Nursing strike and going back to work

has anyone ever had this? dd has always gone back and forth from breast to bottle. These last few days she has been VERY fussy whenever I've tried to nurse (she's only latched on a few times) I am very sad.

She's 4 months, could she be self weaning already? Also could it be she doesn't want to lay on her side (this started when she had her shots)

Re: Nursing strike and going back to work

Yes! My DS did this at 4 months also. I too was very sad. She is probably not self weaning--it is very rare for a baby to self wean before a year.

At this age she is probably becoming much more aware and interested in things around her and she may sense your stress.

What I would do would be to grab DS as soon as he woke up, put him in bed with me and nurse while he was still sleepy. And I kept trying to nurse him frequently. I also didn't give him the bottle during this time-it was hard but I knew it would be worth it. And I made sure to be in a quiet, secluded area with very little distraction.

Hang in there--it stinks--but it will get better!

Re: Nursing strike and going back to work

Babies do not wean at 4 months, so that is a good thing

My DS was the KING of nursing strikes. One time he wouldn't latch on for 2 weeks! But eventually I got him back on the breast and we are now still nursing at 14 months.

Here are some of my tricks: Take baths with her, wear her, have skin on skin contact as much as possible, limit the bottles she is getting, put 1- 2 oz of BM in the bottle and feed her up against your bare chest, when she is done with the bottle or even before she is switch from the bottle to the breast, when you do this pump for until letdown so that the milk is right there for her. You can also just pump until let down and see if she will nurse then. If she seems distracted go to a quiet area to nurse her, wear a necklace to entertain her.

If she is sore can you nurse her in a different position? Belly to belly perhaps might be more comfortable.

Just keep working at it. She will go back. It just takes some patience. I know how frustrating this can be.

Re: Nursing strike and going back to work

my DD stopped at 6mths...for a whole week!! Wouldn't go near the "tap". I pumped for 2 weeks and kept trying every nursing session, but she never came back. I was a FTWM so I was only able to nurse in AM and PM, I guess thats why she prefered the bottle.

Re: Nursing strike and going back to work

Thanks ladies, we did better yesterday. hopefully it'll will continue today!