End of breastfeeding or a nursing strike?

[PontiacBanditt]

DD 12 months had an accident and bit a chunk out of her tongue. I tried feeding her to calm her down as a boob would usually fix everything for her but there was just a lot of blood and she was getting really upset.

That was 4 days ago and she's not had a breastfeed since then. Previously she'd feed 4 times a day and once at night.

She's still drinking lots of water and eating food with no problem, chewing toys etc so I don't think it's pain, just the feeding whilst there was blood has put her off.

If I offer a boob now she SCREAMS she gets so upset.

Nights have been really hard as she used to wake once a night and is now waking 6+ times for the last 3 times just crying and crying.

Are you pumping to keep up your supply? She may just need a break to get rid of the negative associations.

It could also be that her tongue really hurt while she was feeding straight after she bit it, as it is the tongue that does all the work during a breastfeed. If she remembers that, and the blood too, it's probably put her off temporarily. It's probably a strike, more than a permanent end.

You could pump meanwhile to keep up your supply, and then give it a day or two, and go back to basics, with skin to skin cuddles, and maybe a bath together? It would be even more effective if she were sleepy too when you try again, to let instinct take over. Maybe when she wakes at night, just cuddles up with no top on? Her tongue may be slightly sore still that might hurt when using the intense pressure movements needed for breastfeeding.