Why does she need to knead?

[gingerbread_ca]

I have 6 month old twins. One of the babies kneads my breast while she eats and prefers to be on my nipple not the areola. I try to get her to latch correctly and hold her there, but she will scream and fight me. When we do get a good latch she pulls my breast away from her mouth with her hands. I have tried pinning her arms down, but that just makes her angry. The only time she doesn't do this is first thing in the morning. My breasts are getting really sore...HELP!

[gingerbread_ca]

Yes she is gaining weight and she does act content when she is finished. Lots of poop and pee.

[flwrdrmgirl]

My DD does the same thing. She will be 1 yr. on the 13th. In fact, my DS did that also. Do your twins have teeth yet? It sounds like she is massaging her gums with your nipple. I'm not sure what the kneading means, but we had a cat that did something similar before she would curl up wherever she sat around in the house. It's a comfort thing.

I am guessing that the teething and maybe the shape of my nipples contributed to the way they nurse(d)?

Definitely try to keep taking control of the situation, and hopefully w/out your nipples getting pulled on in the process.

I try to hold the back of DDs neck in position with one hand, and hold my breast into her mouth w/the other hand at the same time. I do relax my position when I feel she may be full or is fighting to the point where DD will latch off improperly.

[jodyvo]

My daughter does the same thing and I have small scratches on my breast. I think it is a comfort thing??? Good luck

[Jacksmommy]

Jack will do this, too. I think it's their way of doing breast compressions. I think it makes the milk flow faster.

[RedheadbyChoice]

Part of it is making the milk come out faster, part is just something to hold, part is just their appreciation for it, showing it by calling attention to it.

I don't mind a bit of kneading, but have never really allowed my kids to do much of it and absolutely no twiddling allowed. But I'm an odd little duck. :)

[fell4myfallbaby]

the kneading i have experienced. i think it's cause he's planning on going to sleep so he's fluffing up his pillow. haha! cause when he's done he will pull away from it and lay his head on his pillow.

[emmapants]

I think the kneading is her trying to help with the flow. Have you tried to do compressions while she is eating to see if that helps. When my daughter's arm starts flailing about I grab her hand and say "Hold mommy's hand."

[Jacksmommy]

I don't mind the kneading too much. It's the pulling of the nipple while pushing against my chest and then kneading the breast that I think is a unique form of torture that I can't allow. He's older though, so I can just tell him to stop.

[dodoe80]

My son does similar stuff just on the left side he has the problem with not latching on properly. He will also knead, pinch, grab a fist full of boob and clench his fist (sometimes pull), verry fun isn't it? I just thought he was playing and when he plays to rough I jently distract his hand by holding it. As for the latch thing I just get use to it because if I do try to correct it he will screem for 30 second then latch on and if he gets more then he wants he will adjust his latch without moving his head, so there really sin't anything I can do even if I were to duck tape his arms to his body. Besides he doesn't always do it, I thought it might be related to teething.

[southern_mama]

I am so glad to hear that it is not just me!! lol

My second baby has done this since he gained control of his arms, and I couldn't figure out why. Sometimes my husband says, "That looks like it hurts." I'm like...Yes! It does! I try to hold his hand, but I can't hold both at the same time and support him. So, I usually just accept it and try to hold the hand that is causing the most pain. He doesn't seem to understand, "No!" yet.

It must have something to do with the milk flow. My mom even commented (she keeps him while I work pt) that he sucks a bottle down like he means business. So, I guess our babies just want that milk and they want it now!

Good luck.