Expressing during a nursing strike

[AngelDog]

13 m.o. DS is on nursing strike and has dropped 3 day feeds. He will still feed once (maybe twice) at night, and before his nap and bedtime.

How often should I be expressing to keep my supply up? I'm guessing that expressing at the times he'd normally feed is sensible, but I don't usually get much out either with an electric or manual pump, and my breasts usually need to be quite full before I get a letdown. Should I try more often?

IMO, you don't need to express to keep your supply up. Your norks are magic and will do it themselves. You might find that DS is self weaning.

I'm cheered that you think it'll be okay without expressing as I can't get much out! :)

I suspect a strike rather than self-weaning myself, as he went from 5 regular day feeds to only 2 sleepy feeds a day all at once, which is pretty sudden. When I offer a feed, he'll suck for a few seconds, but come off before stimulating a letdown. :(

Have you tried expressing a little just before offering DS a feed then doing breast compressions whilst he feeds? That might make the milk more 'instantaneous' and make DS keep interested in continuing that particular feed?

I have had both DD1 & DD2 go on a nursing strike at the same time for 2 weeks before starting feeding with in hours of each other. I just kept offering in a very low key way (and posted lots on here asking for advice!) and it seemed to work.

I couldn't express though as I was dry nursing due to DD3's pg but them both restarting nursing brought my colostrum back in within a day or so

And yes, I realise that probably wins me nutty mother of the year award

Good suggestion, TruthSweet: I'll have a go tomorrow.

I think your tales of tri-andem nursing are amazing!

DD1 self weaned when I was 8m pg with DD3 so I never actually tri-andem nursed but was well not willing so much as accepting of nursing the 3 of them.

I am grateful though I got to nurse DD1 until she was ready to wean as she was mainly bottle fed formula/ebm until she was 8 weeks old before being ebf.

Oh, also you can try nursing in completely different situations/places to your normal feeding spots (and no I'm not suggesting whilst sitting on your FIL's knee) but perhaps trying having a bath together or having a skin to skin cuddle on the sofa if they aren't regular things you do.

Anything's worth a try if you can get DS to be a scab and break the picket line where a nursing strike is concerned

I was thinking of trying a bath tomorrow - if I can persuade DS to stop standing up & shouting about wanting to play in the sink which is what he usually does.

It was clearly someone else I remembered tri-andeming!

There is definitely a mother who is tri-andeming but like you I have forgotten her name - whoever it is so sorry! I do sometimes read her posts and think 'I wish we could have' put DD1 and her bloody early teeth have made that impossible

Ah, I remember about your DD's teeth.

I get a bit confused between everyone sometimes.

Yup, she got 2 of her first adult molars before Xmas and has got the last 2 erupting, she's also lost her first tooth and within a week had the adult tooth start coming through and she's now only 4.11y/o. Though she does look like a 6y/o (is the size of one too!)

She's always done teething well - I used to joke it was her only accomplishment as a baby (didn't sit until 7.5m or walk until 15m).

I really must update my 'keeping track' spreadsheet soon

Is it me, I am trandem nursing my three children ( hopefully not for too much longer)
Just thought you can update your spreadsheet. ;)

Just found this thread searching for another :)

Babies - I'm typing it in as we speak I'll remember you now.

Oh and I do think you are doing a fantastic thing for all your children.