DS, 9 months, won't feed

[WoodysHat]

DS currently has a bad bout of Bronchiolitis and has not had a breast feed since this afternoon. Every time I try to feed him he just bites me, ouch!

I'm not worried about dehydration as he will drink water from a sippy cup but I'm concerned as he's not eating either and hasn't eaten properly since Friday.

I'm trying not to read too much into this as he is really unwell and has spent all day either crying or sleeping and is on numerous medication from the Dr so it's no wonder he is out of sorts but I do feel somewhat rejected. He has never had formula and at a time like this when I naturally want to do whatever I can to comfort him, I feel I can't. He is quite happy to just cuddle me though.

I'm scared that by flinching when he first bit me (he has 2 recently cut bottom teeth) I've scared him off. Could it be a nursing strike? Neither of us have slept properly since Thursday night and with a 3rd old at home I can't catch up during the day so am probably being over emotional about this but I'm gutted.

Anything I can do or is it a case of seeing how it goes tomorrow?

Can you feed him in his sleep?

No, I can't get him to latch on at all now, he just pushes me away :(

All I want to do is feed my little boy :(. My boobs are really full now and I don't have a pump, I'm going to have to get DH to pick me one up today.

What have I done to him, I'm sure it's because of my reaction when he bit me. I flinched and pulled away and shouted out - not at him but out of pain and shock - and he cried. What an idiot I am :(

Poor you, this happened to me recently and it was very upsetting. Illness and teething seem to be prime causes for nursing strikes but you can get through them!

Kellymom has lots of tips, and there is lots on here about strikes as well - my thread is here.

Be patient and most of all be nice to yourself!

Thankyou for your replies, it was a long and upsetting night for us both.

DS did feed this morning, oh the relief! It had been 17 hours and I was starting to resemble Jordan! He's not fully keen on feeding from me but we have some progress and I am hoping it is just that he is so unwell he doesn't really know what he wants rather than it being a nursing strike.