RD, LDN, CBS
Certified in Maternal and Infant Nutrition from Cornell, Angela’s mission is to help people reach their wellness goals. She also helps run a program that teaches pregnant women about how a healthy lifestyle optimizes prenatal and postnatal care.
Nursing strikes happen for any number of reasons and sometimes for no reason at all. Most often, however, a nursing strike is a temporary reaction to some external factor.
You baby’s strike may last for a few feeds or even for a few days. No matter the span of time, feed your baby with a bottle until she comes around.
Giving a bottle doesn’t mean she won’t come back to the breast so do keep pumping so that she can. And a nursing strike is not necessarily an indication that your baby has started weaning (baby’s tend not to wean before 12 months of age).
Continue to offer the breast at feeding times without being forceful or overwhelming to her. A gentle offer in a favorite position and place is an invitation you can provide over some minutes; if she rejects it, move on for that feeding and try again for the next one.
Provide your baby with lots of extra time together, especially cuddling and skin-to-skin.
Sometimes a baby “strikes” only one breast. Try swapping sides to see if your baby prefers the other side.
Early morning, right before bed or after a bath are usually mellow times to try nursing. And, when she’s due a feeding but not already ravenously hungry and impatient.
Read Breastfeeding Basics 101: Positioning for suggestions on how to switch it up. As your baby grows she may find comfort in a new a different position.
We have lactation consultants on staff that can offer a sympathetic ear and help you both figure out the situation.
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