How long nursing strike

That was the beginning of the end. I saw two lactation consultants. One said she was tongue tied. The other said her tongue was fine but neither were able to get her to nurse. I began pumping but after being told by the first LC that I needed bigger flanges, I managed to damage my milk supply because they were too big. I am trying to pump as much as possible while formula supplementing my extremely fussy and clingy baby. She cries, screams and fights as soon as I pull my breast out and refuses to nurse.

Is there anything I can do to encourage her? I bought the BreastFriend pillow, a haaka pump, a nipple shield and a nursing supplementer device. Nothing is working. I am seriously considering just giving her formula all the time and giving up pumping. I successfully exclusively nursed my other daughter for 17 months. This is nerve wracking not to be able to nurse or pump adequately.

Hello, my baby had been doing great, both breastfeeding and taking a bottle, when I went back to work when he was 12 weeks old. He is now 9 months, and about 2 weeks ago he started biting my nipple and now refuses to nurse. I have tried keeping everything calm when he bites me, but he just gets angry when I try to nurse him now. I am now just pumping and still casually try to get him to nurse, but no luck. This is my exact experience, like identical! Hoping for a positive outcome, I only want to nurse until LO is one.

Hi Rachel found this blog whilst searching for info on trying to get my 10 month old back on the breast. She all of a sudden is very mad about breastfeeding when she previously was only breast fed no bottle or solids. She is getting her top teeth and her pediatrician thinks her teeth are hurting her.

I have tried Tylenol before feeds and ice and washcloths but as soon as she gets into position she gets very mad. She will snuggle and nap on me but that is about it. I am going to try your tips I have not tried bath time yet or just a day for us. Hopefully that works I am really missing nursing her.

How long is too long away from the breast? She has been taking a sippy cup and solids to eat. And I do try to nurse her at nap time and bed time but I have had no luck… anyways just seeking a little hope that I will have her back on pumping is no fun. Hi, I hope you can respond to me. Your baby got to know the sound of your voice while you were pregnant, and it is familiar and comforting to him to lie on your chest and listen to you singing. Especially with older babies, spending time with other nursing babies or toddlers can remind her of how much she really does love nursing.

Invite your friends over for a nurse-in! Most nursing strikes are resolved within a day or two although some can last longer. Read more: I was shamed for breastfeeding in public What it feels like to wean your child Tips on how to find the right nursing bra for you.

Top 10 tips to end a nursing strike If a breastfed baby suddenly refuses to nurse it doesn't necessarily mean she's ready to wean. Photo: iStockphoto.

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We use cookies why? What can I do? Will it affect my baby? Can I still nurse? Here are some reasons your baby may go on a nursing strike: Mouth pain from teething , a cold sore , or an infection such as thrush An ear infection , which may cause pressure or pain while nursing A cold or stuffy nose , which can make breathing difficult while nursing Reduced milk supply or a slow letdown A major disruption in your baby's nursing routine or schedule If your teething baby has bitten you and your reaction startled him, he may be afraid to nurse after that.

A change in soap or other toiletry that causes you to smell different to your baby A change in the taste of your milk, caused by a vitamin or drug or by hormonal changes from pregnancy or your period, for example What can I do? Here are some ways to overcome a nursing strike: Try nursing when your baby is very sleepy. Many babies who refuse to nurse when they're awake will breastfeed when they're sleepy. Visit your baby's doctor to rule out medical causes such as an ear infection or thrush and seek feeding advice.

Vary your nursing position. Your baby may be more comfortable in one position than another. Nurse in motion. Some babies are more likely to nurse when you rock or walk them than when you're sitting or standing still. Nurse in an environment that's free from distractions. It's common for a 6- to 9-month-old to go on a nursing strike as he becomes more aware of the world.

Babies this age are easily distracted and often prefer to "snack" at the breast instead of settling down for a meal. Try nursing in a dimly lit, quiet room, away from the sound of the radio or television.

Give your baby lots of skin-to-skin contact try nursing without a shirt on or in a warm bath. If your baby was consistently nursing and growing well in your milk , and then they suddenly refuse, they are most likely having a nursing strike, and are not weaning.

As Fataneh M. Ziari, MD, a pediatrician at Sesame Care , describes it, when a baby is weaning, the process will be bumpier, and not a sudden cessation. Nursing strikes can happen for any number of reasons, and are usually caused by a physical or circumstantial stressor that your baby is experiencing. Usually, with a little digging, you can figure out why your baby has started to refuse the breast. Knowing the cause can often help you come up with the solutions to the problem.

Often, the causes of a nursing strike are multiple. Think about it: the more things that are stressing you out at once, the more likely you are to have an extreme reaction. The same is true of babies. Melanie Silverman, IBCLC, a lactation consultant and Chief Clinical Officer at Pacify , says that before looking for other causes, you should rule out any serious illnesses or injuries, as sometimes those can cause your baby to abruptly stop breastfeeding.

According to Silverman, some of the most common triggers of nursing strikes include teething, overactive letdown usually caused by an oversupply of breastmilk , or an environment that is different or especially stimulating for your baby.

A medication you are taking might be lowering your milk supply, which could cause your baby to refuse the breast, Silverman adds. Sethi says that many babies will refuse to breastfeed when they are not feeling well, like when they are coming down with a cold or an ear infection. Some babies are sensitive to subtle changes, such as when you change your soap, deodorant, or smell differently in some way.

Another reason why your baby may refuse the breast could be from a drop in your milk supply, Dr. Sethi notes. Stress in your own life can affect your baby as well as cause a drop in your milk supply, says Dr. Your milk supply can also drop if you are a pumping parent and begin pumping less often. The causes of nursing strikes can vary depending on the age of your baby. Ziari says. Additionally, nursing strikes often happen after a baby has bitten the breast, usually because of teething discomfort, and the breastfeeding parent has reacted strongly, often screaming and accidentally scaring the baby.

One of the biggest concerns a breastfeeding parent has when a nursing strike happens is how to keep up their milk supply, and how to make sure that their baby is fed. In some cases, a baby will nurse some of the time during the strike, but refuse the breast at other times. Some babies will refuse the breast for all feedings. As Silverman describes it, pumping during a nursing strike is of utmost importance, because otherwise, you risk decreasing your milk supply.

Sethi recommends spoon-feeding your expressed milk to your baby if possible.