When a mom signs up for breastfeeding, she knows she’s signing up for one heck of a wild, rewarding and often painful ride.
But for Rebecca, the emergency room was never part of the plan.
“I’m at the ER right now because my son accidentally bit my nipple, and it’s like hanging on,” she reveals from a hospital car park.
Taking to TikTok, the American mother explained the feeding mishap with her young toddler.
“It doesn’t hurt, but I don’t know. I was told to go to the ER because my nipple has nerves, and I’m concerned now,” she says as she steps out of her car.
“I pray that I’m still able to breastfeed my future children because what the f**k.”
She even filmed herself being admitted to a hospital bed.
Before providing an update: “Everything is fine. I don’t need to get any stitches. I just need to tape it and not wear a bra.”
She admitted the visit may not have been necessary, but she followed her OBGYN’s advice, which left her worrying about the hefty bill.
“Hopefully, this visit is not super expensive. It probably will be,” she explains.
TikTok’s comment section spiralled, equal parts horrified and hilarious.
“Me slowly unlatching my breastfeeding baby as I watch this… omg!” writes one shocked mother.
“They grow back. Don’t ask me how I know,” a second advised.
“Where’s the girl with the list?” a third adds, referring to the woman with an account dedicated to listing reasons not to have children.
So how common is this nightmare scenario?
According to Sydney lactation consultant Erin from Oh Baby Midwifery and Lactation, injuries this severe are rare.
“I can honestly say I’ve never seen a nipple ‘half bitten off,’” Erin told Kidspot.
“What I often encounter, though, is mums worrying about breastfeeding once their babies start teething. The good news is that when feeding is going well, teeth usually don’t really get in the way!”
She says smaller wounds tend to be a more common occurrence in breastfeeding mothers.
“Even small wounds can feel extremely painful, and continuing to breastfeed with damaged nipples can be incredibly challenging,” she explains.
She says it’s also important to remember these love bites are nothing personal.
“Your baby isn’t biting to intentionally hurt you. A one-off minor bite is something that many breastfeeding mums will encounter at some point,” she said.
However, if they do bite, staying calm is the most important thing… even if screaming profanity feels better in the moment.
Erin’s advice: “Break the latch gently, assess the nipple, and tell your baby a firm but gentle ‘no.’ Care for the wound by keeping it clean and dry, alternating between moist wound healing and air drying.”
She also recommends medi-honey (that must be washed off with mild soap before feeding) and silver nipple cups (such as ones available from Thrive Health) are useful supports.
However, if ongoing wounds are becoming an issue, it’s important to consult an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
“Breastfeeding should not cause painful, cracked, or bleeding nipples. Biting and nipple trauma may signal underlying issues such as poor oral function, a shallow latch, suboptimal positioning, or even dysfunctional sucking or breathing patterns,” she explained.
“Babies may clamp down because the pressure feels soothing on teething gums, or because they’re distracted, no longer actively feeding, or even frustrated with milk flow.”
Wounds also carry risk if not taken care of effectively.
“Be mindful that open wounds and bites also carry a risk of complications like infection, mastitis, or thrush,” Erin warns.
For Rebecca, the experience was just a painful blip in an otherwise rewarding journey.
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