> So many women I talk to are afraid to breastfeed because of fears of
> what
> will happen when the baby gets teeth......I'd be
> curious to hear what some of you say about this issue when discussing
> breastfeeding prenatally.

Lucy,

Like you,  I point out that the tongue covers the bottom teeth.   I also
always point out that the top teeth are on a gentle incline with the
palate and have the mom feel  a " bite" made with her own palate/upper
teeth while simultaneously covering her own lower teeth with her lower
lip - really not too painful.   I try to get a "feel" for how much more
the mom really wants to know.

Depending my feeling for what may most help this mother to start
breastfeeding and stick to it long enough to fall in love with it I may
go deeper and try to give complete anticipatory guidance or I may leave
it at the teeth explanation.   If I decide to go on  I  relate possible
reasons why older babies bite (being asked to nurse as  a distraction
when baby doesn't really want nursing but really wants mom's attention,
teething pain) and ways mom can anticipate and prevent biting in these
circumstances.  I teach the "pull them in not out" technique.  I teach
them to watch the baby and anticipate that little smirk that often
precedes an eminent bite and to take the baby off first.  I explain
teething soothers may be substituted for a breastfeeding or used prior
to a breastfeeding.  If mom really seems to need/want more information
(say she is a second time mom who had this problem herself with the
first baby) I may share what I found to be effective with my own third
child.   As a toddler, she  used to compress hard enough to leave little
upper teeth prints.  I taught her to "open" on command as a game, along
with many other facial expressions.   I was able to then get her to
nurse with a more "open" mouth when I requested.  Eventually the too
tight compression habit went away.

Carla

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