Nursing strike

[thatgolfb]

Pretty sure DD is starting a nursing strike. This never happened with DD1. The last couple sessions she has just screamed instead of wanting to latch. This morning she was perfectly fine. Google tells me this is normal-ish at 3 months, but has anyone gone through it?

Milk supply seems fine. Apparently it should only last a few days but this is really frustrating. She has latched each time after I try a couple positions. She has been fussy in general since yesterday and I'm wondering if it is a leap.

[hufflepug]

DD went through a couple strikes. I just kept offering, even if she'd only latch for a few seconds and pumped more often to prevent blocked ducts. IIRC it lasted no more than 36-ish hours.

[imapenguin]

My neighbor with a 3 month old was complaining about his today. She said she’s been having to let her suck on a pacifier for a few minutes and then swap quickly once she calms down.

[cnf]

DD1 had a nursing strike at 4.5 months and it was ultimately the end of breastfeeding for us. Granted we had a crap time at breastfeeding up until then and my supply was shit. Sorry I don't have any advice, but I will commiserate on the frustration.

[addymac]

My kid did it between 3-4mo for about two or so weeks during the day. At night he’d BF no problem. I couldn’t figure out what caused it but it was exhausting. Like the sun would rise and he’d be like 🙅🏻‍♂️ He’d be hungry, screaming, I’d offer my boob multiple times, he’d refuse and I’d finally get him a bottle and he’d gulp it down. I was basically attached to a pump so I’d have enough fresh milk for those couple of weeks. I think someone on the BFing board recently posted about a nursing strike, too. (Was that you? If so nvm).

[thatgolfb]

Feb 7, 2018 18:40:27 GMT -6 imapenguin said:

My neighbor with a 3 month old was complaining about his today. She said she’s been having to let her suck on a pacifier for a few minutes and then swap quickly once she calms down.

I tried this and she screamed louder. 😒 my baby is a diva. once she finally latches, she will successfully eat. But she is basically acting like my boob is the worst and doesn't want to come near it until I try a bunch of different things first.

I hope it is quick. She will take a bottle of we are getting too frustrated, but I am definitely not ready to wean.

[thatgolfb]

Feb 7, 2018 18:42:19 GMT -6 addymac said:

My kid did it between 3-4mo for about two or so weeks during the day. At night he’d BF no problem. I couldn’t figure out what caused it but it was exhausting. Like the sun would rise and he’d be like 🙅🏻‍♂️ He’d be hungry, screaming, I’d offer my boob multiple times, he’d refuse and I’d finally get him a bottle and he’d gulp it down. I was basically attached to a pump so I’d have enough fresh milk for those couple of weeks. I think someone on the BFing board recently posted about a nursing strike, too. (Was that you? If so nvm).

It wasn't me but I will take a look! Thanks. I'm hoping she is okay for nighttime. She was fine at 10 am, then at 1 pm my boob was suddenly her arch nemesis.

[Deleted]

Any new soaps, detergents, lotions, etc?

I'm sorry, I know it's frustrating. D1 went through one for about 24 hours when she was really new. She got over it just as quickly as it started. I hope yours does too!

[Deleted]

Any chance something’s irritating her when she latches!l? Like could she be teething or have thrush? Both could be painful to latch for her.

[thatgolfb]

Feb 7, 2018 19:01:24 GMT -6 @spacetiger said:

Any new soaps, detergents, lotions, etc?

I'm sorry, I know it's frustrating. D1 went through one for about 24 hours when she was really new. She got over it just as quickly as it started. I hope yours does too!

Nothing new! That is why it is so frustrating.

[thatgolfb]

Feb 7, 2018 19:18:18 GMT -6 kbw said:

Any chance something’s irritating her when she latches!l? Like could she be teething or have thrush? Both could be painful to latch for her.

Maybe... But 3 months would be early for teething, right? I don't see any signs of thrush on either my end or hers. I've never had it, but I think I would see white spots or have pain myself. I actually don't think there is any pain involved. It is like she doesn't even want to try to nurse vs attempting it and then popping off, if that makes sense.

It has only been half a day, so I will continue to see how it goes the next couple days.

[shellbell]

This is really the worst, and I'm sorry you're dealing with it.

I just kept offering at the times she usually wanted to eat. I had the best luck when she was sleepy -- like if I was holding her for a nap and popped her on when she started to stir but wasn't quite awake yet. She would scream like the boob was the worst thing ever until a couple days later it was business as usual.

I actually called my pedi because I was so distraught. They were looking for wet diapers every 8 hours and were unconcerned unless she wasn't doing that.

I did pump anytime I could to make sure my supply didn't tank.

[shellbell]

I will say this is probably the most frustrating and stressful thing I have dealt with as a parent. So try to relax and have patience and not freak out -- it's going to be ok. I pretty much handed the baby to dh the minute he walked in the door during this because she screamed at me so much during the day.

[ktg]

My first baby had a brief nursing strike. One thing that helped was always nursing her in a dim room so it was boring and routine. It was also the only time I just walked around holding her near my boob so the walk-shuffle-dance could lull her into a feeding mood. My arms didn't like it but I only had to do it a couple of times. Once she latched, I could sit down after a few minutes.

One memorable time she was just screaming and refusing to latch and I was crying and stressed out and I put her down so I could pee and she immediately passed out. Apparently she was tired. Babies, man.

[smiley]

I’m sorry I know how frustrating that can be. DS just went through that but he was afterwards diagnosed with thrush. So maybe his throat was hurting? 🙁 Do either of you have any signs for thrush? He didn’t have any white spots or anything but I had hellish symptoms (burning, itching, crazy pain).

I hope that’s not it bc it’s been rough and though we’re both better, it might have ruined my supply. But, just an idea for an underlying cause.

[teraiin]

DS1 had a horrible nursing strike around that time. Night time was fine but daytime was awful. I remember I had to go To a dark room to nurse him, the darker the better. I also would nurse him as I paced sometimes which was s pain but seemed to helped .

[thatgolfb]

Feb 7, 2018 19:57:38 GMT -6 shellbell said:

I will say this is probably the most frustrating and stressful thing I have dealt with as a parent. So try to relax and have patience and not freak out -- it's going to be ok. I pretty much handed the baby to dh the minute he walked in the door during this because she screamed at me so much during the day.

Thank you for this. ❤

She put up less of a fight just now and latched after less screaming. She seems satisfied and her latch doesn't seem to be bothering her.

[lucylou]

My DS went through an awful nursing strike at 5 months. First thing my lactation consultant said was to rule out a possible ear infection? It could be causing her pain laying to the side to nurse.

What eventually worked for us was that I would wait until he fell asleep for a nap or whatever (in my arms) and latch him. He would do a dream feed and I'd let him stay on as long as he wanted. Not great for any type of sleep training but it worked after a couple days and I also didn't have to give him a bottle which would I think would have extended the strike.

[thatgolfb]

lucylou I will watch for signs of an EI, that is a good point.

[gingy]

DS did this at about 3 months. I finally got him to latch after some serious skin to skin time. We took a bath together. We laid in bed with him screaming until he wasn’t. He finally gave in from what seemed like pure exhaustion.

[AmyG]

sometimes it's just a bit of fluid in the ears that makes them off on nursing for a bit. sometimes it's an ear infection. or they get soooo distracted with the world and a dark quiet place is the answer.

If it's 3 months there is a growth spurt then. and when they are ravenous, sometimes it seems like they just can't remember how to latch on correctly, they get frustrated and complain, and you have to be the voice of reason, keep calm, keep trying, try other positions and then they remember oh yeah and get down to business. If you reach for a bottle, they may decide that is waaaaay easier because they can just chug and not have to THINK about how to put their tongue and open up wide enough etc. So try to avoid bottle unless it goes on a lot or diaper count drops.

[loony]

Both of my kids had their first tooth before 4 months. Sorry. Hopefully she’s like DD and has even her 2 year molars before 18 mo and not like DS who is STILL teething.

Wait it out, watch her output. Hold off on bottles and do lots of skin to skin (but pump if you’re uncomfortable).

Hopefully she’s just irritated, “leaping” or having a moment and goes back to normal quickly.

Have you eaten anything new? Broccoli, cabbage? Maybe she’s gassy? Newborns are such a mindfuck.

[thatgolfb]

Feb 7, 2018 22:07:45 GMT -6 loony said:

Both of my kids had their first tooth before 4 months. Sorry. Hopefully she’s like DD and has even her 2 year molars before 18 mo and not like DS who is STILL teething.

Wait it out, watch her output. Hold off on bottles and do lots of skin to skin (but pump if you’re uncomfortable).

Hopefully she’s just irritated, “leaping” or having a moment and goes back to normal quickly.

Have you eaten anything new? Broccoli, cabbage? Maybe she’s gassy? Newborns are such a mindfuck.

I've been eating lots of fiber, but nothing new in the last month. She just nursed without a fight, so maybe it was a fluke? Or maybe because it is nighttime. Fortunately she has still been nursing, so no bottles necessary.

I'm really hoping it is just a leap/growth spurt/general baby being a baby.

[clucky]

DS2 went through one around 7mo. We checked for teeth and ear infection and neither seemed to be the answer. He flat out refused though for 2 weeks and it ended up being THREE teeth. Just be careful, because we also got DS3 out of it. 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️

Will she gum a frozen teething ring?

[thatgolfb]

Feb 7, 2018 22:45:52 GMT -6 clucky said:

DS2 went through one around 7mo. We checked for teeth and ear infection and neither seemed to be the answer. He flat out refused though for 2 weeks and it ended up being THREE teeth. Just be careful, because we also got DS3 out of it. 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️

Will she gum a frozen teething ring?

I will try that tomorrow! Good idea.

[thatgolfb]

Also clucky, DD1 got 6 teeth all around 7-8 months. It was... A lot. 😬

[clucky]

Feb 7, 2018 23:11:10 GMT -6 thatgolfb said:

Also clucky, DD1 got 6 teeth all around 7-8 months. It was... A lot. 😬

He was definitely a teething overachiever. Teething sucks.

[adelbert]

My first two both had a few nursing strikes. Normally I nursed more during the night. Sometimes to get them to latch I had to go into a dark room, walk around swaying and then they would latch. I remember it being very, very, frustrating. For me it always lasted only a few days though and there was no medical reason- probably just some sort of developmental leap during that time.

[sunfrogger]

I’ve been here. This phase lasted a good 3-4 months with us from about 5mo to 8mo.

DD1 was really particular and I would need to get her in a dark quiet room to nurse. There was a lot of singing and shushing. I also did the walk bounce while trying to get her to latch.

Hugs ❤️ we did get through it, all in all, no harm to my supply, and nursed to 21mo.

[thatgolfb]

So I think yesterday was a fluke. She nursed fine at night and this morning. Maybe she was overtired? I'm hoping that was it... Thanks so much for the advice, everyone!