Help A Friend and Her 6 Month Old ~~ 4 Day Nursing Strike!

[Past_VNE]

I am desperately trying to a help a mama friend. She has a son, 6.5 months old. He nursed once Monday morning and then wouldn't nurse any more. She was expressing milk, offering a bottle, giving some homemade baby food. Wednesday, we talked and I suggested she cut the bottles out completely and give VERY LITTLE food. Offer the breast often, but not pushy. She called Wednesday afternoon and said he nursed for about 10-15 minutes and fell asleep for a nap. Since then, he hasn't nursed again. I went over today, he arches his bag, cries, looks away and squirms wildly. He won't be placated until her clothing is back to normal and the 'evil nursies' are out of sight.

He has a mild cold since Tuesday night. He's a little congested, but not blocked. He maybe has a fever of half a degree or so. He seems like he might be teething, but can't tell for sure. I took her Hyland's teething tablets this afternoon. She gave them to him and he fell asleep ten minutes later on her shoulder. The mama injured her finger by sewing through it with her machine. Her finger is badly infected and she is on antibiotics for it. Called "Fomax" or something...I can find out the name.

Monday night, they went to the ER for him not eating and the doc there said he wasn't teething, (HOW could they know that? and that nothing was wrong with him. A doctor friend of hers wants her to see his pediatrician, thinking they would know him and his habits better. Obviously nobody knows better than this mama herself, but she doesn't know what to do right now.

So, she has a doctor's appt today, but the only pro-bf doc is a male, and she needs to see a female doc about breastfeeding issues for religious reasons. I'm afraid the doctor is going to be frustrating to her and no help at all.

Please help me with any info you can! I will email her the link to this thread so she can follow it!


Thank you, wonderful mamas!!

[lillake]

The first thing I could think of is trying to spend a day or two alone snuggling. Just cuddling and playing and being their own unit. Do it shirtless and let him do as he pleases. Sometimes the baby just needs to fall in love again like he did as a newborn.

[rozzie'sma]

Hmmmmmm lots of things can cause breast refusal.

At 6 months have you considered teething and/or an ear infection, both of those things can make nursing a painful experience for baby.

Has he been vaxxed? That can cause back arching (reaction?) and if not if his thighs are sore he may not want to be touched or may be refusing mom for letting him be hurt

Has she eaten anything new? Switched detergents, deodorants, or perfumes? Maybe he is allergic or sensitive?

You mentioned she is on an abx? Some abx can make the milk taste different, also it could give him a tummy ache if it is a more broad spectrum one.

Back arching can also be a sign of reflux but I think that would have reared it's ugly head before now.

How about her supply? Is it overabundent, dwindling? Couls she possibly be pregnant? That can cause milk changes.

As far as getting him to latch on has she tried nursing him while he is asleep? Many babies will suckle kind of subconciously in their sleep so he would at least be getting liquids.

Is she limiting outside distractions like lights and TV during nursing?
Is he ok with her holding him at all in any position?
Will he nurse if she is moving like walking around or rocking?

Has there been anything traumatizing at the breast? Maybe she spoke loudly for a minute or even laughed while he was nursing. Five to six months is an age of very heightened awareness and sometimes if the babe is startled at the breast it can lead to a nursing strike. Maybe he bite her? That's common at this age.

If she is unusually stressed that can affect milk supply too.
Lastly, he may be ready to try solid food. If he is not getting satisfied with the breast he may become frustrated with it and refuse it.

[k mama]

Originally Posted by Past_VNE

he arches his bag, cries, looks away and squirms wildly.

I've been going through this for a week now with my daughter. I took to see an on call doc and he didn't know what was wrong, he thought maybe a soar throat. 2 Days later I took her to our doc who said she has an ear infection and probably won't nurse because of the pain that the pressure in her ears cause her when she lays down to nurse. She's almost done her anti-biotics and she is feeling MUCH better but she still won't nurse.
I hope this helps!