[aeiou644]

SO since I got Elliott his shots last week, he started Wed. night not taking the boob at all. He totally fights it and will not take it, even though he's starving. SO every feeding I try the boob for a while, and then after a while of fighting I finally give in with a bottle and then I have to pump. The only time I've been able to get him to actually nurse is in the middle of the night but even then it's not as long as he use to. It's getting pretty frustrating and tiresome. Any suggestions on how to make him take the boob?? Or how long this might last?

[mollymae]

Libby does this, gets in a strop and doesn't want to latch on. Bottles are less hard work and Libby would rather have milk squirted down her throat shes so lazy. I stopped giving milk in a bottle and offered small tastes from a cup then when she'd calmed down I sneak a boob in. Now shes on solid food if she wants milk she has to Bfed if she has a bottle it boring water.

I'd try to get rid of the bottles and use a spoon or cup if he really is refusing the breast.

[twinzplus3]

Ditto. Also you may find this helpful: Nursing Nuisances: The Nursing Strike

[Jenhas2ninas07]

Aeiou Its been like that for us too Yesterday ariana got her first immuz shots and she wouldnt latch on @ all she finally then went to sleep for 5 hrs straight and was starvin thru out the day she did eat but not as much as she would in other time or the day before Shes been acting funny today but eating a lil bit more then yesterday But it still seems a lil less though I soo wanted to give her a bottle inbetween but she a total booby baby and wont eat from a bottle She will sometimes but plays around or pitches a pure tee fit!

[Firespice]

I am having a sort of similar problem. This little girl isn't finishing nursing. after about 3-5 mins .... she starts crying and gagging on my breast. Its not any bigger or further in then before. I had to have my husband feed her with the bottle the other night. and this has happened long enough - I can tell my milk supply has gone down a bit. I am soo worried. Going to start pumping more during the day to get it back up again.

I am SURE its just a phase and i need to be ready when its over.

HUGS to you and good luck

suzie

[twinzplus3]

Originally Posted by Firespice

I am having a sort of similar problem. This little girl isn't finishing nursing. after about 3-5 mins .... she starts crying and gagging on my breast. Its not any bigger or further in then before. I had to have my husband feed her with the bottle the other night. and this has happened long enough - I can tell my milk supply has gone down a bit. I am soo worried. Going to start pumping more during the day to get it back up again.

I am SURE its just a phase and i need to be ready when its over.

HUGS to you and good luck

suzie

This is going to be my mantra from now on: DON'T PUMP!!!! PUMPING DOES NOT HELP!!!! Okay in some situations it does but it doesn't sound like your babe is on a nursing strike honestly. Your situation is different.

A nursing strike is not anytime the baby refuses to nurse. Well I guess it could be technically but really, a nursing strike generally refers to some stage when all other things in the world are more interesting than breastfeeding. It is not that they start and then stop and it generally doesn't occur until around 6 months or later.

Your problem, firespice, sounds more like a let down issue rather than a nursing strike. You can tell bc you say that she latches and then gags and sputters a few minutes into the nursing session. One way to try to resolve this is to try and express a little first and then nurse her. Don't feed her a full breast first.

However, if you pump and are successful in upping your supply--you are likely to make your letdown stronger which won't solve the problem.

Healthy babies will not starve themselves and so you don't have to give bottles or pump or anything else--generally speaking. Yes, it will mean that when babe gets back in the swing of things you will likely have to spend a day nursing but that's okay. HTH

[Firespice]

You know i thought that at first ... but its not the same. she prefers nursing when the letdown is in full flow and nurses much better in the morning (when they are almost engorged from the 6 hours feedings) she stops nursing when she has to work for it ... once the letdown has stopped ....

do you think that is still the same thing?

also she didn't nurse well for 2 days it was RALLY hot - in the middle 90's ..... I think that may have contributed to it ???

suzie

[twinzplus3]

Yes. . .all of the above. Having to work for it is also a let down issue . . .just not the one I thought of first! In any case, I still wouldn't pump. There really isn't a need. You'll spend a day nursing (if you haven't already) but she'll catch you up. Healthy babies won't starve themselves!

[Jenhas2ninas07]

How is lil elliott coming along now? I hope everything is better!! It is on this end I found out it was the Diet cheerwine i was drinking non stop @ the time lol It turns out it had a lotta caffeine lol

[aeiou644]

I was starting to get him to take the boob during the middle of the night or when he was just waking up but now he won't even take it. SO I'm just pumping and bottle feeding for now. It is a bit more work but seems to be working okay for us. Plus it's nice that DH can feed him sometimes too