Nursing strike? Help. Long

My DD is flat out refusing me. She's 3 months on Thurs and I still have oversupply issues. She only gets one bottle a day--if that. She recently started taking more in that bottle--5 oz and sometimes still seems hungry, so my body must be producing more. I've been pumping (usually only once a day) 6 oz at a pop. I think my let down must be overwhelming her again, though it hasn't been as bad as it was in the beginning. Earlier in the week she was refusing my right side (my dominant side). She wouldn't even latch. I'd put her to that side and she'd immediately push away. Yesterday it was both sides. I went to feed her at 2 pm and she keep pushing away, crying, or latching for a second or two and pulling off. I calmed her down and decided to try again later. I couldn't get her back on until about 4:30 (the last time she ate was noon). It involved some crying but I eventually got her latched. At her next feeding, which wasn't until 8 (she usually eats every 2 hours) because she took a long nap and again refused. She was eating her hands and crying in hunger and and again refused my breast. She wouldn't even attempt to latch. I ended up giving her a bottle that she sucked down. I was able to nurse her before bed. She fought a little, but latched and then fell asleep. She got up more than usual, not surprisingly since she didn't eat enough during the day, and latched no problem. But this am, she's back to refusing. So now I'm sitting her pumping, so I can feed her. I can't even do the pump for a min or two trick, because she won't latch at all!

Do you think it's the oversupply? Is she trying to tell me she likes bottles better help? I don't want to force her on my breast. What do I do?

Re: Nursing strike? Help. Long

Have you tried holding her and walking around while nursing. My DS is 10 months and we have had a lot of issues but he always latched while doing this. He is distracted and looking around so he isn't thinking too much about it.

Also maybe get in the bath with her and make sure she is very relaxed and then try again.

Have you layed down and put her next to you to nurse? Or let her be angled on top of you so the let down is not as forceful?

I personally would stop giving her a bottle, she will figure it out even though it seems like she wont now. I think that was a huge mistake I made with DS and my supply never properly regulated, it was such a pain!!!

Always try to be calm while nursing and never force her. When I am calm and take deep breaths in the middle of a nursing freak out DS seems to react to it and also calm down.

Good luck, it will get better!!!

Re: Nursing strike? Help. Long

i would try pumping and then feeding when the breast has been drained just to see if its the let down that is scaring your lo, or i would try laying down skin to skin and seeing if your lo bops down

Message edited 4/4/2011 10:09:39 AM.

Re: Nursing strike? Help. Long

Oversupply prob isn't the issue, maybe it's a forceful let-down. If that's the case lean back while nursing, gravity helps lessen the force of the flow.

And to be totally honest, if you are that set on BFing and not giving her BM in the bottle, you may just have to ride it out. Don't force her to BF, but she will eventually when she gets hungry enough

I'm not a big fan of pumping before BFing esp. if you have an oversupply, you're just telling your body to make even more milk that way.

Re: Nursing strike? Help. Long

The more bottles you give her the more she will wan that, its easier for her.

If you have an oversupply you can try hand expressing a bit at the beginning, also LEAN BACK when nursing, it helps to slow down the flow.

She may just be having an off day too.... it happens!

Re: Nursing strike? Help. Long

Thanks for the responses. I always recline when feeding her. We do side lying a lot too. She never latches well when I lay her directly on top of me. I'll try standing up. We've been dealing with oversupply from the get go. It seemed like it was better for a while, now my supply is crazy again. The only thing that has really changed is her demand--taking more.

I went to see a LC/pediatrician when she was 6 weeks. She's the one who suggested a bottle a day--especially around the real fussy feedings. I guess I can stop and see what happens. I'm a wahm, but will need to go into NYC here and there, so she'll need to take bottles.

Re: Nursing strike? Help. Long

My DS was the king of nursing strikes. One time he lasted 2 weeks! Just hang in there. She will come back, it just takes patience. I am now still nursing my DS at 15 months :)

Here are tricks that I've used with my DS:
Bait & Switch: give 1/2 to 3/4 of a feeding with your regular bottle, then offer the breast. Eventually you will get to offering only 1/4 of a feeding, then only the breast (if your supply is there)
Snuggle Time: feed baby while in sidelying position, snuggled up together in bed.
Infant Massage: this increases skin-to-skin with baby, always helpful.
Awakening: nap with baby. When baby is waking up, fluttering her eyes just a bit, offer the breast without really touching or moving her. Drousy babies are more accepting of different nipples. This has to be one of the most effective strategies.
Kangaroo: mom & baby naked during feeding, even with the bottle, can facilitate breastfeeding
Bath Time: take a warm bath with your baby at about the time of his next feeding. Relax together, no stress, don't worry about getting clean. Let her lie on your belly and gently guide her to your nipple.
You can do these things every day.