Rebecca Conklin, a 22-year-old mother, experienced a shocking and painful accident while breastfeeding her 15-month-old son to sleep. What began as a typical bedtime routine quickly turned alarming when Conklin noticed blood on her toddler’s chin.
“I’m at the ER right now because my son accidentally bit my nipple, and it’s like hanging on,” Conklin explained in a video that has since gone viral. “It doesn’t hurt, but I don’t know — I was told to go to the ER.”
Concerned, Conklin immediately contacted her OB-GYN, who advised her to seek urgent medical attention. At the hospital, doctors determined that the injury, while severe-looking, would largely heal on its own. Conklin was given medical pads, ointment, and tape to care for the wound, which they explained would form a natural scab as it healed.
Faced with the traumatic experience, Conklin also made the difficult decision to wean her son from breastfeeding the same day. In her video, she shared the emotional toll of the incident, highlighting both the physical injury and the sudden end of a significant stage in her child’s development.
The story has sparked widespread discussion online, with many parents expressing shock and empathy for Conklin, while others have shared their own experiences with similar breastfeeding accidents.
Though rare, incidents like this underscore the unpredictable challenges of parenting, particularly during the breastfeeding stage, and the difficult decisions parents often face when balancing safety and nurturing.
Rebecca Conklin told [publication] that “the weirdest part was that I felt no pain. My son honestly didn’t bite much, so I never thought this would happen. But of course it could — he has 12 teeth, and they’re very sharp.”
She added that she had asked whether the injury might affect her ability to breastfeed future children. “They said it was a possibility,” Conklin recalled, “but reassured me I’d likely heal completely and be able to breastfeed again.”
While waiting in the emergency room, Conklin turned to TikTok to share her unusual experience, thinking other mothers might relate. The video quickly went viral, amassing more than 700,000 views.
Over 1,600 users weighed in, many confessing that the clip had left them feeling nervous about breastfeeding. “I never intended to scare mothers away, but I can see why some women were terrified,” Conklin said.
Despite a handful of critical comments, she emphasized that the overwhelming response was supportive. “Breastfeeding is already hard enough — no one should be shamed for how they choose to feed their baby,” she added.
Conklin later shared a follow-up video, candidly reflecting on her challenging week and expressing gratitude for the support she received from her TikTok community. “It made me so happy to connect with supportive mothers who’ve gone through similar journeys,” she said.
Today, she reports feeling well and continues to document her weaning journey online.
“This experience made me realize how strong I am as a mom and as a person,” Conklin reflected. “I didn’t freak out, I handled it calmly and even joked about it. And even after this, I’ll still choose to breastfeed my future children. It’s such a magical experience that helped me bond with my son.”
Offering advice to other parents, she added: “Breastfeeding can feel daunting, but I urge everyone to just try it. No pressure — just experience it. And that’s coming from someone who never planned to breastfeed.”
