Hi all, really looking for some help and reassurance with a nursing strike. Bit of a long one for context but would really appreciate some advice, I’m devastated.
TLDR: sick 7mo old on a nursing strike. Coming out of the sickness but still all out refusing- pushing away and getting upset when I try. Very upset and stressed mum :(
I have a 7 month old who has been an excellent breast feeder. He got sick last week (RSV and bronchiolitis) and started to refuse the breast. To ensure he was staying fed and hydrated we gave him expressed milk, and now we have an all out strike on our hands.
When I offer he is visibly upset and pushes my boob away, arching his back. I am so upset and stressed out, more than I ever thought I would be. I am reading on some other threads that a dip in hormones could also cause this but this is hands down the worst I have felt this whole BFing journey.
Ive seen a lot of tips but would love to hear from others with babies who had a strike around the same age or after sickness. At first I was going to just stop offering bottles as freely and hope he took the boob the hungrier he got, but now I’m seeing a softer approach might be better? He refused the boob just now for a dream feed and ended up waking up frustrated because of my attempts. I might sneak in and snuggle in the spare bed with him later tonight. Tomorrow I’m planning on tons of skin to skin, having the boob available but not pushing it. The issue is he is not really a cuddler- just wants to be climbing (his new trick) and playing.
Sorry for the ramble I’m just really at my wits end. We’ve worked so hard to get this far and I will be devastated if it has to end here.