A nursing strike, also known as a “breastfeeding strike,” occurs when a baby who has been breastfeeding well suddenly refuses to nurse. Typically, this behavior doesn’t emerge until the baby is at least 3 months old and becomes more aware of their surroundings.
During a nursing strike, babies will often reject the breast but display signs of unhappiness, fussiness, and discontentment from not nursing. While it’s common for babies to become distracted while breastfeeding, pulling away or rooting during a feed doesn’t necessarily indicate a nursing strike; rather, it suggests simple distraction. The key indicator of a nursing strike is the refusal to nurse for any duration.
Occasionally, a nursing strike may be misinterpreted as a sign that the baby is ready to wean. However, this is unlikely, as babies seldom self-wean before 2 years of age. When they do wean, it’s typically a gradual process, involving a reduction in the duration and frequency of nursing sessions, rather than a sudden cessation.
What can cause a nursing strike?
Babies may initiate a nursing strike due to various physical and emotional reasons, including:
- Congestion or an earache, which can make nursing uncomfortable.
- Sore throat, mouth cuts, or ulcers, which can cause discomfort while nursing.
- Illness such as hand, foot, and mouth disease, impacting their mouth and making nursing uncomfortable.
- Teething, leading to sore gums.
- Frustration due to a low milk supply, resulting in slow milk flow, or an overabundance of milk causing fast flow.
- Frustration due to changes in milk taste caused by hormonal or dietary changes.
- Startle experiences while nursing, such as loud noises or sudden movements, causing discomfort.
- Sensing stress, anger, or distraction from the caregiver, impacting the focus on nursing.
- Changes in the caregiver’s scent due to personal care product alterations.
- Distractions from an overly stimulating environment.
While some of these causes cannot be entirely prevented, it’s crucial to be mindful of factors that may affect breastfeeding success for your baby.
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Managing a Nursing Strike
In addressing nursing strikes during breastfeeding, it’s crucial for mothers to explore various solutions to encourage their babies to resume nursing. Here are some helpful tips to manage a nursing strike effectively:
- Massage the Baby Before Breastfeeding: Gentle massage before nursing can help comfort and relax the baby.
- Vary Breastfeeding Positions: Experimenting with different breastfeeding positions can help overcome nursing strikes.
- Create a Relaxed Atmosphere with Music: Playing soothing music or singing while breastfeeding can promote relaxation for both the baby and the mother.
- Trickle Breast Milk to Stimulate the Baby: Stimulate the baby’s desire for breast milk by trickling pumped milk onto the corner of their mouth and nipple.
- Use a Rocking Chair: Breastfeeding while gently rocking the baby in a rocking chair can enhance their comfort and willingness to nurse.
- Breastfeed During Drowsiness: Nursing babies when they are drowsy, such as before bedtime, may reduce refusal.
- Promote Skin-to-Skin Contact: Maximizing skin-to-skin contact helps babies feel safe and secure, fostering comfort during breastfeeding.
- Choose a Distraction-Free Environment: Breastfeed in a quiet, distraction-free area to prevent the baby’s attention from wandering.
- Avoid Forceful Feeding: Do not force breastfeeding if the baby refuses, as it can lead to stress. Instead, try different positions and approaches.
If efforts to resolve the nursing strike prove unsuccessful or if the situation worsens, it’s advisable to seek medical advice promptly from Siloam Hospitals or a healthcare professional. By prioritizing the baby’s comfort and employing these strategies, mothers can navigate nursing strikes with patience and care, ensuring the well-being of both mother and baby.
What should you do about a nursing strike?
While experiencing a nursing strike can be stressful for both you and your baby, there are several strategies you can employ to help your baby resume breastfeeding successfully. When dealing with a nursing strike, there are two main challenges to address: maintaining your milk supply and ensuring your baby is adequately fed.
To maintain your milk supply when your baby is nursing less than usual, it’s essential to express milk either through pumping or hand expression. Expressing milk signals your body to continue producing milk for when your baby resumes breastfeeding.
In terms of ensuring your baby is fed during a nursing strike, you may consider pumping and bottle feeding or cup feeding. While it can be challenging to transition your baby to a bottle or cup, it’s crucial to ensure they receive enough nourishment and hydration until they return to breastfeeding.
Once you’ve addressed your baby’s feeding needs and maintained your milk supply, you can focus on reintroducing breastfeeding. If you suspect that your baby’s nursing strike is due to illness or discomfort, consulting your pediatrician can help address any underlying health issues.
After addressing potential causes of the nursing strike and addressing any health concerns, there are several techniques you can try to encourage your baby to nurse again:
- Engage in skin-to-skin contact with your baby and gently offer your breast.
- Experiment with different nursing positions, including various holds and sides.
- Nurse in a calm, dimly lit environment to minimize distractions.
- Offer your breast while sitting together in a warm bath, which can promote relaxation.
- Remain relaxed during nursing sessions and work to reduce stress around feeding times.
- Spend quality, bonding time with your baby outside of nursing sessions.
- Provide positive reinforcement for successful breastfeeding attempts.
When should you be concerned?
Typically, nursing strikes persist for a few days to a week. However, if your baby consistently refuses to eat regardless of the feeding method (breast, bottle, or cup), exhibits weight loss, reduced urination or defecation, or displays other concerning symptoms, it’s crucial to consult your baby’s pediatrician promptly.
On the other hand, if your baby is nursing less frequently than usual but is consuming milk through a bottle or cup, and appears healthy and content, you can be reassured that the nursing strike is not negatively impacting their overall well-being.
Conclusion
Navigating a nursing strike while breastfeeding can be a challenging experience for both the baby and the parent. However, with patience, understanding, and the right strategies, it’s possible to overcome this temporary phase. By maintaining milk supply through expressing, ensuring adequate feeding through alternative methods like bottle or cup feeding, and seeking guidance from healthcare professionals if necessary, parents can support their babies through the nursing strike period. It’s essential to remember that most nursing strikes are temporary and usually resolve within a few days to a week. With a focus on nurturing the parent-child bond, providing a supportive environment, and remaining attentive to the baby’s needs, families can successfully navigate through the challenges of a nursing strike and continue their breastfeeding journey with confidence and resilience.
