Nursing strike or end of breastfeeding?

[mumofboobmonster]

My almost 10 month old boy hasn't fed since Saturday night and I'm not ready to stop breastfeeding yet! We have had a relatively easy breastfeeding journey after initial shredded nipples and a hole in one nipple (agony!), thrush, and mastitis. This was all over and done with by 8 weeks and my boy is (was?) a major boob monster, still feeding 4/5 times a day including once over night. I really enjoy feeding too.

I fed to sleep as usual on Saturday night and he woke up crying at 12 which was not unusual. When I tried to feed him he bit instead so I tried everything else before just putting back in the cot and he settled himself back to sleep. Every feed since, he just bites me instead of feeding but does seem upset at not being able to latch on. It's almost like he's forgotten how to feed. We have been to the doctor to rule out ear infection. He won't take a bottle, only little bits of milk or water from a sippy cup and won't eat finger foods, whereas previously he was a spoon refuser (apart from yoghurt) and we have been doing BLW. Now he is eating a huge amount of puree and yoghurt and mashed fruit.

He has all the teething signs to the max. Flushed cheeks, lots of drool, runny nose, wheezy. Strangely enough he is sleeping through for the first time ever though (I have suspected for a while the one feed overnight was purely for comfort but I don't mind doing it!). He has 3 teeth now though and has never done this before, they've all come through relatively easily.

I'm wondering if this is it for breastfeeding or it's temporary due to the teeth. I'm expressing but starting to get sore from the pump and as it takes so long I'd rather the baby fed!

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience?

Not got much time so will be brief-
Very young for it to be the end. My son self weaned at 15 months, and that was considered early. My guess is teething- are you trying to ease his pain at all with powders/gels? If not then try that a few minutes before attempting a feed. Also, I was devastated when it happened to us so I feel your agony!! If he has been slowly reducing feeding, that's a sign of self weaning, but if sudden then it's more like a strike . Advice I got was to babymoon again, or daily skin to skin in the bath with him, and let him latch on if he will. Offer, but don't force, and it should happen naturally. I hope it works for u

Hello, thanks for your reply! Yes I'm using calpol and anbesol on his gums and then attempting to feed but it's not making any difference really. I spoke to a health visitor this morning who winced when she saw him attempting to feed and biting instead and said it was probably teeth and that there was nothing she could do to help. She suggested nipple shields, teething powders and putting teethers and muslins in the freezer for him so I'll be off to the chemist this afternoon. He is sucking his gums and grinding his teeth, and hands are constantly in his mouth so it does all point to his teeth.

He has not been asking for milk in the way in which he used to (very vocally!), but was still very happy to have full feeds whenever he was offered. I was doing early morning, mid morning or lunchtime, 3pm or 5pm and then fed to sleep at 7.30pm. Most nights he would feed between 2 and 4am and then straight back to sleep. He had a few days a couple of weeks ago where we missed the 11am/lunchtime feed and he wasn't fussed but I didn't think it would lead to this!

Hopefully as it's most likely teeth related it's only temporary but it's still quite stressful!

Hello,

Just wanted to update and ask any further advice? He's still not feeding, and presenting teeth instead. It's like he's forgotten how to latch. The tooth still isn't through. I caved yesterday and gave him a bottle of EBM which he downed, with a bit of chewing of the teat to start with. He's had a couple since, one about half an hour ago which he was really crying for. I offered breast first and he wouldn't go near it but then really sucked the milk down from the bottle.

I've been doing lots of skin to skin, sleepy cuddles on the sofa, trying to feed while he's asleep (he bit still), walking around with him (too nosy to feed), bathing with him (more interested in looking for toys). He hasn't latched on at all.

I'm going to give it a little longer but I can't carry on expressing all day, sneaking milk into his food and I'd rather not give bottles either but he doesn't drink much from a sippy cup or open cup. Argh!