Refusing to nurse :(

[ItalianPrinses]

Last week she started refusing the right breast...but then she'd take it at night just fine. NOW, she doesn't want to nurse all together...just pushes away from me and kicks. She's about 5.5 months old...is this normal? Nursing strike?? Distractions? (we nurse with the blinds shut in our nursing chair, just as we've always done.) Teething? I'm just hoping she's not weaning I feel so rejected Has anyone else gone through this? Is there hope that she'll go back to it again?

[lilbsmama]

yes, most definitely! just keep trying, it is not likely that she is weaning, and she won't starve herself! It could be teething, it could be that she is about to go through a growth spurt at around 6 mo, who knows? but it is rare for a baby to wean naturally before one year. Is she EBF, or are you fiving her anything else?

[2xy]

I went through it with DS1. He quit nursing "cold turkey" one day when he was about six months old. I was 21yo and this was long before I had Internet access, so I had no idea what to do or that anything even COULD be done. So, he weaned.

Anyway, I have no real advice for you but I know that other ladies here will chime in with ways to help. I just wanted to offer a hug.

[PatioGardener]

Nursing strike. Keep offering. Pump pften if you can to maintain supply. Ideas on Kellymom: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...to-breast.html

nak

[ItalianPrinses]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. My stomach has been in knots since it happened...I've been so upset! I'm sure that's not helping the situation either

Funny thing is...she'll nurse at night, just not during the day. She's also SUPER fussy...doesn't want to play, doesn't want to babble like she usually does...so something is definitely going on.

She barely takes the BM by bottle...just plays around with the nipple. She's taken both bottle and breast since month 1 with no nipple confusion. The bottle is usually only offered if she's away from me, other than that, she's EBF.

I mean she wakes up from her naps grumpy!! When I pick her up she continues crying, which is not how she normally is. I head for the nursing chair and she starts getting all kicky and restless. What gives?!

[ItalianPrinses]

Forgot to add this...she *tries* to nurse. Puts my nipple in her mouth and then pulls away crying and frustrated. So she WANTS to, but something is holding her back

And she just woke from a sound sleep to a hysterical cry out of nowhere! Gotta go console her...this is crazy!

[ParisApril]

Sounds like she is teething to me. Try some Hyland's Teething Tablets or some other homeopathics to see if that helps.

[ItalianPrinses]

But if it's teething...why does she nurse at night but not during the day? That's what I can't figure out

[ladyleah]

Gina- My son is 6 months and I just posted on this issue the other day.(son not nursing long- or taking bottle of BM like he did before-- not a full strike, but weird)..it is very distressing and I feel for you! I think in the case of my son it is because he is teething and distracted. He nurses well at night and when he is groggy and has just woken up from a nap....which I understand might be because he is so relaxed (or half asleep) --so he doesn't notice the friction as well on his gums? (just an idea?)....

This has been going on for 2 weeks now...and some days are worse then others! He has had bottom teeth for almost 2 months now...so I think the tops are coming in!

Hang in there!

[ItalianPrinses]

Thanks for the encouragement. I saw your post too! It's awful, isn't it? What are you doing in the meantime? Do you just keep offering the breast? I hate offering it only to be pushed away, it's such a distressing feeling. But I feel like if I don't, then she may never go back to it. I went through this back in March around her 3 month spurt, same thing actually. It took a few weeks before she finally took the breast again. It was such a hard time I just hope she will take it again though. I'm not ready to stop BF'ing! She doesn't have any teeth yet...so I'm not 100% sure if it's teething or not. But she's just screaming away in her crib right now. She literally keeps waking up in the middle of her naps just SHRIEKING! So I'm trying not to take it personal...obviously something is going on with her. Poor thing... Are you pumping too?

[ladyleah]

Yes-- it's quite hard and distressing......I feel myself getting sad, frustrated, anxious...you name it....about the whole thing. Especially when he bites me---since he is telling me "hey mom-- back off...I am not interested right now"---and it hurts like hell!

So, yes-- I keep offering...but I don't bug him too much if he is really cranky about it!

His napping has been pretty good (other then today)...but I can tell you that right before he popped his last teeth (and probably during growth spurts as well)-- he would wake up a screaming mess from naps and sometimes at night (which is not his usual....)

I am not pumping at home, because my supply has remained the same according to the pumping yield I get at work (I work 3 days per week). I usually pump several ounces more then what he drinks when I am gone and that has stayed the the same the last 2 weeks.

So....I am just going to "let it ride" and assume that it will stop as quickly and strangely as it started....lolol

[LadyCatherine185]

def a nursing strike for some reason. Have you had her ears checked for an ear infection? Could be teething..

Here is a page from kellymom.com on helping with nursing strikes. Good luck mama!

[kaydet]

My baby resisted also. He bit me. I feel frustrated and rejected

[ItalianPrinses]

Another momma had an idea as well... she asked me if I had started solids recently...which we have! She thought maybe it gave her a tummy ache and perhaps even some constipation issues. I did notice today, for the little amount she ate, that she was bearing down and pushing (with nothing coming out). Not sure if this is the culprit or not...it could still perhaps be teething. But she did nurse just fine again tonight/early morning (3 am). I mean she was a screaming mess all day today, which is not like her at all...so I would say probably stomach issues or teeth. I guess either of those things would make her not want to nurse?

[corysmilk]

my thought is,
could you be pregnant? some babies don't like the changes that happen to the milk.
or
have you started any birth control or eating a lot of something? like garlic?

have you changed soap?
have you checked her for thrush? white patches on tougue and in mouth usally on the sides of cheeks, it can be very dry and uncomfortable for babe.

I hope you figure it out.

[LadyCatherine185]

It could most definitely be issues with solids. It is a little early to be giving solids anyway, I would stop until after 6 months and all readiness signs are present. These include-- sitting unassisted, develop pincer grasp, lost tongue thrust, and can grab food and bring it to her mouth herself. We did this with DS and allowed him to self-feed little bits of food, starting with avocado, banana, sweet potato, and other fruits/veggies.

[ItalianPrinses]

Well...here we go again! She breastfed perfect at 3 am...at 7 am when she woke, wants nothing to do with me. I even pumped for 2 minutes until the milk started to flow. And gave her a little "help" with her bowel movements to see if she was constipated since she was passing a ton of gas this morning. She had a good size bowel movement...tried to nurse her again, and she pulled away from me and frowned.

I haven't changed soaps...I haven't changed diet...I HOPE I'm not pregnant, I don't feel like I am... Starting to feel resentful towards her and that's AWFUL. She latched on, started to suck, then stopped and turned her head to look around the room and then pushed me away.