NURSING STRIKE
What’s a nursing strike ?
A baby that has been breastfeeding/ chestfeeeding well suddenly refuses to nurse .It may last for a couple of days or a week and it is usually temporary
Nursing strike happens so suddenly and most parents are frightened and upset with the refusal to feed . Babies are usually unhappy fussy and upset by not feeding
A baby rarely weans within the first year .
Weaning is usually gradual over weeks and months rather than abruptly
Babies can enter a nursing strike for many reasons .
These reasons include:
- Illness
- Ear Infection
- Negative reaction to biting
- Long separation
- Easily Distractible
- Teething
- Stress
- Overstimulation
- Change in personal care products
- Recently changed nursing routine such as returning to work
- Change in the taste of breastmilk due Pregnancy or the return of your menes
How To Cope with a nursing strike
Many of the mothers I have seen in my lactation consultant practise in Galway all have agreed it takes time and a lot of patience to coax a baby back to breastfeeding .Most importantly advised keeping the breast a happy place not a battle field with stress and anxiety
Other suggestions that have worked are
- Identify the cause of the nursing strike and try and remedy or work around the problem Seeking help from a international board certified lactation consultant @nourishboob.com can help navigate the problem using evidence based advice
- Lots and Lots of skin to skin with no pressure to breastfeed
- Co bathing relaxing in the birth
- Keep offering the breast for comfort
- Wear clothes that give easy access to the breast
- Nurse while rocking bouncing
- Keep your breastmilk supply robust by pumping either by hand or an electric pump
- Keep your baby feed by alternative ways such as a cup ,supplementary nursing system or pace bottle feeding
Has your baby had a nursing strike ?
What helped during the nursing strike?
