Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds - 3/26/2007

Question
I have a 9-month old who loves food, but also loves to nurse.   About two months ago I began nursing only twice a day because she always wanted food, unless she was tired.  I nursed before her nap then before bed at night.  About three weeks ago she began refusing food, I think because of teething.  Since my milk supply had adjusted to only two feedings a day, I had to begin supplementing with a bottle.  Since then, even though I am still nursing twice a day (I switched to mornings and evenings), my supply has been dwindling.  What can I do to help?  I have been drinking over 64 oz of water a day.  Should I break out my pump?  Is twice a day enough for a 9 month-old?  I was planning on nursing at least 18 months, but at this rate she will be weaned by her birthday.  She really likes the bottle more than nursing, and has just started biting, so I am not sure if she is trying to wean herself or not.  Help!

Answer
Dear Kristin,

First, congratulations for giving your daughter the best start in life by breastfeeding her!

The best way to build up your milk supply, which has probably diminished because you have been nursing less often, is to nurse more frequently. If you can get your baby to nurse more often, she will do more to stimulate your milk production than even the best pump. If you have to be away from her during the day, yes, trying the pump is a good idea. I don't think you need to be drinking that much water -- you can cut back a little bit.

Some 9-month-olds do wean themselves from the breast, especially if they have become used to drinking from a bottle, which is much less work than suckling from the breast. So this may be happening. However, it won't hurt to keep offering the breast and see what happens. If it turns out that your daughter is ready to stop breastfeeding, you can be assured that you have given her wonderful nutrition and important antibodies, and you can show your love for her in many other ways.

As far as the biting is concerned, I am attaching an excerpt from my book (see below), which may help with this problem.

Good luck!

Sally

Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters.
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  HOW TO DISCOURAGE BITING

A baby who is actively nursing cannot bite. Biting happens most often toward the end of a feeding, or when a baby is about to fall asleep. Babies are smart: once they realize that every time they start to bite, they get taken off the breast, they learn that this kind of behavior isn't getting them what they really want, and they'll stop. The following suggestions work well:
  * As soon as your baby starts to bite down on your breast, withdraw your breast. Break the suction by inserting your finger in the corner of his mouth.
  * As you take your breast away, firmly say "No" every time your baby tries to bite.
  * Do not smile when you say this; your baby may interpret this as a game you're playing. You might even look at your baby with a sad expression.
  * One mother we know begins socializing her children by saying, "That hurts Mommy. We don't hurt other people," as she takes her baby off the breast for biting. She repeats this same litany over and over again as her children grow into toddlers, providing a continuing way to teach them not to kick, hit, or do other hurtful acts.
  * If your baby is teething, give her a cold washcloth to bite down upon just before you nurse her. Also give her special teething toys and foods.
  * Try putting him down, walking away for a moment, and then returning to put him back on the breast.
  * If you can anticipate when the biting is likely to start, take your baby off your breast ahead of time.
  * If your baby keeps biting, keep your finger close to her mouth and watch her carefully; as soon as she stops nursing actively or looks playful, remove your breast.
  * Or quietly say your baby's name while drawing him close to you; this distracts him and gets him back to nursing.