my nipple deep, shallow, cup it, flatten it, etc., I have tried different positions. I have talked to him about being gentle, slowing down, opening his mouth. When my daughter (and use to be my son) nurses I don't feel any discomfort and love it. I can only nurse him on my right breast because it is much larger and fattier (word?) so it seems I don't feel his teeth as much. My left breast feelings like a deflated balloon in his mouth. The left breast is my DD's. The only time I feel some relief is in the early morning when we first wake up (family bedders) and my breast is the fullest and his suck is lighter and more relaxed. Every once in a while I will fall back asleep nursing him which is heaven to me.
What has gotten me through the discomfort is my mind and heart. I will imagine he is my daughter and try to feel nothing, I positive think through every session, I pray through every session. I imagine that the body is nothing and a creation of the mind so I can create anything. So I have made it through a year of this. I can say I am better. When this first started I was so angry that my son was picking up on my anger and thank god I have adjusted my attitude. I was so taken back that I would feel anger of all things, it was such a shock considering that breastfeeding is my lifestyle along with everything that comes with. I go to monthly LLL, talk with my leader, try to talk with family who don't understand considering "I made this choice so I need to live with it". If there are no golden solutions I am okay with that, although I still have hope. Maybe all I need is to hear how others have dealt with similar situations without forcing their child to wean. That is not an option for me or my son who still would double up on his nursings if I let him.
Shannon