Nursing strike!

[MrsWembley]

6m DS has decided today that he doesn't want boob. Doesn't want a bottle either We think it's due to teething and have done a little reading up on nursing strikes but can anyone give me advice on how they coped.

What's making me feel worse is that I was going to wean him off my boobs by the end of Jan anyway, so now I don't know whether to carry on pumping to keep my supply in or just do enough to stop any engorgement.

If you were planning on stopping very soon (and have no doubt that this is what you want to do) then using a nursing strike to avoid any potential weaning issues is ideal. You just have to take care to pump enough to relieve engorgement to avoid plugged ducts/mastitis. Just be aware baby may break his strike with out any encouragement from you so you may end up having to refuse or starting up bfing again (if you chose too).

If you aren't sure if stopping is right for you and baby then pumping to keep up supply might well be the better way for you to go (~8 times a day if baby is not on solids or at his usual feed times if he is).

Lots of info on strikes here.

As baby is only 6m he will need some form of milk to drink be it formula or ebm. You could try a cup/free flow beaker rather than a bottle to start with, if he is bottle refusing too.

Talking it over with one of thebfing helplines might help clarify things for you. They won't try to make you carry on, just talk you through your options and ways to make it as easy as possible for you and baby.

Hope it all works out for you.

Hello again Truth and thank-you for your reply.

Just expressing again now after managing to get 120ml down from one of his sister's free flow beakers. One thing's for certain, I do need to express a few times a day to avoid the pain!