Another nursing strike or is this the end? Please hold me hand.

[AmeliaEarhart]

Boy turns one next week and has been on strike since yesterday. He had his last proper feed at 2.30pm yesterday, then refused his bedtime feed, woke-up at 4am and fed for about 3 minutes after being coaxed into latching on. He's been up since 8 and screams and arches away from me whenever I hold him near my breast. He usually feeds 4 or 5 times during the day and once in the night. We've has brief nursing strikes before (and I've posted about them) but I'm worried that now he's older and eats 3 meals a day he could be weaning himself (although he doesn't have any other milk yet).

I feel so heartbroken at the prospect! I know how to ride out a strike - just keep calm, keep offering etc. - but how do I cope if this is the end?

Erm, that would be "hold MY hand", obviously

Does sound like a nursing strike, baby's don't just stop nursing when they have been having as many feed's as you DS. Have you had a read on Kellymom there is a good section on nursing strikes.

Keep offering and in the meantime you may need to pump for your comforat.

Good luck and I'll hold your hand DS is the same age he's truns 1 next week.

Thanks MigGril. I think he may have another tooth on the way, although nurofen and bonjela don't seem to have made any difference.

I dug the breast pump out from the back of the cupboard earlier and got him drink a few ounces from a bottle, but it's not so easy to express with him around as he's so curious and keeps trying to climb in my lap and grab the pump!

I'm going to try and get to the local breastfeeding support group this afternoon and see if they have any advice. I'm not too worried about him nutrition-wise as he eats quite well, but it's upsetting to not be able to comfort him, and a proper ordeal to get him to sleep (he has always fed to sleep).

Are you still nursing your DS? How often does he feed?

Yes I'm still feeding DS and probably about the same frequency as you although I don't really count. He is on 3 meals a day to and is just starting to have a snak and drink a bit more water. Can you hand express at all, I actaully find it easier and less hassle then a pump. Have done this a couple of time's when DS has had a cold and struggled to latch on.

I think I'd be worried if he did this as doesn't take much fluids appart from, from me. Yes do go see if they have any good suggestions, I'm a trained BFN Helper to did my training while still PG with DS. I must admite I'd be gutted if he stopped now as DD had almost another 2years of feeding, so I don't feel anywhere near ready to give up yet.

Nursing strikes are horrible. I can't see any reason why you should be particularly worried that he'll not resume feeding. I know of much older children who've been on strike then started feeding again.

I'd get him checked out by a GP just in case to rule out problems e.g. ear infection.

DS went on strike at 13 months. It lasted for 12 days. He seemed perfectly well, but someone on MN suggested I take him to the GP and it turned out he had a bad ear / chest infection which I hadn't even suspected. It took a course of antibiotics to sort it out. (He then went on to get a V&D bug, conjunctivitis and was cutting molars so it was generally unpleasant, poor lad.)

He did feed when going to sleep though, so 3 x a day instead of his usual 6 or 7 feeds.

He's still happily feeding now at least that often at 22 m.o. :)

Well, he's asleep now and didn't feed once today :(

He had 2 and 1/2 oz of expressed milk from a bottle before bed, and about 2 oz this morning. His appetite for solids is fine and he's been drinking water from his beaker.

We went to the support group this afternoon. The breastfeeding advisers were sweet and helpful, telling me not to worry and suggesting that I take a bath with him before bedtime and that he would probably latch on when he was sleepy. I did, but it didn't help.

I'm really really upset about this. I was feeling pretty down anyway (not enough sleep, cold that won't shift) and this just adds to the misery. I feel so rejected! And stupid for relying on feeding to sleep for so long - it's so hard to watch him cry and fuss himself to sleep. Plus I REALLY hate expressing. Gah.

I know what you mean about expressing I've never been very good at it and it's a lot of faff with a pump. Which was why I suggested hand expressing some women actualy find it a lot easier.

Hope he's doesn't stirk for to long, and your feeling better soon to.

Thanks MigGril. I have tried hand expressing in the past and found it really messy. The milk seemed to go everywhere but into the cup! Maybe my technique was wrong....

Still no nursing this morning, although he did sleep through for only the third time in his life . I guess he decided it wasn't worth waking in the night if he wasn't going want milk.

I'm going to try and take him to the GP today and get his ears looked at. Despite eating and sleeping well he doesn't seem quite his cheery self.

Trying to remain calm but I still feel as if I have a big anxious weight in my chest.

Any progress, OP?

Hi AngelDog. No progress. He's still the refusnik. We have a GP appointment on Tuesday to get his ears looked at, and to look for thrush or anything else that may be bothering him. He continues to eat and sleep well and guzzles whatever milk I can express, which is a relief as he spits out formula and cow's milk.

The opinion of friends and family seems to be that he's self-weaned and that I should be glad about it, but I feel bereft at the idea that that part of our relationship may be over for good. I really love breastfeeding him and I'm clinging to the hope that he may change his mind. I hate the hassle of expressing, but I'll keep it up for now and see what happens.

Hi there, I hope things went well at the docs, or even better, your little one has started feeding again. My DD is still on strike and I too am miserable and thoroughly fed-up with expressing. It's been a week now and I'm so tired! I completely understand you feeling bereft at the idea that it might be the end of breastfeeding - that about sums it up for me too.

I tried my DD on formula this morning, she point blank refused it. Back to the pump for me!