Nursing strike or weaning?...
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38713
Printed Date: 18 April 2024 at 9:38am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Nursing strike or weaning?...
Posted By: escadachic
Subject: Nursing strike or weaning?...
Date Posted: 07 April 2011 at 8:42pm
|
DD is 14 months old. She has always been BF'd, though does have formula once before bed.
She has refused to be BF'd for 2 days now. I keep offering her a BF'd when she shows interest, but she just slightly attaches, doesn't really bothering sucking and then bites me 
If I try again, she bites again. Like really bites, with her sharp little teeth. It's so painful! She's more then happy to drink water, milk or formula, but not keen on BFing presently. I've tried doing it when she's half asleep, or just woken up, but same thing, just bites. She seems to be biting the bottle teat too, but is happy to drink from bottle, just not me. I have to hand express several times a day, just til I am comfortable. What shall I do? What does this sound like? -------------   
|
Replies:
Posted By: SBM
Date Posted: 07 April 2011 at 11:44pm
| From my understanding, weaning is a gradual process, and a nursing strike happens very suddenly.. Sounds like you have a nursing strike, and I if you are motivated to keep breastfeeding, I would advise contacting your local LLL leader for some advice! |
Posted By: Caro07
Date Posted: 08 April 2011 at 9:02am
|
Probably a nursing strike. Depends on your energy levels and determination to continue breastfeeding as to what you do. You can get through this but will need to express regularly in order to keep your supply up. Your daughter might drink the breastmilk in a cup or a bottle.
A few of us in the April 2010 thread have been through this. DS did the same about a month ago. I decided to not start BF'ing again. Couple of reasons for this - had always hoped that he would wean at about 1 although I would have liked it to be a lot more gradual. Secondly I didn't want to express. Selfish reasons I guess but I didn't have the time during the day to do this and had no idea how I would fit it in and I don't like expressing. If you do decide to wean be prepared for a sore couple of weeks with full breasts. Good luck with your decision  ------------- Caroline, SAHM to 2 boys, S (4 years old) and J (2 years old) 
|
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 08 April 2011 at 9:39am
|
Sounds ike she could possibly be teething, DS used to bite and refuse bf from time to time when a new tooth was about to pop through. I Would have to express and cup feed him.
ETA - could she have an earache?? Cooper lso bites more frequently when his ears are hurting. -------------  
|
Posted By: rachelsea
Date Posted: 08 April 2011 at 5:55pm
|
Poor you, I went thru this too when DD was 13months old. Just suddenly she refused to BF. I offered several times a day for a couple of weeks (when my milk dried up) but she wasn't interested and never went back to it. So it all sounded like a nursing strike, but one she never came back from! Hope it's different in your case, if you're not ready for her to wean yet! ------------- DD 4yrs DS 2yrs http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: escadachic
Date Posted: 08 April 2011 at 6:25pm
|
Well I keep offering and she keeps refusing to latch and bites. She's so not interested. But if you mention milk or water, she's keen as for them.
It might just be her growing up and wanting to be independent and drinking by herself too. Someone else I know has a DS doing this. -------------
|
Posted By: SBM
Date Posted: 08 April 2011 at 6:44pm
|
The age for "natural" weaning of most children is at least 2yo, and this happened suddenly, so this is definitely a nursing strike. If you want to keep BFing there are heaps of things you can do to maintain your supply and get your DD keen again - call your http://www.lalecheleague.org.nz/local-groups/north-island - LLL leader (I recommend Jenny even if you're not in the Hutt, she's awesome!), they would be very very happy to help!!
|
Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 08 April 2011 at 8:20pm
|
My DD weaned herself at 18 months, probably because I was pregnant and the taste had changed. But... it took about a month or so of less and less interest.
To be honest it was a bit of a relief as my poor old body would have struggled to do both and its nice to have the break. Plus I wanted to wean by 2 and was worried it would be tricky. Personally I'd just go with whatever both of you want to do. And if it doesn't work out, 14 months is a fabulous effort I reckon! |
Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 12 April 2011 at 1:10pm
|
What do you want to do escadachic?
It sounds like (as others have said) its a nursing strike, but its up to you how you handle it and whether you over come it or wean. As Soybasedmama said, LLL have some great leaders who are more than happy to help, or there is also the breastfeeding centre in Porirua where you can see a LC for free if you want help to get her feeding again. If you dont want to get her feeding again, then its weaning time I guess. ------------- 
+1 May 09 Angel 
|
Posted By: escadachic
Date Posted: 12 April 2011 at 4:10pm
|
I do keeping trying and my latch position is fine. It's been a week now. So I think maybe she is weaning. I'm still producing milk, but Annabelle just doesn't want it. -------------
|
Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 12 April 2011 at 4:21pm
|
weaning is a gradual process, not a sudden refusal.
you have options available to you if you want to keep nursing, if not then wean her -------------
+1 May 09 Angel
|
Posted By: SBM
Date Posted: 12 April 2011 at 4:44pm
| What did the LLL leader say? Any good tips? |
Posted By: escadachic
Date Posted: 12 April 2011 at 5:43pm
|
Haven't spoken to anyone from LLL yet, been busy.
It is actually possible it started with a nursing strike and then turned into weaning I think. As I have talked to others whose babies did the same thing and they never went back to BFing. -------------
|
Posted By: STARZIE
Date Posted: 13 April 2011 at 12:26pm
|
I was just wondering how you have got through the nursing strike EMMI and Soy basedMAmA? My DS is just past a year and had been down to 2 feeds a day and was starting to bite and not be interested in latching (which is when we have always dropped a feed) so he is now enjoying his cow milk and i am happy that he made his decison to do so...
But I was interested for the next kid, as i wouldn't mind keeping it up a bit longer, the skills you have used to overcome a nursing strike? |
Posted By: SBM
Date Posted: 13 April 2011 at 1:06pm
|
I have never personally experienced one, which is why I suggested the OP to call a LLL leader for advice
|
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 13 April 2011 at 1:32pm
|
Whenever Lily has had a strike which has been about 3 times so far I've just been persistent with offering frequently but not pushing it if she is flat out refusing, screaming, etc. I have found that during a nursing strike she'll often feed for comfort if she gets upset and that can sometimes get things back on track. I have found having patience and not getting frustrated about it also helped - because when I got tense, frustrated about it she only got more upset about it and wouldn't latch. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 13 April 2011 at 3:17pm
|
Starzie, I guess its a bit differnt if your encouraging him to have cows milk rather than just BFs...
But basically I did skin to skin, lots of it. expressed, tried to bf when she wasnt hungry/was hungry, tried to get her to latch with just the boob, with a nipple shield, syringe feed her, cup feed her and a lactaid to feed her (this is when she was a lot younger) did everything to avoid using a bottle, feed walking around (I had to do this for about 2 months after she started latching again), feeding during the night, feeding her so she was distracted (having someone entertain her while she was latched), I spoke to plunket, LLL, LC and my GP, I expressed every 1-2 hours to keep my supply up, got rid of the dummy, I didnt 'force' her to try and latch, just kept it calm and casual, I had tried expressing so as soon as she latch she would get milk. After about 3 weeks she latched on, and another few days later she actually had a bit of a feed, few more days later we were feeding walking around, and after 2ish months I could feed her sitting down! Thats just my story anyway, Im sure others will be different No regrets at all looking back, Im (personally) so glad I didnt give in its been more than worth it!-------------
+1 May 09 Angel
|
Posted By: escadachic
Date Posted: 13 April 2011 at 7:39pm
|
I have done all I can to encourage Annabelle to BF'd. I have always done it while relaxed, never tried to force her, just sat on the couch and offered her a fed.
She's just not interested. -------------
|
Posted By: escadachic
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 4:31pm
|
Thankx for all the opinions and ideas.
I still believe it is now weaning, which starting with a nursing strike due to the strep throat. I have done all I can to encourage her to BF'd and she's simply not interested. She's very happy with water, milk or formula. She seems to like being able to feed herself a bottle. I have talked to a nurse and doctor and it is VERY common for babies/toddlers to abruptly self-wean. -------------
|