Let's Breastfeed

Self weaning – what should I do if my baby calls the shots?

Oh dear, these little ones are a law unto their own. You work so hard to get them onto the breast and ensure that your milk is abundant and then without warning, they decide that they are not going to breastfeed any more! Let’s look at what you can do to help persuade them back onto the breast.

Okay, these are some of the common causes for breastfeeding strike, which can often lead to baby led weaning.

• Has your baby bitten you recently causing you to yelp with pain?
• Has your baby got a nasty head cold that makes feeding difficult?
• Do you have mastitis or a serious breast infection?
• Have you been away from baby for a couple of days

There are so many reasons for baby going on breast strike, but these are some of the more common ones. If your baby is on breast strike, you need to mend the relationship with your baby.

• If you reacted badly to your baby nipping you, you should do a lot of skin to sking with him or her. Have a bath together, spend time together in bed where your baby has maximum exposure to your bare chest.
• If your baby is sick and has a stuffy nose, try to clear this. Use some saline nasal drops before a feed to help break up the mucus. Sit with your baby in a steamy bathroom and see if this helps clear out all the mucus. Ask your GP to check whether baby has a nasty ear infection as this may need a course of antibiotics.
• Mastitis alters the taste of breast milk and can often lead to babies preferring one side to the other. If your baby is refusing to feed from one side, you will need to express from the infected side to clear the mastitis and maintain your supply. Once the mastitis is cleared, feed from the preferred side first and then offer the second breast. Do this at each feed until your baby happily feeds from both sides. Just be sure to keep expressing the infected side until baby drains it completely as milk stagnation will lead to another episode of mastitis – not something you need!
• Some babies just don’t like being away from mom, no matter what the reason. You really need to rebuild your baby’s trust so make sure that you can spend some time with him or her – without interuption. Do all the skin to skin, baby massage, bathing together kind of things and just persist. Enusre that you are maintaining your supply so that when baby does go back onto the breast, your supply is abundant.

It is a difficult situation to find yourself in, but just be patient and objective about the possible causes, so that you are able to find the right way of dealing with early weaning.

I appreciate that this is easier said than done as moms often feel so rejected when baby refuses to nurse. Remember that your baby loves you more than anything or anyone in the world. You have simply hit a glitch and need to find the root of your problem before you can find the route to success.

You know where I am if you need help.

Much love,

Geraldine

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