[missuswayne]

So DD a little over 12 months, and up until this moment has been an enthusiastic nurser. Up until yesterday afternoon we were nursing about 5 times a day, then all of a sudden she quit. I'm assuming this is teething-related, as 3 teeth are breaking through right now, although she's been teething for months and it's never stopped her from nursing. She began rejecting the boob any time I offered, getting really upset and pushing me away, even when she did her routine middle-of-the-night wake-ups last night.<br><br>
Today she's happily eaten loads of solid foods and drank water/juice by the sippycup-ful -- I'm sure she was quite hungry and thirsty, so I guess that's not surprising. I pumped and gave her my milk in a cup and she wanted nothing to do with it. It's almost like she doesn't like the taste of my milk all of a sudden - but I haven't gotten my period back yet, it's highly unlikely that I'm pg, and I haven't eaten/taken anything unusual that might make my milk taste weird.<br><br>
I have no idea if this is a strike or if she's weaning. Thoughts? I'm a little concerned and sad that she's giving me the ol' heave ho. I'm also incredibly uncomfortable - even with the pumping I'm engorged and sore. (If this is the end, that sore part of me won't be heartbroken, as much as I hate to admit it.)

 

[alegna]

She is WAY too young to wean. Humans (as a rule) need to nurse a minimum of 2 full years. So as a rule, they don't self-wean before 18 months at the earliest.<br><br>
What you describe is a nursing strike.<br><br>
Tips to end:<br><br>
First- NO other sucking- no bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers<br>
NO juice, no other milk<br>
no spoon feeding solids- just let her self feed<br><br>
Offer often- no restrictions.<br>
Offer in new and fun places and positions and old favorites.<br>
Offer in the tub<br><br>
Cosleep and offer at night, while sleeping and sleepy.<br><br>
good luck!<br><br>
-Angela

 

[missuswayne]

Yes, she's mostly self-feeding everything, that part's easy enough. But the only cup I've ever gotten her to use is a straw sippy. For the sake of her recurrent constipation, I'm going to let her have her water out of that cup <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
I do hope this is a strike, but that it doesn't last much longer, as I'm not having a lot of success pumping and I fear mastitis is looming. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[Millicent]

Other things that can cause nursing strikes are dieting, starting exercising (changes the flavor of milk), using different deodorant, lotions, etc. Also there can be emotional causes from stress like remodeling, houseguests, an exceptionally busy schedule, etc.<br><br>
Call a La Leche person or the topic on their website.<br><br>
Good Luck.<br>
search<br>
ps.I weaned my first at 18 mos, the second at 24 mos. and I still think looking back it was too early for both.

 

[ellymay]

I would take a pg test just to be sure you don't have to have af back to become preggo again. Other than that just what the pp's said and (((HUGS))) I know that has to be soooo frustrating!

 

[tylerdylan]

I was coming on this board to post the exact same problem. DS is 9 1/2 months old and also seems to be on a nursing strike (for 12 1/2 hours only so far). He is teething as well. His top front right tooth broke through 3 days ago partially and the other is still trying. He's been quite miserable throughout this (normally he is very happy and easy going). At first I thought it was due to pain because he won't latch on, but then he happily drank water from his sippy cup and ate some dry cereal. He self feeds, but I haven't been offering much in the hopes that he will get hungry and start nursing when he's good and hungry. I am feeling guilty doing that though. I suspect the problem is that last night when he was up during the night he started to bite me a little and I said "Dylan no" not harshly or angrily, but he didn't like me saying it none the less (he bit me a few months ago and I had a huge wound that took 3 agonizing weeks to heal - I almost went to get stitches for it it was that bad!! I am sooooo not going through that again if I can avoid it - I was literally in tears every time he nursed). He did finish nursing though and went back to sleep. He woke up many times last night due to the teething a wouldn't latch on at all. This morning he nursed for about 30 seconds and got distracted and stopped. The rest of today I've been trying to go upstairs away from the distractions of my 3 year old, but it isn't helping.<br><br>
So, I should just not offer him anything else and eventually he'll start nursing again right??? I'm feeling very bad right now because I suspect this is my fault, but I CANNOT go through what I went through before again. It was beyond painful. I know I wasn't angry about it last night so not sure why he is so upset still. Maybe it's unrelated and is just due to his teething. He normally nurses every 3-4 hours so 12 hours with essentially nothing in his belly is odd for him. Maybe he's getting sick????

 

[missuswayne]

I managed to nurse my daughter last night on one side. I snuck in while she was sleeping and she nursed just fine. However, since then it's been the same - crying and pushing me away when I offer it. She's eating well, is drinking from her cup, and is otherwise normal. I don't even think it's the teething, to be honest, because she doesn't appear to be in any pain.<br><br>
I did discover this morning that I have a UTI, just to add to the fun (!), but my midwife said it's highly unlikely that that has caused her to stop nursing.<br><br>
The pumping is grueling -- I am truly in awe of women who pump on a regular basis, especially at work -- and I don't know how I can keep it up. I'm using an Ameda electric double pump, and I just can't seem to express enough to get comfortable.<br><br>
Thanks for the comments, I'm going to take it day to day! And I'm off to get a pg test! LOL.