7 1/2 month old on breastfeeding strike - help

[waitinggirl]

dd has been exclusively bf until we started her on solids at 6 months. suddenly, today she has point blank refused the boob. at 4.30pm she fed and fell asleep for a short nap on the boob. at 7pm, she refused to feed for the first time ever, and we had to give her some milk in a bottle (she only started taking one last week). unfortunately, the boob is what gets her sleepy, both for naps and at night. so here we are, 1.45am, she's been awake since 12 and screaming for half that time, and is now calmer, but we dn't know how we are going to get her to sleep.

it might be teeth (she has 2 already, but has been dribblikng like crazy), she isn't ill, we've spoken to nhs direct and there's nothing they can really help us with.

also, last night was the first time i went out and left her with dh - she screamed and screamed, but eventually he got her off to sleep. could this be connected, that i left her for the first night?

any advice? i am devastated if this is the end of breastfeeding - we haven't had any problems at all, we have had such an easy time of it and then this happens. help, please???

[KiwiPanda]

wg if it's teething pain does calpol or bonjela help at all? If her mouth hurts some pain relief might help her feed? It's what i'm trying right now...

[waitinggirl]

ww've tried. i've looked it up - looks like a nursing strike www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/breastfeeding/problemsandsolutions/breastrefusal/

this is dreadful. she won't sleep because she can't feed. it's like she has forgotten how to. she wants the boob, goes for it, but then doesn't know what to do with it, which doulbes her distress. help

[SofiaAmes]

My ds happily fed until 13 months when I had to wean him because I got pregnant with dd. Dd on the other spat me out at 11 months and that was it...she was done. I think that some kids just get an idea in their head and that's it. Although bfing is really so nice and convenient, if your dd has decided she doesn't want anymore, I wouldn't make yourself crazy over it. She got what she really needed in the first 6 months and the rest is just icing on the cake. Good luck. This will soon fade into the distant past and when she's a teenager (and dating) you will be wondering why on earth you ever worried about anything so insignificant as bfing her to sleep at 7.5 months.

[tillyfernackerpants]

wg, I've posted on the pn thread but what about trying to see a bf counsellor? They might have some advice or be able to help dd remember what to do.

[waitinggirl]

sofiaames - i see what you mean, but dd obviously isn't happy with it either. she wants the boob, and is so obviously distressed when she doesn't know what to do with it. sleep is also going to be difficult.

tilly - i am waiting until i can call someone. thx

[KiwiPanda]

wg I have found la leche really lovely and helpful in the past.

[Babieseverywhere]

waitinggirl,

You sound understandable distress at your daughters refusal to nurse

That said it is very unlikely that this is the end of breastfeeding for you. As your daughter stopped nursing suddenly it does sound like a nursing strike.

It is hard to pinpoint why babies have nursing strikes, it may or may not be related to you leaving her with her father, her teething or something else.

I would ring one of the helplines to get real life advice but in the mean time can you strip her down and hold her skin to skin against your chest, maybe in a warm bath. Work on holding her near your breasts but not on getting her to nurse. If she is warm and relax she might latch on her own.

There is some good articles about nursing strikes on this Kellymom webpage.

HTH

[wuglet]

How are things going now?
Hope she has come back already

My DS is King of Strikes - has come back eacht time (after 5-19 days!)

Would second advice on plenty of skin-to-skin, making boobs available without trying to force a feed, express to keep a bit of supply going and stop you getting uncomfortable.

It's horrible isn't it? I know I always felt very tearful in the first few days of mine - because you know that they do actually want it and something is stopping them....

Keep at it

[waitinggirl]

thanks, wuglet. yes, she came back yesterday, after only a relatively short time (one night and half a day). we rang the LLL and there was a lovely lady who recommended skin to skin with no forcing the issue and that got her back. i am, though, under no illusions that it may happen again.

i kept thinking: why am i so upset? tbh there is that whols thing of bf because it made me feel good (as opposed to her - something which made me mad about giving birth - "i just want the birth i want" as opposed to being given the birth you are given and being blessed with a happy, healthy baby), but i was so upset to see dd so upset at wanting the boob, but not knowing what to do with it. luckily it was very short-lived (this time).

it is the strangest thing, and one which the bf brigade don't tell you about. humph.

[Babieseverywhere]

So glad the LLL lady helped you and that your daughter is nursing again. Great to hear that

Who are the 'bf brigade', a local support group ?

[wuglet]

Glad she is back

The emotion has always been the shocker for me (even after the first one when I was expecting it).

Might not happen again - and if it does then at least you know what to do!