Breastfeeding is a blessing and a beautiful experience to share with your little one. Many times, we see breastfeeding portrayed as something that is simple, natural and graceful. What about the days that it is not, though? Why don’t we discuss these things more to encourage our fellow breastfeeders, because giving up is not the answer!
Babies go through phases during our breastfeeding journey, some of these phases are amazing, such as baby feeding regularly and taking in enough milk to gain weight and have proper nutrition. In other instances, your little one may go on a booby strike, and that can be so discouraging!
Sometimes mothers interpret this as baby self weaning, but many times that is not the case especially if they are still within their first year of life. Don’t worry momma, by the time you leave this blog, you will feel the burden lift, as you discover ways to effectively handle this phase of your breastfeeding journey. These simple tips and tricks will encourage your little one to latch on and get back to drinking some of that delicious breast milk!
Nursing Strike or refusing to latch?
First off, take a deep breath momma! Our babies can feel our energy! The best thing you can do for your baby is to stay calm and keep the time at the breast happy and relaxing, even when you are feeling overwhelmed. Here are a few ways to keep this time joyful and peaceful for both mom and baby.
- Take a nice, warm bath, and place the baby on your chest. Once you lean back and are enjoying a moment of relaxation and skin to skin contact, some babies will naturally choose to latch on their own!
- Offer the breast when your baby is full. We can get busy and before we know it our little one is ready to eat and will become frantic. Frustration from being hungry can make it difficult for them to calm down long enough to latch on properly, which will only lead to more frustration.
- Try feeding your baby while they are resting at night or napping during the day. Babies do not need their eyes open to nurse effectively and sometimes do better half-asleep than fully awake.
- Provide as much skin to skin contact with your baby as possible. Not only does this encourage latch, it has also been known to increase milk supply and it is one of the most effective and special ways for you to bond with your baby.
Promoting and Encouraging Latch
There are methods to increase babies’ willingness to latch during even your normal everyday routine. It doesn’t always have to be so intentional, and definitely try not to force it! Here are a few on the go tips to encourage baby to latch:
- Baby wearing – I swear by this method! Grab yourself a sling or carrier and strap that precious baby on throughout the day. Whether you are getting caught up on housework or making dinner, this keeps you and baby close even outside of feedings. This may also help you to notice hunger cues sooner and avoid getting distracted by that massive to-do list!
- Hang around other moms that are also breastfeeding their babies or toddlers. This will encourage your baby to take the breast as well!
- Avoid using a pacifier or bottles as much as possible during this time.This will encourage him to turn to the breast to pacify which will help the baby to start nursing again more quickly.
Why a Nursing Strike can Happen
When a nursing strike happens, you may want to figure out the reason why. You may or may not find the answer, but here are some possible causes.
It is possible that this nursing strike is not just a strike after all but caused by external factors causing baby stress, and to become upset.
Did you recently return back to work? Baby could be having a hard time adjusting with the separation, and also the fact that the baby is being bottle fed during the day. This could cause some aversions at the breast and readjusting may take time and patience.
Another common reason why a nursing strike occurs is when your little one is feeling ill. Look for symptoms like pulling at the ear, and teething pain. Also, when congestion is present, it makes it difficult for the baby to breathe through the nose while feeding at the breast which can be frustrating and stressful.
Did you recently move or travel? These disruptions to normal patterns and routines are all things that can take the baby a while to adjust to.
It also could be as simple as your reaction to your baby biting you during a feed, if you reacted in a way that scared them, you just need to be cautious and calm as you move forward with feeds to reduce the anxiety caused by the incident.
So if you realize this strike may have been preceded by an external cause, you may need to be patient and give it time. If things do not improve, seeking the help of an IBCLC may be beneficial to get your precious little one back on track.
Key Points to Remember
Keep the process happy, keep the process peaceful, and continue to bond with your little one even through the strike. Play while nursing, you don’t have to try hard at every feeding! Promoting your little one to return to the breast can be achieved with intentional time spent together at the breast, but can also be encouraged through simple things like wearing your baby around the home while you tackle all of your daily tasks. Offer the breast often, especially outside of your normal feeding routine.
If you find these tips and tricks are not helping, schedule and in person or virtual consultation with your local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. With the help of your IBCLC, together, you can identify things that may be causing an interruption to babies interest at the breast.
Reach out today for a virtual visit with Alyssa!
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