bf moms need advice please!! dd refusing to nurse

DD has for a week now began to be very fussy when I go to nurse her. She starts screaming and crying. She has had no problems nursing for 3 months and this just started. She nursed today but I just went to try to feed her and she refused. I pumped and she ate everything I pumped. She has never shown signs of being hungry so I dont think its a supple issue. I bf dd #1 for 13 months and dont remember her going through this at all. I am so upset about this. i was able to get her to latch by actually giving her her binky and then putting her on my breast. But she is having none of that now. Any advice would help!! TIA

Message edited 1/4/2011 7:58:59 PM.

Re: bf moms need advice please!! dd refusing to nurse

How old is your DD? Is she latching on for a second and then pulling off and crying? That could be teething related. Maybe it's a nursing strike? DS went through this for about a week around 3-4 months old. He just refused the breast and would get very upset if I kept trying.

I would recommend trying nursing while walking around or in a sling, a lot of skin-to-skin contact, and just keep offering the breast often and don't get frustrated if she refuses. You can also try pumping for a few minutes until your letdown and try having DD latch on then.

In the meantime, I would add pumping sessions so that your supply doesn't take a dip.

Nursing strikes can be extremely frustrating, hang in there

Re: bf moms need advice please!! dd refusing to nurse

She is 3 months. At first it seemed as though she didnt want to wait for the let down but she was still latching. I got her on using a binky to get her attention. She looks everywhere and pushes me away. today was the worse day so far. She cries and screams. I pumped and dd gave her a bottle. she drank all of it. im thinking its a growth spurt or nursing strike. she did eat ok this morning but starting at like 3 on she didnt nurse like she usually does. it is so frustrating and upsetting.

Re: bf moms need advice please!! dd refusing to nurse

I don't really have advice other than to say I went through it myself. DS did that to me at 3mths and never went back to nursing. When I look back on it, I went back to work at 8 weeks and he started on the bottle at 6 1/2 weeks. I think that the bottle was just faster for him to get the milk then from me. It hurt me that he preferred the bottle but at the end of the day, I was just happy that he didn't stop drinking all together. I ended up pumping and keeping him on BM for 6 mths.

Re: bf moms need advice please!! dd refusing to nurse

Are you using a different deodorant or body lotion? Ds didn't like the smell of my new deodorant and I had to stop using it.
It can also be a flow issue. Try massaging the breast and manually express a little. This way when she goes to nurse it is right there waiting for her.

Re: bf moms need advice please!! dd refusing to nurse

No nothing different. I don't remember going through this with my first dd. I bf my first for 13 months. I am hoping this is temporary. I have a doctors appt for my oldest tom so I am going to speak to the doctor then too.

Re: bf moms need advice please!! dd refusing to nurse

DS went on several nursing strikes during the year that we BF. It was so difficult I was told the best thing to do is to hang out without a shirt on and let her decide when it's time to nurse, do a lot of skin to skin, try nursing her in a different position. Maybe she is teething and it hurts her to lie down, or maybe she has an ear infection? Have you changed your diet recently, maybe ate something different? Just throwing these things out there, sometimes there really isn't a clear reason other than a nursing strike. It will end, and she will nurse again! Sometimes you just have to wait it out

Re: bf moms need advice please!! dd refusing to nurse

My dd did this to me when I had an over supply issue. Try nursing with the baby sitting straight up on your knee facing you. It worked for us. I also had to walk around w/ her. Oh, and I stood right in front of the tv swaying side to side. That is always fun. Hang in there it could be anything. Possible reflux? Is AF coming are you Ovulating? Try a cold teething ring before nursing if you think that is it. Good luck!