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Nursing strike wtf do I do

11 replies

Panda368 · 21/03/2019 10:37

Hi,
Baby boy is 20 weeks and has been breastfed mostly with the occasional bottle of expressed milk since birth. Always went happily between bottle and breast.

We have had problems with reflux and for the last 6 weeks I’ve been dairy free and this seems to have improved the reflux. For the last 4 weeks though he has been increasingly rejecting the breast but would feed after coaxing, or moving to a different place but he has becoming increasingly upset when put the the breast. To a point where he will cry and won’t look at my breast when I try to feed and arch away.
He still breastfeeds at night when he’s half asleep mostly without issue.
Last weekend I went to a hen-do and my boyfriend bottle fed him expressed milk for 2 days. Now he won’t breast feed. He screams in my face for ages when I try. I’ve ended up giving him a bottle because he was getting so upset when I try to give him a cup, I’ve tried loads of skin on skin, getting the milk flowing before putting him on but he just screams.
I don’t know what to do and I’m finding it so hard and it’s so upsetting, it just feels like he hates me.
What can I do to fix this?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/03/2019 16:34

I think you may need some RL support OP. Have you called one of the Helplines?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 22/03/2019 19:15

How are you getting on today @Panda368?

Panda368 · 22/03/2019 20:22

I’ve messaged my hv about bf councillors but not had a reply yet. Had a bit of progress with him this afternoon but it’s still a bit of a miserable battle unless he’s practically asleep.

Boyfriend was off work this afternoon too which has helped with the moral support/cup feeding.

He’s latched on a few times in a very awkward position - he wants to be held under the arms and come in from above with me half reclined but it feels like some kind of progress.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 22/03/2019 20:26

I'm so glad that you feel supported by your DP and you feel that you have made sone progress. I wouldn't wait for the HV to get back to you though, you can ring one of the BFihg Helplines, the numbers are in the link Smile

Zenlifeforme · 22/03/2019 21:24

This video might help... thebreastfeedingcompanion.com/project/nursing-strike/ women who made this sight is amazing

Panda368 · 22/03/2019 21:30

Yeah he’s been great with it today, though I don’t think he quite understands the emotional side of why I want to keep trying to bf. I’ll check the helplines thanks! I’ve also been given some numbers by my nct group apparently in our area there are some bf consultants that come out to do home visits so fingers crossed this is going to end soon

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rubyroot · 23/03/2019 16:50

What is the emotional side of why you want to continue? Coyldng yoi express for him in day and feed him at night if that’s when he’s happy doing it. Or try breastfeeding in the day and the times he doesn’t want it give him an expressed bottle?

SweetAsSpice · 23/03/2019 16:55

Wondering - could you have a fast let down? I had similar problems with DS, and found after expressing the first amount, he was able to feed better. I went through weeks of feeding him just as he was about to sleep/just waking up. Similar with DD now too. The part you mention about being half asleep - they're more relaxed so don't find the let down as intense for some reason. Good luck!

SweetAsSpice · 23/03/2019 16:56

This may also help if so -

kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/fast-letdown/

rubyroot · 23/03/2019 17:03

It does sound like what @mood SweetAsSpice says so perhaps don’t express (shit advice-soz) as could make it worse?!

And you’ve said it already helps to position baby on top as kellymom advises. There might be side he prefers. I remember at one point my baby would just suck off one breast as don’t think he likes the flow in one side. The other thing is if he’s feeding well at night he could still be getting enough milk this way. Don’t worry- doubt he’ll starve. I remember when baby was teething he wouldn’t feed- used to stress me out no end- but they do generally regulate well and take what they need

rubyroot · 23/03/2019 17:04

@SweetAsSpice- no idea who mood is!

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