Hi fellow parents. This is a long one - apologies.
New mamma here and boy...if I only knew how to anticipate breast refusal/strike - I'd be in a better mental state. What a brutal saga. My baby is 9 weeks today and began his nursing strike on the rear end of his 7th week. I didn't see it coming - mind you, I didn't know what it was and it's been very difficult mentally. Certainly the rejection aspect of it - but more so, because will it end? And like many, I've surfed the web for answers and co-testimonials but I thought I'd post here for extra support.
Some things to note that have accompanied this strike.
- Baby had been breastfeeding from birth superbly and supplemented with formula since birth too. I had a traumatic c-section with life threatening sepsis and had to supp. because full-time breastfeeding was draining my body alongside the cocktail of antibiotics for sepsis.
- The refusal was abrupt. He fed fine one day. And a big nope the next. HOWEVER, because I was also pumping and storing extra milk. I will confess there were occasions where we'd go 2 days without breastfeeding directly and giving breastmilk in a bottle. I am certainly sensing a preference for the bottle which flows faster (it's a slow flow teat) and doesn't require as much effort.
- He's definitely going through the 6-10 week regression. More fussy, reflux, very clingy and needs to sleep in our arms whereas he was fine sleeping in his bassinet before. On the other hand, he's also cooing/babbling more and very very distracted - being able to see further away now.
- Eats a little less due to reflux. He would down 120-150 ml pre-regression with no reflux. Now, he does 90ml and will spit up milk and struggle to burp. Directly after feeding, he's also started to grind against our necks. We initially thought it was for comfort, but turns out it's a classic sign of reflux when they struggle to get burps out. As such, we now have to have him upright about 20 mins longer than before otherwise we're up for seriously wriggly naps.
What we've done to aid and hopefully end nursing strike (whilst there's nothing we really can do to halt the regression/reflux phase).
- Offer the breast religiously at every feed when he's in a good mood. If he's screaming bloody murder I don't. It'll only make it worse.
- He'll successfully latch every second day. At the start, I was worried he'd forgotten how to latch as he wasn't opening his mouth as wide as before and thus not taking enough breast tissue in for a good feed but thankfully he's done some good latches since though they only last a few seconds so it shows he still can and knows what the boob is for. Since start of strike - I've managed 3 good feeds. He'll only latch if I'm on the yoga ball bouncing softly, when he's slowly drowsily awaking, when I'm walking around or if I do the bait n switch and even those aren't always successful. But like most, at the sight of the breast or when I start to lie him horizontal - it's screaming bloody murder.
- Bathing together hasn't helped - I followed all the videos. But I am putting in more and more skin-on-skin time together and I think that helps.
- At every bottle feed, I put my breast next to him to maintain that feeding association and for him not to fear the breast.
- And of course - I'm pumping regularly and have halted formula so he's 100% on breastmilk now.
- I've had 1 online lactation consultation which didn't really give much clarity (the reflux wasn't as bad last week when I did it mind you) and I'm attending a face-to-face one Friday so fingers crossed.
My flow and let-down is fine so that's not the issue. It's as if he's completely repulsed by the breast when it approaches him.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, and if you've been in a similar situation - what was your experience and/or result. I am thankful that he's super healthy and that it isn't the end of the world. But with a difficult intro into breastfeeding after birth, I was finally beginning to enjoy the experience and bam! Did your little one come through?
Thank you for your support and kindness <3 Big hugs to fellow mammas going through this. I see you and support you.
#nursingstrike #breastrefusal #breastfeedingstrike