Breastfeeding Strike Or When The Baby Refuses To Breastfeed

You have been breastfeeding your baby for several months now. You have managed to overcome the problems in the first weeks such as - sore, cracked and bleeding nipples; flat or sunken grains; full breasts; insufficient milk; clogged milk ducts and many others. Things are going well now.

Suddenly the child refuses to eat from the breast, is restless and cries ...

Does he want to be weaned? Is it sick? Is there something wrong with the milk?

This abrupt withdrawal from the breast usually occurs in babies between three and eight months of age and is known as a "breastfeeding strike." It is possible if the child is over nine months old to want to be weaned, but this is very unlikely. Babies who wish to be weaned themselves gradually give up breastfeeding and show no dissatisfaction.

Breastfeeding strikes usually last several days, but in some cases can last a week or more.

It is not always easy to find out what causes breastfeeding failure, and sometimes the cause remains unknown. Many mothers choose to wean their child during this period, especially if it is older than six months. However, it is desirable that babies be encouraged to return to breastfeeding within a few days. It requires patience and determination on your part, but it is best worth the effort.

Breastfeeding strikes are discouraging and frustrating for everyone involved - mother, baby, father, and all siblings. During these periods, the infant is upset and may find it difficult to calm him down. You may also be physically unwell. If the baby misses meals, your breasts will fill with milk, which can lead to overflow and / or blockage of the milk ducts.

While the baby is on a breastfeeding strike, you will need to express the milk as often as he has suckled. This will help prevent the above problems.

During the strike, you will need to decide how to feed the baby to return it to the breast more easily. It is good to avoid the pacifier and try to cope with a cup, spoon, syringe or dropper.

Bottle feeding with a rubber pacifier can satisfy the baby's need to breastfeed, but makes it less likely that the baby will want to breastfeed again. This is especially true for younger babies. Believe it or not, even newborns can be fed a glass. Giving milk with a syringe or dropper can be difficult, but with a little practice, most babies will get used to it fairly quickly.

Causes of breastfeeding strikes

With this breast infection, the milk may decrease and the sodium levels in it may increase, which makes it taste salty. These are temporary problems, but the baby cannot know it.

Some babies respond to the discomfort of teething by refusing to eat more often, while others completely refuse to breastfeed.

If the baby has a stuffy nose, herpes, ear infection, thrush or another health problem, breastfeeding can be unpleasant for him. With an ear infection, lying on the side of a sore ear can be uncomfortable for the child. Try to breastfeed him in an upright position or use a soccer ball position to avoid pressure on the affected ear. If his nose is blocked, ask your doctor for advice to alleviate the condition (usually the use of sea water, nasal aspirator, moisturizer). When the reason for refusing to breastfeed is in the mouth (teething or thrush), bottle feeding is usually more convenient for the baby.

The mechanics of breastfeeding and artificial feeding are quite different. Drinking from a bottle requires less effort and less movement than sucking. This is one of the reasons why it is preferable to use another method to feed expressed milk during strikes rather than a bottle with a pacifier. However, if this is the only way for the baby to feed during this period, do not hesitate to use it. Most babies will return to the breast after feeling better, even if they have been bottle-fed several times.

Some babies will respond to negative stimuli by refusing to breastfeed. This stress may be due to siblings competing for the mother's attention during breastfeeding, a change in the environment (such as traveling to a new place or moving to a new home), an excessive reaction from the mother (for example, when bitten). ) or severe stress in life (divorce, death in the family, etc.).

Sometimes the baby will refuse to resume breastfeeding if his mother has left him for a weekend or longer.

You have started work and you have to leave the child with a babysitter.

This can be caused by long intervals between feedings, excessive use of bottles, pacifiers or illness in the mother.

You have changed the perfume, lotion, shampoo, soap or other toiletries that make your baby's skin different.

Applying creams or ointments to the breast (other than lanolin specifically designed for breastfeeding mothers, which is odorless and tasteless) and, rarely, anything in your diet (such as dairy or excessive caffeine) can cause your baby to refuse to breastfeed. breast.

For example, having passed into a new period (after the first six weeks). This is because they become much more social during this time. The newborn baby needs only the breast and for an hour or more, completely forgets his surroundings. There could even be a strong earthquake and the newborn continues to suckle through it simply because young babies love to suckle. They even suck their fingers in the womb just because they feel good.

Once the baby learns to actively interact and smile, it becomes much more distracted. It wants to suck, play and smile at the same time. He is very interested in his surroundings. Wants to browse the room if the TV is on or a sibling is playing around. It is very difficult to stay attached to the chest and at the same time look around the room. This can be quite frustrating for babies and can make them angry and pull from the breast.

At the beginning of the feeding, the milk flows vigorously and then slows down to a thin stream. While the newborn is fully prepared to wait for the milk to flow again, the older baby may be restless after the initial flow and not want to continue breastfeeding while waiting for the milk to flow again. Older babies get the milk they need in less than fifteen minutes. The milk flow reflex at this time is already well established and children suckle more efficiently. An infant who pulls from the breast and gives up after a few minutes, not wanting to take the other breast, is probably just full to the brim.

If you are not sure if it is getting enough breast milk - see the article Is there enough milk for your baby?

Older babies may be more restless at night or during sleep

Some babies can't sleep even while their eyelids are drooping and you know for sure that they are exhausted. A baby who is nervous cannot stay on the breast long enough to receive back milk, which will help fill his tummy so that he sleeps longer at night. If your baby is nervous in the evening and wants to breastfeed often, offer the same breast until you have breastfed her for at least twenty minutes. Switching from one breast to another too often can lead to only breast milk, which is higher in lactose and can cause flatulence. Also, the amount of breast milk is the lowest in the evenings, and you are the most tired and stressed.

The techniques used to encourage breastfeeding babies are similar to those used for nervous babies who also refuse to breastfeed. Try the tips below, and if all else fails, it's best to switch to an alternative diet (preferably breast milk). This can be a good time for dad, as he can take part in meals at night, which in turn will provide rest for you.

When encouraging the baby to breastfeed, you need to be patient and persistent. If you or your baby become frustrated during the process, it is best to stop, trying again later if you do not want to stop breastfeeding.

Here are some tips that will help you:

Use a sling or kangaroo to keep it close to you between meals. Try to take a bath together. Take off the bra during breastfeeding, and leave the baby only in diapers and cover him with a diaper if the room is cool (this ensures direct contact with your skin).

You may be more successful if you take your baby to bed with you at night and breastfeed him when he wakes up. Many babies who refuse to breastfeed when awake are breastfed when they are sleepy.

Feed your baby in a quiet, dark room with soothing music.

Try breastfeeding while moving - walking or rocking. Experiment to find out what works for your baby. Some infants suckle while their mothers walk or swing, but not while sitting in a chair. Others while the mothers are lying down, but not while sitting on the couch. Different breastfeeding positions can also be helpful.

Do not wait until the baby begins to feel very hungry. It seems logical that if he is not hungry enough, he will not ask for the breast, but this is not quite so. It often happens that very hungry babies do not breastfeed. In such cases, drip some milk into his mouth with a dropper or syringe while he is on the breast to encourage him to suckle.

Whatever the reason for the baby's refusal to breastfeed, you can almost always persuade him to return to the breast. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance, but the benefits for both of you are huge and worth the effort!