Nursing strike - Hope it is useful for mummies:
What is it?
A baby who refuses to breastfeed, and is not in the process of being weaned, is said to be on a "nursing strike." A nursing strike is your baby's way of telling you that something's wrong. And it'll probably take a little detective work to figure out the problem. What causes it?
According to the La Leche League International, some of the most common reasons for a nursing strike include:
• Mouth pain from teething, a cold sore, or an infection (such as thrush).
• In an older baby, the baby is afraid Mom will scream. This is common when your teething baby bites and you react by yelling.
• An ear infection, which causes pressure or pain while nursing.
• A cold or stuffy nose, which makes breathing difficult while nursing.
• Too many bottles or overuse of a pacifier, resulting in a reduced milk supply.
• A major disruption in your baby's routine, such as you returning to work.
• An unusually long separation from you.
Other causes include food sensitivity or allergy (most likely to occur in the early months), a cream or perfumed product applied on or near your breasts, or a change in the taste of your milk caused by a vitamin, a drug, or certain foods.
What can I do?
A nursing strike can be hard for even the most dedicated breastfeeding mother. If you and your baby are dealing with a nursing strike, now's the time to reconfirm your commitment to breastfeeding. With patience and support, you can survive a strike.
A nursing strike usually lasts between two and five days, or longer. While you continue to encourage your baby to nurse, you'll need to express your milk by hand or pump every few hours (about as often as your baby had been nursing). This will help prevent plugged ducts or engorgement, and provide your baby with the milk he needs. Try offering the expressed milk in a sippy cup, a spoon, an eyedropper, or a feeding syringe. Use a bottle as a last resort, because it could make the problem worse.
Here are some recommended ways to overcome a nursing strike:
• Try nursing when your baby is asleep or very sleepy. Many babies who refuse to nurse when they're awake will breastfeed when they're sleepy.
• Visit your baby's doctor to rule out medical causes (such as an ear infection or thrush) and seek feeding advice.
• Vary your nursing position.
• Nurse in motion. Some babies are more likely to nurse when you rock or walk them than when you're sitting or standing still.
• Nurse in an environment that's free from distractions. It's common for a 6- to 9-month-old to go on a nursing strike as he becomes more aware of the world. Babies this age are easily distracted and often prefer to "snack" at the breast instead of settling down for a meal. Try nursing in a dimly lit, quiet room, away from the sound of the radio or television.
• Give your baby lots of skin-to-skin contact (try nursing without a shirt on or in a warm bath). A sling or carrier can help keep your baby close between nursing attempts.
• Try eliminating food (such as caffeine, chocolate, cruciferous vegetables, or spicy food) from your diet that may be irritating to your baby
It's easy to jump to the conclusion that a baby who doesn't want to nurse is weaning himself. But it is unlikely that a baby under a year old who has been successfully breastfeeding is ready to give up nursing.
Will it affect my baby?
A nursing strike can be upsetting for your baby as well as for you. Try to keep other elements of your baby's routine as normal as possible during the strike. Give him extra attention and physical contact.
If you're worried that your baby isn't getting enough food, keep track of wet diapers. At least five to six wet disposable diapers per day — or six to eight cloth diapers — indicate that he's taking in enough fluid (disposable diapers are so absorbent that you may not notice every time he urinates). Don't hesitate to call the doctor if you're worried. Can I still nurse?
Absolutely. It's important to keep trying to nurse your baby. With patience and persistence you should get back to your breastfeeding routine.
