[nini02]

Update - After exactly a week (almost to the hour!) I got him to nurse last night!

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: And so far he is back to nursing like normal today! He's also had a couple very wet diapers today, to the point of soaking his clothes - I never thought I'd be so happy about a leaky diaper

I think it might be over, thank goodness! Thanks for the advice and sympathy, it really helped a lot

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My son got sick last Saturday and hasn't nursed at all since around 2am Sunday. He's only 16 months old and was an extremely avid nurser until that night, so this was totally unexpected. I am really hoping this is just a nursing strike, but I'm getting more worried each day that he won't go back to nursing

At first he was really sick and had an ear infection, so I didn't worry too much about what he was (or wasn't) taking in. But it's been getting worse each day (his eating/drinking, not his illness). Monday & Tuesday he was asking for water a lot and drinking several cups each day. Since then he has stopped asking for any water, and won't eat anything but small amounts of yogurt and crackers. He seems to be getting better as far as getting more active, but I know he's getting dehydrated (brick dust in his diaper and not peeing much at all) and he still is really fussy and clingy.

I have to hold him down and force water into his mouth with a medicine syringe or he won't drink anything at all. I've also gotten small amounts of breast milk in him this way, but if I don't physically force him to drink, he won't. It's really hard to have to do that to him several times a day, he freaks out, but the alternative means probably having to be hydrated in the hospital

He is MUCH more fussy and clingy than normal, he has a crusty nose and he is pretty hoarse, but otherwise seems to be over his illness (his fever, cough and congestion is gone). I am wondering if I should take him to the doctor about this dehydration thing though.

Also, are 6 day (or longer) nursing strikes common? How likely is it that he'll go back to nursing? I am so not ready for him to be done, especially not suddenly like this! I don't pump well at all, so I'm starting to lose my supply already - and I'm worried that even if he does try nursing again, there will be nothing left and he won't bother.

Any advice or encouragement would be great.

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ETA - I offer to nurse him several times a day, and he either arches his back and gets mad, or he will sign "eat" and point to my breast, but that's it.

 

[tnh2007]

I don't know much, but I couldn't read without posting! Hang in there momma... That has to be so difficult

My heart goes out to you. I hope someone can give you some advice.

 

[PatioGardener]

Awww... poor little guy. Have you tried offering to nurse in the shower or the bathroom with the shower running? That helps sometimes. Sometimes giving some pain medication helps too. Hang in there! (can you hand express at all to keep your supply up?)

 

[alegna]

I'd try some meds (probably ibuprofen) to see if it's a pain issue.

Have you tried popsicles? Either regular ones or ones made of breastmilk?

Or breastmilk or juice frozen to a slush?

Or soup or other warm liquids?

good luck!

-Angela

 

[nini02]

We were giving him ibuprofen regularly (it seemed like he was in quite a bit of pain the first few days) but we haven't the last couple days - maybe I'll try giving him some again tonight. Hand expressing has never worked for me at all.

I don't know if he would eat soup or anything like that, we have never tried. He was EBF until about 1.5 months ago, so the things he has eaten are pretty limited. I will give soup a try tomorrow, and a breastmilk popsicle.

Thanks!

 

[superfastreader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nini02 ETA - I offer to nurse him several times a day, and he either arches his back and gets mad, or he will sign "eat" and point to my breast, but that's it.

Have you tried holding him tight while he arches & gets mad? I have to wrestle DD sometimes when she is over tired or not feeling well--she acts like she is refusing to nurse but really what she needs is to be held firmly so that she can let go of the tension & relax to nurse. I hold her close to my body, hold the free arm tightly, and just keep putting the breast to her mouth.

 

[nini02]

Quote:

Originally Posted by superfastreader Have you tried holding him tight while he arches & gets mad? I have to wrestle DD sometimes when she is over tired or not feeling well--she acts like she is refusing to nurse but really what she needs is to be held firmly so that she can let go of the tension & relax to nurse. I hold her close to my body, hold the free arm tightly, and just keep putting the breast to her mouth.

I will try that today too, thanks!