- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
December 2011 Moms
Ricola
member
Nursing strike #2 and a clogged duct
Ricola
member
Alex is apparently on his second nursing strike.
He will latch, bite me, grin and try to wiggle off my lap. Yesterday he went 6 1/2 hours without milk, because we went to the pumpkin farm and I didn't bring any milk. He takes bottles just fine and also eats 3 solid meals a day. Last night he nursed twice without a problem, but come this morning, he refused again. This is going on since yesterday morning.
Sooooo. Do you think he is trying to wean himself? How long is it okay for him to go without milk before I "give in" and give him a bottle? Last time the strike lasted one day and then he nursed again, so I am not sure what to expect now. Since I didn't have the pump with me yesterday either, I ended up with a clogged duct. Ouch. I hope it resolves itself soon and I don't end up with mastitis, too!
DS born 12/2011
DD born 03/2014
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Nursing strike #2 and a clogged duct
Sloane doesn't BF, she's FF, but she is doing something similar. She used to eat every 3 hours and get cranky if she didn't, but with the increased solids she's not really interested in formula. She usually goes without a bottle between noon and 6:30 these days.
Since she has 3 meals a day and snacks, I assume she is starting to wean herself from having as much formula throughout the day.
When DS did his nursing strike, we stopped solids completely until he was nursing normally again.
Also, the biting tells me that your LO may have some more teeth that are coming in... that's when my DS bites me. It's usually the upper ones that make DS bite AND do nursing strikes.
It's very, very rare that a baby under 12 months self weans, and even at that, weaning isn't sudden, and a self weaning baby does it gradually until one day you look around and go... when did I last nurse that baby?
My Blog
Thank you for your suggestions!
Jammie, I think you are right with the teething. He went on his first nursing strike with the first upper front tooth and I assume that the second is coming in now. He is usually not a biter, only when he gets teeth. I think I will try to give him some ibuprofen tomorrow before nursing, if he is still not back to eating like he usually does.
When I get clogged ducts I take HOT showers before I pump or breastfeed. It normally takes like 4-5 showers to clear it up. Plus I massage it in the shower and if I am pumping I pump for a bit longer on that side.
I'm late, but I agree with pp. I found multiple sources while researching the topic during E's strike that all said babies under 1 yr will not self wean. It did say that some mother's take the strike as an opportunity to wean (if the mom was ready), but most babies will come back to the breast.
We took a different approach during E's four day strike - we continued solids and I pumped/gave bottles when we would normally nurse. Our strike was definitely due to teeth (top middle two, came in at the same time), and unfortunately we didn't have success with any short term comfort to get him to latch, it was only after the pain subsided (and lots of skin to skin) that he came back to nursing. I didn't try ibuprofen, only because I like to save that in case he is having a rough time at night.
I'm sure you know this, but just continue to pump and offer, and act like it is no big deal if he refuses. I know the last part is easier said than done, I took it very personally when E refused, but I tried hard not to let him sense that.
I have noticed a decrease in the number of times E is nursing or taking a bottle, we're really down to 3 bottles a day (from nanny) and only 2-3 nursing sessions. I think it is normal at this age for milk consumption to decrease as they start eating more and more solids.
Thank you for all the tips! Rocky, I think that was written in the kellymom article, I read that, too!
The strike is over! It lasted 2 1/2 days and then he started nursing again like he had never stopped. I am sure that it's his second top front tooth coming in that caused this.
Sunday to Monday night though he puked a lot and it was so sad to see. Freaked me out, too, because it was so much! But since yesterday morning he is back to normal and I am so happy about that.
I did continue to give him solids during the strike and offered the breast often. When he refused, DH gave him a bottle of pumped milk while I pumped. I am so glad he came back around!
It is the best feeling, isn't it?
Such a relief! It really hurts your feelings when they go on a strike, even though in theory I know it shouldn't.