Panic attack...she is not nursing..WHY?

[mytwogirls]

My DD is 10 months old and yesterday for the first time, she nibbled on my breast and I yelled on accident because it hurt like hell. After that incident she did not nurse AT ALL. That was at 1 p.m. She refused any nursing before bed and did nurse a little at 3 a.m. I tried again at 6:45 when she woke up but she refused. I have been pumping to keep my supply up. I am so stressed. I cried myself to sleep last night because I have NEVER let her go to sleep without milk. She went right to sleep. She does have two bottom teeth just coming in. Could she just be teething and not wanting to nurse? Am I doing something to her so she won't nurse? Why is this happening? I am so stressed and bummed and sad and freaked out. Please, someone tell me this is not the end of our nursing. She normally nurses just fine. Oh why is she doing this?!

[alegna]

Sounds like a nursing strike. Often seems to happen after they're surprised by a reaction (like to biting)


NO other sucking- no bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers.

Offer to nurse VERY often.

Offer while they're sleepy or asleep.

Offer in the tub.

good luck!

-Angela

[Violet2]

I think my DD also was a bit fearful of my screeching as a result of her biting. At one point I was trying to softly 'shhh' instead of going 'NO' or "Aaaaah" (not always w/i my control) when she bit me, but once when I shushed to soothe her , she jumped about a mile with a look of fear on her face. So clearly she did not like momma's reactions to her biting and had a negative association.

I've since been trying to not react at all to the biting (which is really hard b/c omg she BITES like she's decided to become a cannibal and wants to start with my nipples). And I've been softly talking to her and soothing her as she nurses so she knows momma is happy.

Anyway, her biting jag is going on 2+ weeks (with some improvement just today). We actually did the opposite of the pp b/c my milk supply was tanking and her fontanel was sunken. I started pumping and making up bottles. I would offer the breast, if she refused or if she bit me, she got a bottle.

Of course she's also used to bottles from sitters etc... so ymmv. But it seems as if the break from each other helped a little bit.

Just keep trying different things. IME there's not a lot of great info on biting, particularly if it lasts more than a few days. According to all the 'experts' babies don't bite for weeks on end. And the pushing the babe's face into your boob always works. Not! I guess my DD is the exception that proves the rule.

HTH

V

[GooeyRN]

I hope she goes back, soon. I don't have any advice that hasn't already been given, just sympathy. I hope it ends soon.

[mytwogirls]

No luck yet. She will take a bottle from dad and seems very happy right now. I feel like a reject because she even sees me lift my shirt, she starts yelling. I just feel really bad and depressed. I HATE pumping, but I am to keep my supply up. I just don't get it.....Will she eventually get over me yelling. God, I could kick myself for doing it but damn it hurt!

[mytwogirls]

Is this the end? Please no!

It is 1 p.m. and it has been 24 hours since she really nursed off me. I feel like I have completely lost my little girl. I have been crying on and off all morning as every time she even sees my breast she freaks out. Otherwise she is normal. Breast feeding is all I have left to remember my child-bearing years. I had to have a hysterectomy so breast feeding is all I have left to remind me I am a woman and now with the nursing problem I feel like I have no more use to her. I don't have anything special to give her, I feel like I am losing her. Oh mamas, I have never felt so depressed and helpless. I know she doesn't but I feel like she hates me. I just wish she would NURSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chpiper]

Ohh...my heart hurts for you!! I had one of my LOs go through a really serious nursing strike once...it is so hard! What helped us was to lay skin to skin without the pressure of nursing...I would just lay with her and talk to her and not really push the issue. I also made sure to tell her I was sorry and that she could have milk anytime she wanted. Babies understand sooooo much!! We would also bathe together and that was another way to offer the breast as a safe place without being pushed into nursing...

It took my baby almost 2 weeks to begin nursing again, and it was a tough 2 weeks! I called LLL crying several times!! But once she started again we were just fine...she did however nurse through the night...she slept with me and I would feel her get a little squirmy and I would nurse her really quick before she even knew she was nursing. She woould nurse just fine, roll over and go back to sleep...

Good luck!! I hope you get your little baby nursing again soon. If you haven't already, you may want to call LLL...

Kara

[prothyraia]

http://www.llli.org//FAQ/strike.html

http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/nursingstrike.html

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...to-breast.html

[ErinsJuneBug]

She WILL nurse again - babies do NOT wean this early. Stop giving her a bottle. Let her stay up late with you can cuddle on the couch/bed with you. Spend as much time as possible cuddling and playing with her - topless. When she falls asleep latch her on. i promise you have many many more months of nursing - she still needs you and your breastmilk very very much!

[leerypolyp]

Originally Posted by ErinsJuneBug

She WILL nurse again - babies do NOT wean this early. Stop giving her a bottle. Let her stay up late with you can cuddle on the couch/bed with you. Spend as much time as possible cuddling and playing with her - topless. When she falls asleep latch her on. i promise you have many many more months of nursing - she still needs you and your breastmilk very very much!

(bolding mine)

That.

Stop the bottles from Dad if you want her to start nursing again. That's a classic nursing strike (with the strike coming after a bit of a shock at the breast), and while you may have to con her into accepting the breast a few times (while she's sleepy, while she's in the tub) she WILL nurse again with a little work.

You have a little work ahead of you, but honey, don't blame yourself. Some babies hear mom yelp after a bite, and think it's funny, and some go on strike. You had a natural reaction. So did she. It's okay!

[mytwogirls]

over 24 hours....no boob yet

Dad has been giving breast milk via sippy cup (that is all we have other than a bottle right now) and I spoke with a woman from LLL and she said the same thing you all have said, pump when she would have eaten, try to nurse once an hour, go topless and spend a LOT of time with her. I have to work tomorrow, my OB called me in, so hopefully when I get home she will be so excited to see me she will nurse. I just feel really guilty and bad. I have NEVER had this happen, I just hope I can continue. I believe you all what you are saying thanks for your encouraging words of help. You don't know how much this is helping me. I feel like I am the only one! I just want my baby back

[mytwogirls]

Won't take anything BUT the bottle now...getting worse

OMG, she won't take milk from a sippy cup, or syringe or anything but a damn bottle. I felt like I had to give her one with BM in it before bed because she has only had 3 oz total today from the sippy cup. She even looks at me she cries because she thinks I am going to try and nurse her. She and I took a bath together, no luck. I have tried and tried and I don't want to give up, but damn, what the hell am I doing wrong. I know it has only been a little over 24 hours. My husband said because I got upset (really upset!) this morning, he said that may have scared her even more so oh great, now this whole damn thing is now my fault. I just have been awarded the worst breast feeding mom in the universe award. Congrats to me

[alegna]

I'm sorry things are so rough right now.

-Angela

[MaryJaneLouise]

Try nursing your LO in the bath with you both nakey. Kind of strange but it worked for me .

[GooeyRN]

I am sorry things aren't looking up yet. I am thinking of you and your little one. It's not your fault. Its a natural reaction to yelp when your nipple is bit. I imagine it hurts! Can you try co-sleeping topless so you can quickly slip your breast in if she stirs without waking? Its an idea and worth a try, anyway. Someone else just got over a nursing strike. It lasted one week. The baby was also teething. Is your little one getting enough fluids? I feel so bad for you. I am off to search for the thread about a nursing strike. I will post when I find it.

[GooeyRN]

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=887454

Here you go. I hope you find it encouraging.

[mytwogirls]

Oh Gooey, thanks hon! I read the thread and it sounds encouraging. I just wish I would not have let my DH give her a bottle, I feel really really really bad about it (even though the bottle had breast milk in it) But she wasn't taking to sippy cup or syringe or even a spoon so I guess I feel I had no choice, she had to get fluids in her somehow. I will keep pumping and pray tomorrow brings a brighter day. I will keep you posted. I am an emotional wreck and tired as hell and I have to go to work for my OB tomorrow for eight hours . Maybe when I get home she will be eager to nurse..keeping my fingers crossed.

ps I tried the bathtub nakey thing with us, and she didn't like it, but I will keep at it...I just don't wanna quit, I just don't....

[alegna]

Have you tried an open cup with your milk?

good luck!

-Angela

[GooeyRN]

I hope work goes well for you today, and you come home to your little one happy to nurse.

[ErinsJuneBug]

[QUOTE=GooeyRN;11129915] Can you try co-sleeping topless so you can quickly slip your breast in if she stirs without waking? QUOTE]

THIS!