Hi everyone - I got the following in an email and just can't seem to nail
down a good response.  Can anyone help?  Please email me privately as I am
nomail on Lactnet right now.

Thanks.

Deb Wirtel, LLLL, AAPL/MO
St. Louis
[log in to unmask]

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        i have a 9 month old boy who virtually doesn't nurse during the
day and wakes every 1 1/4 to 1 1/2hr all night long- and has since he was
about 5 or 6 months old- coincided w/ the beginning of teething for him.
this i could cope w/. he has a 3 yr old brother and we are busy during the
day and he is very distractable. i've tried offereing more frequently and
he just isn't interested in nursing more. he sleeps w/ us and frequently
waking were unpleasant but i could cope.
        w/i the past month or so (as his top teeth reached their full
length) it has become very painful when he nurses. he rests his teeth
right behind my nipple and uses them to compress the sinuses- by the time
he's done, i have 4 deep tooth marks right behind the nipple. i can't seem
to get him to pull more breast tissue into his mouth so that the teeth are
behind the areola. i feel that this is causing nursing to be less
efficient and therefore he's hungrier and waking more- not to mention that
this is incredibly uncomfortable and making me very relectant to nurse6-8
times at night.
        i sure would appreciate any suggestions about how to get him to
take more breast into his mouth. i cna't get him toopen very wide; during
the day, if i am successful at  getting him to take a bigger mouthful, he
just tongues it out until he's where he wants to be. if he persists and i
take him off completely or refuse to nurse if he's not on 'properly' then
he just nurses less during the day and chomps me at night. i really need
help. iknow i won't be able to deal w/ this chomping for another 1 1/2 yr
but my big concern is that his improper stimulation is goingto cause
decreased supply and a slow drying up.
        please fel free to pass myletter on to whoever you think might be
able tohelp. i'm pretty frantic. thanks