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Nursing Strike? Advice?

SJBride05SJBride05
in Northern California Babies

It started Saturday afternoon when I went to nurse him for his afternoon feeding.  He refused and I thought no biggie, he had a busy afternoon so he was probably too wound up.  He took a nap in the car and when we got home I tried again - no go, so I waited until bedtime where nursing is a big part of bedtime routine, he totally refused and was beyond upset.  I gave him some teething tablets, thinking it hurt to nurse and rocked him to calm him down, he passed out before I could try again.  He STTN and when I got him in the AM, he refused at first, but eventually gave in.  Sunday was better, he took all his feedings, but Monday and last night he's refused at bedtime (still nursed in the AM) but happily took a bottle.

Any advice for me?

I've added an extra pumping session in hopes to rebuilt my stash and keep my supply up, but I work FT, so I can only offer the breast in the morning and at bedtime.  Any other tricks I could try?  And how long should I give it?  This is has been super emotional for me since I'm not anywhere ready to wean yet.

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Re: Nursing Strike? Advice?

  • ashleyhuneyashleyhuney member
    No hugely helpful advice but J went a a nursing strike at 13 months and I thought we were done and was sad about it. I kept offering and pumping and eventually (few days? Don't really remember how long) he started nursing again and nursed for another 1.5 years!
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  • amyfeliceamyfelice
    I'm sort of a bad person to ask because my DD went on a "nursing strike" at 8 months and I didn't wait it out, I just weaned her. So I think 11 months is fantabulous and the harder part is usually weaning kids at 18months or two years. But my opinion is that you should do what you feel is best. However, the one thing I do want to mention is that nursing produces "feel good" hormones and any decrease or stop to it causes a major hormonal mood dip, or depression. I was really really seriously DOWN when that happened and I could tell it was a hormone thing primarily. I would have liked to have made it as far as you did, but everyone is different. Not sure that was very helpful, but big hugs and i hope he starts back up soon. 
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  • NorcalLindsNorcalLinds

    Dylan had one last week as well. I really don't have much advice, its hard, you can not force a baby to nurse! they are so head strong ugh! I feel like saying, don't you understand, my supply will tank! LOL

    anyway, i kept 1-2x a day and that's all for now. i'm giving him a bottle the rest of the time and calling it done. I would love to keep up the 1-2x a day session for as long as he wants, but i'm not offering at all during the day and hes not asking :-( 

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  • NorcalLindsNorcalLinds

    imageamyfelice:

    However, the one thing I do want to mention is that nursing produces "feel good" hormones and any decrease or stop to it causes a major hormonal mood dip, or depression. I was really really seriously DOWN when that happened and I could tell it was a hormone thing primarily.

     

    that's interesting.... i have been so down in the dumps lately,  Maybe it has to do with the lack of nursing.  

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  • CelynCelyn member
    Usually nursing strikes only last a few days to a week.  You're doing everything you should - offering without pressure, pumping to keep up supply.  You could lay down with him topless for a bit at bedtime and just snuggle skin to skin.  Sometimes when they get drowsy, they'll latch on again.  If it's tooth pain causing him to refuse the breast, give him some breastmilk popcicles to numb his gums before nursing.
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