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Aroz 
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Location: Tauranga
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 Topic: 11 month old refusing to breastfeed
Posted: 02 December 2009 at 11:48am |
My DD has always had a very healthy appetite when it comes to meals and breastfeeding but when she woke up about 5am this morning I tried to breastfeed her to help settle back to sleep but she kept trying to push away from me as if it was poison. I tried lying down with her to make her more relaxed and comfortable but she just kept straining to get away so I thought she musn't be hungry and lay with her till she fell asleep. 7am this morning same thing again but by this time she was so tired and frustrated that I ended up having to express and give it to her in a bottle. She only drunk about 30mls then ended up in bed with me again but still refusing to breastfeed and only falling asleep out of exhaustion. I have never heard of BF strikes till now but I can't for the life of me think what could be causing it.. She is completely healthy, isn't teething as she already has four already come through a few weeks ago with no problems and I'm definitely not pregnant so I know it's not my milk as she managed to drink a little from a bottle anyway. has anyone else ever had this experience and how long did it last, what did you do?
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AandCsmum
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Joined: 13 May 2008
Location: Palmerston North
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 12:26pm |
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Not getting your AF or Oving?
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Kel
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12
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cuppatea
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 12:29pm |
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Kyle did this a few weeks ago and it turned out he was a bit constipated, was odd cos he was still eating and drinking water but didn't want to breastfeed, he came right as soon as he wasn't constipated anymore though.
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Aroz
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 1:05pm |
Cuppatea: She was constipated a few months sgo but still managed to feed fine. She hasn't been toilet since yesterday though so I'm hoping this isn't the case?
Aliasmum: Ive also been on the depo for a few months now but I did have a little bit of spotting yesterday, not sure if this would affect her feeding or not though?
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mumzrule
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Joined: 18 January 2009
Location: Wanganui
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 1:24pm |
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Have you tried a little bit of marmite? I have heard it works for nursing strikes.
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Aroz
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 1:32pm |
Haven't tried the marmite yet but I'll give it a try... 
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mumzrule
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 1:55pm |
Let me know if it works.
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mybeautiful3
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 2:07pm |
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Breastfeeding strikes at this age are usually the result of a "change" in something - the key is to find the change! Have you looked in her mouth - any signs of possible thrush? Or perhaps coming down with something - earache or postnasal drip?
Lots of skin to skin cuddles will be a good reminder of her security at the breast - or perhaps a bath or shower together & offering her your breast?
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Just  my job as a Birth Doula!
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blondy
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 2:50pm |
We survived 2 BF strikes - one started off as a cold for her, but the second seemed to have no reason!  A couple of things that got us through: don't force her to BF, but do keep offering it (and if she refuses, don't get upset - act like it's not that important). Try and do a dreamfeed if possible during the night - her 'defenses' will probably be down! I personally wouldn't offer a bottle if you're worried about continuing to BF (partly because Natalie never took one at that age) - solids and water/juice should be fine. Generally (unless they are very unwell), their survival instinct does kick in, and they won't starve themselves! I know how scary and frustrating it can be. Both strikes lasted maybe 4 days (and that was with a baby that didn't take a bottle, and was only having a small amount of water....we ended up syringing fluid into her, but if she's taking water etc, then you should be ok).
I would take your DD to the doc for a checkup anyway - perhaps it is an ear infection huritng her?
Good luck, and also check out the kellymom website - there are a few good articles in there about nursing strikes.
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Aroz
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 3:57pm |
Well I just discovered that my last jar of marmite is empty.... Hmmm I think we have a pantry thief. If she is stil on strike when I do the next grocery shop I will definitely try it then. She does seem pretty healthy, no sign of flu or infections but I will keep watching her just in case something does develop. Last time she had an ear infection she was in a pretty bad way.
I have tried her on a bottle a few times but she only has a little bit then loses interest, she's not really a bottle kid either.
She is always surprising me with something when I least expect it, lol from skin infections to colds and ear infections to constipation. Oh well at least it keeps me on my toes... the funny thing is when she is teething I don't hear a peep from her until I go to feed her and she bites me and then I realise she has another new tooth!
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Bizzy
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 3:59pm |
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maybe she just doesnt want it... she might want breakfast instead!
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Aroz
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Posted: 02 December 2009 at 4:28pm |
Oh yeah she is a very healthy eater too lol, Only has BF when its time for nap or bed. But this morning when she woke up she was still so tired she just wanted to go back to sleep, after about a hour nap she was ready for breakfast. It just completely threw out her morning routine and she has been in a grumpy mood all day. Nap time was a bit of a struggle as she is used to having BF before her nap but she managed to go to sleep finally after many loud protests and lots of cuddles. Hopefully things will go a bit smoother tonight! I was planning on trying her on the bottle in the next few months or so but she wasn't too impressed with it today! Might just have to keep expressing for now and try giving it to her in the sippy cup for when she needs it as she is used to drinking her juice and water from one anyway. At the moment I'm a bit undecided wether I should use this strike as a chance to wean her now or hope it blows over in the next few days.... I will keep offering it though just in case she changes her mind
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Chickoin
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Posted: 03 December 2009 at 1:20am |
Jody did this recently too, started on her first birthday actually. Just decided she didn't like BFing anymore. I kept offering it and within a week she was having 2-3 feeds a day again (was 5-6 before the strike).
I too couldn't find anything that could have changed my milk. I had always said I will BF until she was one. I didn't think she understood what I was saying 
Good luck with the weaning when you're ready
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Aroz
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Posted: 03 December 2009 at 11:41am |
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Well we have had a little progress. She woke up about 5am this morning and tried giving her a feed as I was so full and it was starting to hurt. She didn't want it when I was sitting up with her so I lay down with her in bed instead and that seemed to work, she was still very sleepy too which may have helped. She was still a bit hesitant about latching on but I was so glad she had a feed as I wasn't looking forward to having to express at 5 in the morning! Hopefully she will still want to breastfeed when she has her nap very shortly. It's the daytime feeds which she seems to have the most trouble with since her strike. I would like to breastfeed for a few more months if I can. My oldest had to have bottles as well when she was born as she couldn't latch on and I remember how time consuming it was having to constantly express and make bottles and wash and sterilise every time. Breastfeeding is so much easier I think i'm going to miss it when it's over!
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blondy
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Posted: 03 December 2009 at 11:50am |
Yay for your DD BFing this morning 
One of my daughter's strikes resulted in her dropping 2 feeds permanently - she went from 5 a day down to 3, so I guess all you can do is follow her lead. Crazy babies! 
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11 month old refusing to breastfeed
