Ending Baby's Nursing Strike
WHAT IS A NURSING STRIKE?
A nursing strike is an abrupt refusal of the breast. This is not weaning-- which typically happens over a period of time, not suddenly. A strike happens when a baby has been breastfeeding great for days, weeks, or months, and then all of a sudden they refuse the breast. They might be fussy at the breast or simply do not want to latch. This can be so stressful for mamas! Let’s discuss why this happens and what we can do (PS: it’s not your fault!)
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Bottle Intro || has your baby been introduced to a bottle recently? If so, is the person who is giving them a bottle following that paced feeding method (discussed in depth in my breastfeeding course)? Whether we have to, or choose to give baby a bottle (totally okay!)-- if not done properly, it can occasionally lead to a bottle preference. Babies may get used to the fact that they are getting that “instant gratification”: as soon as the bottle hits their mouth, it is pouring down their throat with little effort. They don’t have to do much work for their reward. When following the paced feeding method with bottle feeding, it causes babies to have to do some work to get the milk from the bottle, which is what they have to do when they are at breast, decreasing the likelihood of a bottle preference.
Mama Physical Factors || Babies are very familiar with mama’s scent. If you’re using a new body wash, lotion, or deodorant, this can sometimes confuse babies. The return of fertility (ovulation/period) can change the taste of your milk and reduce your supply temporarily. Sometimes babies are not as willing or excited about going to the breast during that time. Another factor to look at is stress (I know, we are all stressed, we are moms!). Any extraordinary stress--a death of a loved one, a lot going on at work, something that is really weighing on you, can really affect your milk supply, as well as your mood (obvs!). Mastitis (breast infection) or a clogged duct can also make a baby disinterested in nursing.
Baby Physical Factors || Ear infections, colds + runny noses, teething, thrush— all of these can cause babies some discomfort (especially when it comes to swallowing!). These are all reasons that your baby might not want to go to breast. Sore mouths, throats, or sinus pressure makes it very hard for anyone to eat—babies included!
Biting Reactions || Did your baby recently bite you while nursing? If so, how did you react? If you reacted loudly (gasp, scream, yell!), that can startle a baby. It is very hard not to react, but if you do, it may scare your baby and cause a negative association with the breast. I go over more ways to reduce biting, properly react when bitten (when possible!), and care for yourself if a bite occurs in the PDF glossary of my breastfeeding course.
HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST?
Nursing strikes are typically temporary. They only last a couple of days, usually about a week at the most. In the meantime, we need to make sure that we are overcoming this in the best way that we can. When you are stressed, frustrated, and tense your baby senses this and it can further affect the nursing strike!
GETTING BABY BACK TO BREAST
With that being said, this part can be a little difficult, because it is easy to get so stressed and frustrated when your baby is refusing the breast.
Skin to Skin
The biggest thing you can do for yourself and for your baby during a nursing strike to coax them back to going to the breast is be close with them and be around them often, skin to skin. When you are trying to get things done around the house or have other kids to take care of, wear them in a wrap!
Change their Environment
Look at the environment you’re trying to nurse in. Is the TV on loudly? Are siblings running around? If you normally nurse them on the couch, try going back to the nursery! Turn on some white noise & turn down the lights. Make it a calm, soothing, quiet environment so they are more likely to go to breast with less distractions. This especially applies to babies who are more at that distracted age, but even for newborns.
Change the Position
Something that really helped me when I went through this with my son was changing positions. Instead of sitting down to nurse, I would stand up, sway and move around, and he would go right to breast. It was incredible (& only temporary!). Side-lying nursing when baby is drowsy is another great option. Some moms have also told me that what has worked for them was nursing in the bath. Being in a warm bath, skin to skin, is very soothing for both of you.
Attempt Nursing when baby is Drowsy
Attempt nursing sessions when babies are calm and sleepy, they may be much more willing to go to breast during this time.
Paced Feedings
Like we talked about earlier with introducing bottles, if baby starts preferring the bottle, they may want that instant gratification with little effort. That is why it is really important to try to explore paced feeding with your baby if you are going to introduce bottles. I talk all about how to do this properly in my breastfeeding course.
Pump Before Latching
If your baby is already preferring bottles over breast, what you can do is give them that instant gratification. Yep, you read that right! Remember: this isn’t going to be forever, it is just going to be so you can reassociate them with the breast. What you can do to initiate this is to stimulate your letdown before latching your baby on. Grab your pump, start pumping or hand-express to initiate your letdown, then grab your baby (I would have my husband run the baby in when I felt my letdown coming on) and immediately latch them on. This way, as soon as they go to breast, the milk is already flowing and they don’t have to do much work. This doesn’t last forever! I go over pumping properly (yes, it’s a science!) + settings and more in depth info in Conquering the Early Weeks of Breastfeeding.
BE OFTEN & CONSISTENT
With coaxing a baby back to breast, you want to offer the breast often and consistently. However, you do not ever want to force them to breast. You do not want to push their face into the breast or hold the back of their head. IF they are not having it, offer it again in a little bit. Be patient with eachother.
MAMA, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, TOO
Make sure you are still taking care of yourself! You still have to extract your milk to give your body the signal that milk still needs to be made. If we are just constantly in a state of worry about baby going to breast, many of us don't pump because we don't want “empty breasts” to offer our baby. That is not the way we should be thinking. If baby is refusing the breast consistently, your partner can pace feed your baby while you pump, so we are still giving our body the signal that milk still needs to be made. You don’t always need to offer “full breasts” for your baby to take it! Playing the “waiting game” and doing this can cause 4, 5, 6 hours without stimulating yourselves, which takes a toll on supply.
If you’re worried about baby not latching, or fussy at breast due to a supply dip, I do offer some tips on supply boosting methods, with a complete breakdown of why, here.
If you have tried everything with trying to get your baby to nurse and they are just still refusing. Take a deep breath. Hand your baby over to your partner, and let them initiate that paced bottle feeding with them while you pump. Baby is being fed, you are being stimulated. As soon as that bottle feeding/pumping session is over, put baby skin to skin with you and hang out for a little bit. Let’s say an hour goes by-- your baby is not necessarily ravenously hungry yet--keep offering your baby the breast and see if they will attempt a nursing session. They are in a nice calmed relaxed state because they are fed. You do not need to have constantly full breasts when you're going through a nursing strike in order for your baby to take them. Even if it has only been an hour, you are still going to “refill” a bit. Your baby might not get an entirely full feeding when they are at the breast during that nursing strike, because you just pumped an hour ago. That's okay. They just bottle fed an hour ago! So they don't need a full feeding right this second. Still put them on there and keep trying!
For more info on supply boosting methods, pump settings, oversupply/engorgement, going back to work, breastfeeding basics, nursing positions, letdowns, and more— check this out.
xx, karrie
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