10 mo refusing to drink anything after my 3 day absence

[Eastie77]

Have called NHS direct and have an appointment at a surgery later this evening but in the meantime I was hoping someone on the board might have some advice.

My 10mo has been breasted since birth, starting weaning at 6 months and she continued to have breast milk 3/4 times a day. She has always refused to drink from a bottle/cup and since my return to p/t work she will only drink when I BF her first thing in the morning and then in the evening. Today I returned from a 3 day trip following a family emergency during which time she was at home with DP. She drank very little during my absence. I left expressed breast milk in bottles and assumed she would cave and drink them when she realised i was not around as she has done so in the past but no. When I arrived home this morning I breastfed her for a few minutes but since that initial feed she has refused ANY contact with my breast and will not drink milk from a bottle/cup etc. She has produced very few wet nappies so I am very worried she is dehydrated hence my doctors appointment this evening.

Has anyone come across this kind of situation before where a baby who happily BF for months suddenly stopped after mum has been absent? I'm hoping for some reassurance that she will eventually start BFeeding again at some point. I wouldn't worry if she took milk from other sources but this total refusal of fluids is stressing me out. She is eating normally and has eaten lots of fruit, porridge etc. She seems lively and responsive but has had prolonged outbreaks of crying all day which become worse when I try to breasfeed her. Sorry for the essay!

[RedKites]

Hello, I'm not an expert, but this will bump the thread, and if any of this helps, even better. I expect you've seen a doctor by now. I hope they were helpful and reassuring. There's some information here on nursing strikes , which sounds to me like it could fit - what do you think? There have been some past threads, for example this one and this one . I hope it's all resolved soon.

[tiktok]

Eastie, this is a nursing strike, from the sound of it, I agree with redkites.

It should fix itself - call any of the bf lines for more info and support.

[mercibucket]

lots of info if you google breastfeeding strike

very important to stay calm and relaxed. try to feed her at night whil asleep/half asleep
offer often but quickly stop if she refuses
it can take a couple of days, but she will start again. meantime she can get fluids in food/water

[Eastie77]

Thank you all for your advice. It sounds as if it was indeed a BF strike (had never heard of this!) and she suddenly started feeding again at 4.30am so I guess the strike is over:))

[mercibucket]

great news

[mrsspagbol]

Gosh these babies cause stresses you'd never heard of dont they?!