8 Day Nursing Strike

[Karin3]

I haven't posted on here in forever because I've been super-busy.  I have a huge problem though and was wondering if anyone can help me.  (This is going to be kind of long)

History:
Wednesday (2/11): At Dalton's 11:30am nursing he bit me.  It was really hard.  He clamped down and pulled off the breast at the same time.  I yelled out and he cried afterward.  Then, he wouldn't nurse for 3:30 feeding.  He's been kind of throwing that one lately, so I didn't give it too much though.  But then he refused the breast before bed too and I knew something was up then.
Thursday & Friday (2/12 &2/13): He was still refusing the breast so I started pumping and giving him his milk in a straw cup.  He liked the milk cold and he's been acting like he was teething.  So, I gave some pain meds and kept trying to nurse.  I did all the 1-1 time I could do... run around without a shirt, carry him in a sling, etc... that's recommended.  He still refused the breast and would throw a BIG fit when I offered.
Saturday & Sunday: He refused all liquids and solids.  So, by Sunday he was really dehydrated.  I took him into the ER and they admitted him.

He ran a really high temp Sunday night and then had a low-grade temp up until yesterday.  By Tuesday (2/17), he started taking in solids again but no liquids... even from a straw cup.  I finally got him to start taking some liquids via syringe yesterday so they went ahead and released him from the hospital.  He still kind of acts like he's teething but he still won't nurse even when I give him Orajel or Tylenol. 

Although I'm pumping, my supply is really dropping because of this.  I also don't think he's getting enough from a syringe.  I spoke to an LC and she's baffled as well.  She's looking into it.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

This is really just breaking my heart.  I planned on nursing Dalton past 12 months and I really don't know what to do.

[A pair of Charlies]

Hugs hugs hugs     How awful 

I really don't know how to answer or what to say. May-be there's something here: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=89418.0 . I see from your post that you've tried some of those things already... 

Hoping that some other Mamas out there have been successfully got past this and can advise?

Hugs, sorry I'm no help here

Charlotte

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Poor little guy!  Sounds like the fever was either a bit of a bug, or maybe teething?  And now a full on nursing strike.   {{big hugs}}

A couple of ideas:
- Have you tried infant motrin?  I found it was much better than Tylenol for teething pain. 
- Keep pumping - you could try breastmilk popcicles for him to sort of chew on?
- and I'd just keep trying to offer the breast too - maybe while he's asleep like a dreamfeed? 
- What about taking a bath with him? 
- talk or sing to him while you offer your breast?
- is he taking anything from anyone else - have someone else offer a bottle or cup of EBM?

Please keep us posted on how you're both doing!

[Canwi]

Having had a short nursing strike with DS1 and a full-out breast aversion with DS2 I can fully appreciate and understand where you are coming from.
Keep offering. 
Try to be gentle in your approach.  I know it's gut wrenching to offer the breast and your DS not to take it, but try to be relaxed about it.  He's going to feel your anxiety and it makes things worse.  Lots of cuddling and "nice" time with you may also help.
Nursing in a dark quiet room was the ONLY way I could get DS2 to nurse.  Also nursing half-asleep was another way we kept going.  DS1 had to be entertained by the telly while we tried feeding through out the day.
I'm pretty stubborn and kept going at it.  It was the hardest thing I've ever had to go through.  But we succeeded and DS2 is still nursing now.
The only thing I really can say is perserve.

Your supply is dropping a little due to stress as well as the lack of suckling.  Try pumping more often in a day.  Eat as well as you can and drink lots. 

He may have teeth moving under the gums that are bugging him, and the illness wouldn't have helped.  I wish I had an easy answer, but I haven't seen any. 
Good luck.  If I think of anything else that I did I'll let you know.

[Karin3]

Thanks for all the responses and advice!

My husband's deployed (military) so with a 2 year old also running around, I haven't been able to do as much as I'd like.  My mom is driving out to help though and should be here tomorrow so that should help with being able to pump more often.  My daughter is going through all sorts of issues since that hospital stay was the longest we've been apart.  It was a very long stressful day. 

Since DS still isn't taking in very much liquid (only 2-4 tsp at a time from a syringe), I have to focus on getting liquid into him.  We saw the doc today and he said if he only drinks juice/water/pedialyte/gatorade right now that's fine as long as I get some liquid into him.  He said to worry about his milk intake later since dehydration is an issue right now.  Of course, I'm going to keep offering the breast.  Since he's eating food just not drinking anything, the doc wants me to give him foods with a high water content.

I talked to the LC on the phone today and if he doesn't start nursing in the next couple of days, she's going to loan me a pump from the hospital since I only have a hand pump.  Since he only wants cold stuff, she also suggested putting a cold rag on my breast.  That's going to be highly uncomfortable but definitely worth a try.

He woke up a few times last night and would start to root around, then would turn away and throw a big fit when I put my boob up to his mouth.  Eventually, he did kind of nuzzle it though and fall asleep on it.  So, that's some progress, right? 

Anyway, once my mom's here I'm going to try taking a warm bath with him and I should be able to get more 1-1 time with him.

[Karin3]

I just realized I forgot to answer questions. Doh!   

Motrin:  I was giving Motrin at night but while he was at the hospital they found blood in his stool.  They think that the Motrin may have upset the lining in his tummy so we are not touching Motrin.  They're guessing because they don't know for sure but I threw it all out as soon as I got home anyway.

I will definitely try the BM popsicles!

When my mom gets here, I'll have her offer a bottle of EBM.  He won't take a bottle from me.  He's always been off and on with a bottle so we'll see how that goes.  (I haven't given many bottles in the past and he refused it a few weeks ago from my sitter.)  The LC recommended this too.  She said we could get him to switch back from the bottle fairly easily as long as he's hydrated.

[Canwi]

He woke up a few times last night and would start to root around, then would turn away and throw a big fit when I put my boob up to his mouth.  Eventually, he did kind of nuzzle it though and fall asleep on it.  So, that's some progress, right? 

Yes that's definitely progress.  Keep trying, however it works.

I'm not trying to scare you with this link, but more give you some ideas/hints and knowledge that a long nursing strike can be overcome.  http://www.tachyonlabs.com/40strike.html Admittedly this Mom's LO was older, but I hope you get where I coming from.

I truly wish you all the luck, good fairies, miracles etc that I can muster.  It is heartbreaking to have this happen.
Keep us posted, and again if I think of anything else, I'll get back to you.

[A pair of Charlies]

Progress is just that: progress. Nuzzling and falling asleep on the breast is a step closer!

Hugs and wishing you both the best of luck 

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Definitely some good progress.  Try to stay as relaxed as you can and hopefully he'll relax too.

And I have heard of bleeding problems with motrin before - it's uncommon, but good that you know!

[katakow2]

I'm so sorry that you're going through all of this   I went through nursing strikes with both of my babies and that alone is hard enough.
My ds started out the same way as yours and I thought that it was teething too.  But, having just come out of it, I'm pretty sure that he had a sore throat and some sort of virus (which the pediatrician didn't notice, but maybe it came later).  He did get slightly dehydrated, but he would still take small amounts of liquid from a sippy so we didn't have to go through anything as serious as a hospital stay (huge HUGS to your whole family!).  My ds also preferred cold, frozen foods- anything made into a popsicle was a big hit.  And then a week later, offered breast as usual (expecting to be refused as usual) and we're all back to normal (in fact, he can't get enough, this was all followed by a growth spurt!). 
Anyways, maybe something similar is going on with your lo?  Hoping he's back to bf normally real soon

[Canwi]

How's things?

[Karin3]

Sorry I haven't been on for awhile.  It was kinda hectic with my mom here and everything.

DS is still on strike.  I don't think I could get any more relaxed about it.  I whip it out and he has a big fit.  It's a big enough fit where "persistence" would definitely hold the same court with forcing him.  So, I try to just hold him with my shirt off or something and sometimes he'll use the boob as a pillow to fall asleep on. 

He wouldn't take a bottle from my mom either.  He doesn't seem to want to suck on anything.  He's taking a sippy cup right now with the valve out but he can't quite handle it himself.  At least I'm getting a little bit more into him.  The LC is loaning me one of the hospital pumps and I can use that for the next couple of months if this continues. 

She suggested I go back to the doc and explore seasonal allergies as a possibility.  It's very windy and warm where we live.  I have a feeling all 3 of us are suffering right now from allergies.  For me it depends on where I live and I haven't suffered for a number of years.  Definitely worth looking into though at this point.  So, we'll see what the doc says on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, it's much easier to pump with the hospital pump.  It doesn't take as long so I'm able to pump more often.  The LC also suggested fenugreek to get my supply back up.  Honestly though, DS really isn't taking what I'm pumping now though... He's maybe taking 4-10oz per day right now.  She said that we don't want him to get frustrated with not enough milk when/if he finally decides he wants the boob again.

This has been going on for 2 weeks though.  I'm starting to feel like he just doesn't want to nurse anymore.  I know all of the experts "say" they don't self-wean this early but, my goodness, if we were back in the day before breast pumps, by the time he got out of this funk my milk supply would be gone and he would be totally weaned.  KWIM?  This has been such an ordeal that if he was closer to 12 months, I would just wean right now.  As it is I'm about to give up.  I'm just one person and I'm definitely not a saint or a martyr. 

[A pair of Charlies]

{{HUGS}}  And hoping for success

[Canwi]

I agree with the LC.  You should go back to the doc and investigate.  Also look at anything that would affect his sucking, esp anything painful.  Teeth are one thing that springs to mind, ears are another.
I'm plum outta ideas sorry hon. 
Just got more (((hugs))) for you

[Karin3]

I'm thinking maybe seasonal allergies (pollin, hayfever, etc) could be part of the culprit as well as teething.  We've been sick ALOT this year, and I really think it's allergies.  It doesn't really get that cold where we live and it's very windy.  (I only have allergies when I live in certain places and we move every 18 months - 2 years so it's hard to be sure sometimes.)  I took both kids to the doc yesterday and they both have double ear infections.  So, that would explain why the past few days he would scream and cry if I even layed him down on the boppy. 

The doc only wants me to use allergy meds with him at night though since he's so young.    I bought a couple of air purifiers - one for the living room and one for his bedroom.  I can already feel the difference in my sinuses.  Hopefully, this makes everyone better.

DS also just popped out the 2nd of 4 teeth that he started cutting 2 weeks ago.  I can see the 3rd one about to come through.  Then, there should be just one more and then hopefully we can have a break from teething.  Lord knows, I need a break from his teething.