My baby hasn't eaten since 5 this morning.

[Anastasiya]

And I'm at a loss.

First of all, he's teething. MISERABLY so. So badly that Tylenol and Motrin alternating every 4 hours isn't even helping a bit. Teething tablets, oragel, whiskey on the gums, you name it - nothing is helping. He's nearly gnawing his hand off.

Secondly, he's sick with the same congested chest crap we've all got here. No fever or nasal congestion, just an annoying wet cough.

Thirdly, this morning at around 7am he bit my nipple and I screamed in pain (he has bottom teeth only). That was enough to make him edgy and upset, then he tried to nurse again only to bite the CRAP out of me again. I screamed - couldn't help myself. So he refused to nurse and hasn't nursed again since then.

He won't take a bottle. He won't take anything by cup. He doesn't eat solids well and is refusing those too.

All he's done to day is wake up, refuse to nurse, fuss and cry for 20 - 30 inconsolable minutes, then go back to sleep. Over and over again. He's taken breaks to play for a few minutes, had a quiet bath and drank a bit of bathwater by sucking on the washcloth, but other than that he's had NOTHING to eat or drink for over 12 hours.

I need ideas. Anyone been there?

[odoole]

Same thing going on here with 5 month old DS, although in our case he will take a bottle. But I don't have the supply to keep up with constant pumping, so I'm trying to get him to nurse.

I've found for the past week the only way I can get him to nurse is to put him to breast while he's sleeping, or just as he's waking up from a nap -- before his eyes are even open. He's calm enough to do it subconsciously then.

Good luck. That sounds miserable.

[LadyCatherine185]

sounds like he is probably really sick. I would take him to the doctor.

[Anastasiya]

UPDATE: He just finished 2 ounces of EBM in a sippy cup.

Still can't get him to nurse though, whether awake, asleep, just falling asleep, just waking up, etc.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185

sounds like he is probably really sick. I would take him to the doctor.

Watch him closely for dehydration and go to the ER if you have to.

At home, try getting into the bath with him and seeing if he'll nurse there if he won't nurse while snuggled up in bed.

Are you certain he can breath easily through his nose? That'll make a big difference.

[Anastasiya]

I don't know. I guess my Mama Instinct isn't telling me he's really sick. When he's up, if he can get his mind off the teething pain, he smiles, laughs, crawls around and plays for a bit. But then he's gnawing on his hand again.

When in the tub, he's as happy as a clam.

If he isn't eating by tomorrow I will take him to the doctor, however.

[nycmom18]

i guess if he's the happiest in the bath i would put him in there often and maybe steam it prior to putting him in there which may help the cough and possible congestion.

are his diapers wet? probably not as much as normal, but still a little?

this may seem silly, but if you're able to and are up for it, maybe throughout the day keep your shirt off, my ds would always want to nurse more if he could see them

a cold wet washcloth was the best for my ds, plus that will get some fluid in your lo!

hope he feels better soon!

[CageFreeFamily]

When my DS#1 went on a nursing strike (7 years ago) I tried everything anyone suggested, but to no avail.

Finally, a friend of a friend called me and told me that she had heard that spinning, slowly, in a chair to get the baby every so slightly disoriented would result in nursing.

Desperate after trying for nearly 12 hours, I tried it and it worked.

It sounds like your baby is much older than mine was, and DS wasn't ill with any noticeable symptoms, but this is how we slowly ended his nursing strike.

[Anastasiya]

Baby is 9 months old, by the way.

He just nursed for the first time today! After a looooong 17 hours!!!

He woke up but was still sleepy, I gave him some sips of water from a cup, and then tried nursing him. He looked at me kind of apprehensively, then bit my nipple , I didn't react (OUCH!), then he bit me again and again I held back any reaction, so he smiled and nursed.

Then he wanted the other side but first he had to "test the waters" by biting THAT nipple too. When he saw I wasn't going to scream, he nursed.

So is THAT all this was about? He was scared I'd scream again?