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Nursing strike or self-weaning?

Mrs.BoomBoomMrs.BoomBoom
in Northern California Babies

Yesterday morning Q nursed just like normal.  Then he wouldn't nurse when he woke up from his nap (has happened before, no biggie) but then he wouldn't nurse at bed and wouldn't nurse again this morning at wake up (and he doesn't just refuse to open his mouth, he opens and then bites the nipple).  I've tried giving him advil thinking maybe there was some pain (he just broke another tooth in and fell a couple times yesterday and hurt his chin and lip) but no change.  He's eating solids just fine. 

I'm in pain (of course) between the engorgement and the bites...and the emotional toll...

Any words of advice?  Does self-weaning happen this suddenly?   

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Re: Nursing strike or self-weaning?

  • mandy0505mandy0505 member
    I have no advice just :::HuGs::::
    ****missing my little angel since 11/28/12 (m/c 8.4 weeks)**** Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
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  • amyfeliceamyfelice
    I think you could take it either way. Elena did that at 8 months. I am sure a lot of people would have thought she was on strike but I let her wean since I was going to wean soon anyway. It was  little earlier than I was hoping for, but at least it was easy. 
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  • CelynCelyn member
    Most kids who are EB and not heavily on solids won't self-wean at that age.  If solids are your primary intake and nursing just tops him off, it's possible that he's weaning.  Anything else falls somewhere in between.   Pump to relieve the engorgement and keep up production in case it's just a strike, and keep offering if you don't want to wean him yet.
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  • ashleyhuneyashleyhuney member

    Well, I guess it really depends on what your nursing goal is.  In the extended nursing camp this would be a nursing strike because 14 months is "too young" to self-wean and self-weaning does not happen this suddenly.  This is of course not the mainstream opinion :)  Do you want to keep nursing?  If so, treat this like a nursing strike and I bet he'll start nursing again.  When J was 14 months he did something similar and after a few days he went back to normal...and kept nursing for over another year. 

    Here's an excerpt from Kellymom.com "

    Nursing Strikes

    When babies abruptly stop nursing, it's a nursing strike - not weaning. Babies rarely wean on their own before 18-24 months, and self-weaning is almost never abrupt.

    Will baby nurse while asleep or just waking up? This is usually one of the best times to try. You also might try nursing lying down or while walking around. See also the tips at the top of this page for persuading baby to nurse.

    As long as baby is not nursing as often as before, you'll want to express milk to maintain your supply, stay comfortable, and reduce the risk of plugged ducts and mastitis.

    Don't miss the great links below about nursing strikes."

    (https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html#strike)

     

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  • fjarilfjaril

    ditto that it could go either way. I'd keep offering and follow his lead.

    good luck!

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  • Mrs.BoomBoomMrs.BoomBoom

    I had planned to continue morning and bedtime nursing for another year, so I guess I just keep plugging along and getting bitten.

    He's eating a lot of solids and I think we could actually drop the daytime sessions (he's not taking much from bottles when I'm not there)

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  • futrkingsleyfutrkingsley member

    I'm sorry you are getting bitten!  That stinks.  I would guess given the sudden nature of his nursing that he would be on strike.  But that's a total guess.  DS has never gone a whole day without nursing on purpose.

    If you think he will bite you again, I would pump as Teri mentioned and snuggle him and see what happens.  You could also "talk" to him about it, letting him know that you don't like biting but you want to make sure he's getting what he needs. It sounds cooky but talking to DS about issues has always helped us, even when DS couldn't talk back.

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  • altreualtreu

    This has all been really great information, and very timely. Yesterday O was on strike, and didn't nurse from 6:30am-4pm. I was stressed out, wondering if he was suddenly trying to wean or if it was just a strike. He wouldn't even open his mouth, either! 

    Today is better, so I have to assume something crazy was going on for him yesterday that he couldn't tell me about in any other way other than to stop nursing.

    I hope your little man is nursing better today Mrs. BoomBoom!  

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  • NorcalLindsNorcalLinds
    imageMrs.BoomBoom:

    I had planned to continue morning and bedtime nursing for another year, so I guess I just keep plugging along and getting bitten.

    He's eating a lot of solids and I think we could actually drop the daytime sessions (he's not taking much from bottles when I'm not there)

    wow that sounds really painful! Do what works for you guys. Good luck

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  • ashleyhuneyashleyhuney member
    imageMrs.BoomBoom:

    I had planned to continue morning and bedtime nursing for another year, so I guess I just keep plugging along and getting bitten.

    He's eating a lot of solids and I think we could actually drop the daytime sessions (he's not taking much from bottles when I'm not there)

    Nursing just morning and nights is totally doable for as long as you want.  That's what we did for the last year.  

    Being bitten though isn't something that you need to plug through though.  Ditto PP on talking to him about it and how it hurts mommy.  What worked best for me was unlatching J and setting him down whenever he bit.  It only happened a few times and when he was put down he wasn't happy about it.  I don't know how you handle biting and a nursing strike, maybe address biting once nursing is established again.

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  • Mrs.BoomBoomMrs.BoomBoom
    imagefutrkingsley:
    It sounds cooky but talking to DS about issues has always helped us, even when DS couldn't talk back.
    True.  I'll give it a try.  If nothing else, it will probably help me (if not him)
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  • Mrs.BoomBoomMrs.BoomBoom
    imageashleyhuney:
    I don't know how you handle biting and a nursing strike, maybe address biting once nursing is established again.
    Yeah, this biting is totally "I don't want that, thank you anyway"
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  • Mrs.BoomBoomMrs.BoomBoom

    Thanks all, so hard not to take it personally (even though I know it isn't)

    The weekend (and my week of Spring Break) can't get here quickly enough!

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