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nursing strikes

katelyn

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Last night, I wasn't sure if I was going to get Natalie to eat. She just kept screaming and wouldn't latch on. I felt terrible and didn't know what to do. Finally she got calmed down and nursed, and has been nursing fine since. But it made me wonder about nursing strikes and how to handle one if it does happen. Any experience?
 

RedTulipMom

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katelyn said:
Last night, I wasn't sure if I was going to get Natalie to eat. She just kept screaming and wouldn't latch on. I felt terrible and didn't know what to do. Finally she got calmed down and nursed, and has been nursing fine since. But it made me wonder about nursing strikes and how to handle one if it does happen. Any experience?

the best advice i can give is get her used to bottles also. Either pump and make sure you have breastmilk for a bottle if she refuses to latch ..or just give a bottle of formula when those times arise..i still breastfeed my 13 mos old..but he had one bottle a day from day one. So he did have a nursing strike once or twice and i just gave him a bottle at those times!
 
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bliz

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Just wait them out. If you get engorged, give the "juice jar" method a try to extract some of the milk so you aren't so terribly uncomfortable and your breasts aren't so hard it's hard for baby to latch on. Sometimes it may be about your milk and how it tastes, or it may be about them and they just don't feel like eating. Seldome do they last long.
 
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Leanna

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I didn't nurse. But my sister in law did (just weaned) and her son would scream if the breasts were engorged, or as he got older, when he thought he was missing something (like there were people in the house). My only other guess is gas. Maybe she had to burp. With the bottle my son would scream if he needed to burp but I was trying to give him the bottle.
 
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Princessperky

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When my two had troubles, it was usually teething, or mad at mommy for something (routine messed up, whatever) it sucked but usually didn't last long and nothing but love ended it. Trust that a healthy kid will not starve themselves no matter how much pain or mad they are experienceing.

offering a bottle can interfere with your milk supply making, and can confuse a child, formula doesn't taste like breast milk, doesn't react to the stumach the same way, and the nipples on a bottle do not either. Babies young enough to solely nurse, do not need the confusion, the only variety they need is the natural kind your breasts will make. (BTW I have heard that some kids get annoyed at strong flavors in breastmilk, be patient, they will get over it, assuming they are healthy, and will help them like a stronger variety of foods when they start 'real' food)

Number one thing to do, is relax, and call it practice for when your future toddler refuses her favorite meal you went to so much trouble to make!
 
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rakkoon

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I also think it was that she was teething. The best thing to do if and when it happens again is pump to releave yourself so that you don't get engorged and also to provent plugged milk ducts. Or take a warm shower.
Don't freak out, If she wants to eat she will eat. My son would snack through out the day (quicky BF) so he didn't go without eating entirely. I also gave him Motrin for just in case (always did the trick). You can also try teething gel.
 
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erin74

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My eldest son did this for the first two months straight. Cried every feed. Took ages to latch. There were a variety of reasons. I don't think they are what you are experiencing though.

Later, once past the initial problems there were a couple of things that would cause it.

Teething definitely - but how old is she? Stick your finger in her mouth and have a bit of a feel for sharper areas or look for whiteness just under the gum, or a bulging tooth.
A cold will make it difficult cause they have troubles breathing, so breastfeeding can bother them.
Something you ate is common - some kids don't like chocolate!!!! or spicy food or something. Have you eaten anything different.
Your period - if you have started ovulating again it can definitely cause a few problems for some people.

As for what to do. I wouldn't leap to bottle feeding. It can confuse some babies, and some will even go completely off breastfeeding once a bottle is introduced. Certainly if there is an ongoing problem give it a shot, but I wouldn't jump to it. I'd go with the waiting option. It may not be fun, but she will feed when she is hungry.

Good luck with it - I hope it improves.

erin
 
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Utah Knight

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erin74 said:
My eldest son did this for the first two months straight. Cried every feed. Took ages to latch. There were a variety of reasons. I don't think they are what you are experiencing though.

Later, once past the initial problems there were a couple of things that would cause it.

Teething definitely - but how old is she? Stick your finger in her mouth and have a bit of a feel for sharper areas or look for whiteness just under the gum, or a bulging tooth.
A cold will make it difficult cause they have troubles breathing, so breastfeeding can bother them.
Something you ate is common - some kids don't like chocolate!!!! or spicy food or something. Have you eaten anything different.
Your period - if you have started ovulating again it can definitely cause a few problems for some people.

As for what to do. I wouldn't leap to bottle feeding. It can confuse some babies, and some will even go completely off breastfeeding once a bottle is introduced. Certainly if there is an ongoing problem give it a shot, but I wouldn't jump to it. I'd go with the waiting option. It may not be fun, but she will feed when she is hungry.

Good luck with it - I hope it improves.

erin

true it was an ongoing problem with my daughter and she got herself dehydrated that is why we introduced a bottle
 
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