Overcoming a Nursing Strike: 5 Tips that Can Help Your Baby Get Back in the Nursing Groove
| Pregnancy |
If your baby has been nursing happily for months and suddenly stops, he’s probably on a nursing strike. A nursing strike doesn’t mean your baby wants to wean; weaning is a gradual process that could take several weeks or even months. A strike comes on abruptly, but usually only lasts a few days. Common causes include earaches, stuffy nose, acid reflux, nipple confusion caused by artificial nipples and/or pacifiers, teething pain, or an unusually long separation from the mother. Regardless of the cause, the strategies for getting your baby back to breast remain the same.
Here are 5 tips that can help you and your baby get back in the nursing groove:
INCREASE SKIN-TO-SKIN
Provide skin-to-skin contact by placing your baby’s bare torso against your chest. Skin-to-skin has been found to be a stress reliever and to lower blood pressure in mothers. Providing a soothing and relaxed environment can help your baby accept the breast again.
EXPRESS SOME MILK FIRST
Expressing a few drops of milk onto your nipple can help provide an instant reward for your baby. Swallowing triggers suckling, which can help get your baby breastfeeding.
TRY DIFFERENT NURSING POSITION
Your baby may be more willing to breastfeed if you try a new nursing position. If you usually nurse sitting in a chair, try laid-back nursing. Laid-back nursing elicits a baby’s natural breastfeeding instincts while gravity helps keep the baby in place. Unlike other positions, babies can’t arch away in this one.
MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS
Nursing in a quiet, darkened room helps minimize distractions and allows your baby to focus on breastfeeding.
NURSE THE BABY IN HIS SLEEP
Lots of babies take the breast more willingly when in a relaxed, sleepy state.
OFFER SPICY FOODS, EXOTIC CUISINES, AND COLORFUL PRESENTATIONS
As soon as your child starts eating food and transitioning through the first year of eating, be sure to be adventurous with flavors and how you serve food. Vary the shape, size, and method of preparation so your child becomes comfortable with eating a wide variety of foods.
Almost all nursing strikes end happily. With a little patience and persistence, everything should smooth out within a few days. The most important thing to do during this time is to continue feeding your baby and to protect your milk supply by pumping or expressing milk whenever your baby normally feeds.
Written by Rebecca Agi
Deb is the director of Prenatal Yoga Center, DONA certified labor support doula, and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. When she is not teaching prenatal yoga in her class, Deb is a regular contributor to New York Family Magazine as Birth and Prenatal Yoga Expert. Deb looks to establish a safe, effective and empowering class for pregnancy and beyond.
Overcoming a Nursing Strike: 5 Tips that Can Help Your Baby Get Back in the Nursing Groove
| Pregnancy |
If your baby has been nursing happily for months and suddenly stops, he’s probably on a nursing strike. A nursing strike doesn’t mean your baby wants to wean; weaning is a gradual process that could take several weeks or even months. A strike comes on abruptly, but usually only lasts a few days. Common causes include earaches, stuffy nose, acid reflux, nipple confusion caused by artificial nipples and/or pacifiers, teething pain, or an unusually long separation from the mother. Regardless of the cause, the strategies for getting your baby back to breast remain the same.
Here are 5 tips that can help you and your baby get back in the nursing groove:
INCREASE SKIN-TO-SKIN
Provide skin-to-skin contact by placing your baby’s bare torso against your chest. Skin-to-skin has been found to be a stress reliever and to lower blood pressure in mothers. Providing a soothing and relaxed environment can help your baby accept the breast again.
EXPRESS SOME MILK FIRST
Expressing a few drops of milk onto your nipple can help provide an instant reward for your baby. Swallowing triggers suckling, which can help get your baby breastfeeding.
TRY DIFFERENT NURSING POSITION
Your baby may be more willing to breastfeed if you try a new nursing position. If you usually nurse sitting in a chair, try laid-back nursing. Laid-back nursing elicits a baby’s natural breastfeeding instincts while gravity helps keep the baby in place. Unlike other positions, babies can’t arch away in this one.
MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS
Nursing in a quiet, darkened room helps minimize distractions and allows your baby to focus on breastfeeding.
NURSE THE BABY IN HIS SLEEP
Lots of babies take the breast more willingly when in a relaxed, sleepy state.
Almost all nursing strikes end happily. With a little patience and persistence, everything should smooth out within a few days. The most important thing to do during this time is to continue feeding your baby and to protect your milk supply by pumping or expressing milk whenever your baby normally feeds.
About Rebecca Agi
Rebecca Agi is a Los Angeles based International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who provides in-home counseling and education to new and expecting families. Rebecca completed her lactation consultant training though UC San Diego’s Lactation Program, and currently is the owner of Best Milk LA. There, Rebecca provided lactation support to hundreds of new mothers and babies with breastfeeding challenges.
