Hey mommas, have you ever experienced your little refusing to breastfeed, or did you notice they may refuting when its feeding time or becoming “less interested” in breastfeeding although thats what it may look like, a nursing strike typically occurs around 3-6 months although one can happen later on at the 9 month mark (Although a nursing strike SHOULD NOT OCCUR BEFORE 3 MONTHS OF AGE! Seek medical attention if so!) Don’t panic momma a nursing strike only last a few days to two weeks max! Some possible reasons why a nursing strike may be happening is because, dips in milk supply due to woman’s cycle, new fragrances being worn or hygiene products, let down overflow (baby cant control fast flow), change to feeding schedule, or change to milk flavor due to diet or medications. Those above mentioned would fall under parent specific reasons. Let’s get into baby specific reasons as of why baby may be striking, cold or congestion, stuffy nose is one reason. Some other reasons could be gum irritation (teething), irritability, nipples confusion from switching between breasts, separation, distractions, recent scary breastfeeding experience (baby bites and mom yells, baby gets scared). Again no worries momma, you can overcome this, and get right back to your regularly scheduled program. I know because, a nursing strike happened for us. It happened later on shortly after he turned one. The story is, my sister and I had taken a weekend trip to visit a family friend, I had left breastmilk bottles previously pumped for him to last the weekend. He had gotten comfortable with the bottle and I can assume lazy/spoiled because with bottling feeding the flow is instant, and consistent. No work goes into bottle feeding, no stimulation is needed. So with that being said, when i returned home, he absolutely wanted nothing to do with nursing from me. I knew what was happening and the cause of it, I was also devastated and nervous because my baby needs breastmilk, how is he going to feed, I didn’t want to supplement with formula. Although we could’ve ended breastfeeding; I knew I wanted to continue giving him the most nutritional milk until he was 2-3 years old. Thankfully his nursing strike didn’t last long. In order to get back to regularly nursing I took advantage of feeding at his most vulnerable moments, showing signs of being sleepy, hunger cues, or for comfort purposes; with that we easily pursed breastfeeding again. I also learned my lesson of not leaving my baby until we are ready to wean. So again momma it is possible to begin nursing again. Do not allow a nursing strike to discourage you from continuing nursing. Mommas you can overcome a nursing strike, best way to do it is to take advantage of your babies vulnerable moments like when sleepy, or showing hunger cues. Another way is to get your baby to feel safe and secure with you again mom, extra cuddles and love can do that, and allow your baby to come to you when in need of cuddles, love, or just simply bonding; also momma skin to skin too may help as well! Babies are little master beings of manipulation, so momma you have to play their games and manipulate and encourage them to physically attach to breast, if you wish and desire to continue breastfeeding. Mommas chime in, did you ever see signs or what looked like to be a nursing strike, and was it difficult for you to overcome? Did you overcome it, if so what methods of ending their nursing strike did you use?

For more information and support click links below.

https://nestcollaborative.com/blog/nursing-strikes-what-they-are-why-they-happen-and-how-to-get-back-on-track/?gclid=CjwKCAjwkY2qBhBDEiwAoQXK5TvphQJOOEdE-l8bHZWSmofkp-G1p9V6E-lz_pZ1yxJIVgl0TKpKNBoCCIkQAvD_BwE

https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/nursing-strikes/