Nursing strike on one side at 6.5mo.

[MissMarjoribanks]

DS is 29 weeks and I started weaning him on purees at 25 weeks in accordance with Bliss / DoH advice for prems. He's taken to weaning really well - we're on 3 meals a day already and he eats loads. It's difficult to tell, as he hasn't dropped the number of feeds (still 6 per day), but I think he is taking less milk as I have had another bout of mastitis on one side, which has now cleared up.

However, DS now refuses to feed from the affected breast, just having a couple of nibbles before screaming. Repeated attempts to put him on just lead to more screaming. He's feeding fine from the other one, but I'm getting somewhat lopsided.

Is it normal for the amount of milk they want to drop quite quickly when weaning? I keep reading all this stuff on MN about milk being their main source of nutrition, etc.

Is there anything I can do to try and get him back on the side he's refusing? This sounds hugely vain (and is ), but I am a bridesmaid for my sister in a couple of weeks and the dress I'm wearing will demonstrate quite clearly if I have one shrivelled and one humongous boob. I'd quite like to look even. I don't really give a monkeys after that so a temporary fix would do.

Hi there,
You could try feeding him from the refused boob in the bath - this always worked for me - perhaps the skin to skin and relaxing environment! Also you could try holding him as if he is feeding from the ok boob but really try to get him to feed from the affected boob iyswim. You would have to hold him under the arm next to the affected boob, maybe prop him up with some pillows to help take the weight.
Really hope you get sorted And have a lovely time at your sisters wedding!

In the meantime express the affected breast to build and keep up the supply, probably harder to feed from that side so he is getting frustrated.

Hello! I have no tips but just wanted to say "me too". DD is 20 weeks and not being weaned yet but has refused left side for 4 days. I tried in the bath but she still refused, just didn't scream as quite chilled.
Goodluck, i hope you get it sorted.

Hello, I had the same problem when I had mastitis with DD refusing to feed off the affected boob. What I did was tried her in lots of different positions until I found one she would feed off. What eventually worked was sitting on the edge of the bed, with feet touching the floor. Then i layed 2 pillows next to me to bring her up to the right height, layed her on the pillows with her face next to my boob (so she was facing me and feet going behind me if that makes sense). Then cradling the back of her head, I fed her by kind of dropping my boob into her mouth. Not easy to describe so hope it makes sense! No idea if this will work for you, but it worked like magic for me and it was such a relief to finally be able to feed her again. Good luck.