I didn't think it could happen but my 9 month old is on strike. You may be asking yourself on strike from what?? The only thing my 9 month old really has control over in her life right now is her eating. Yep that's right she is on strike with nursing. I have heard of it but in the 21 almost 22 months I nursed her sister Gabby and in the 9 months so far that I have nursed Olivia it's never come up until now that is.
Things in our life started to go a little crazy last Thursday. Liv wasn't feeling well I thought she was warm, but the thermometer told me not so much. So I sent her off to school. around 12 or so they called me and said she wasn't feeling well, and had a 102.7 fever. EEK! So off I went. We had a doctors appointment for her 9 month check up the next morning so I wasn't worried. 2 days later fast forward to Saturday and her fever broke over night and she was doing fine. Saturday evening Gabby got sick with the same thing. They decided to trade off getting up in the middle of the night and Mike and I were up every hour it seemed like that night. It was a rought night. Liv was still nursing just fine.
Sunday they were both a bit clingy but doing great, Liv was obviously teething as she was trying to bit everything, the dog, me, her toys, her sister! You name it, she would bite it! We would sternly but nicely tell her no bite - I even started doing the sign for no bite. She would just look at us and giggle.
Fast forward to Monday evening, I get home from work and I go to nurse Olivia. She bites me not once, not twice but three times. Apparently I am a sucker for punishment. She arched her back and refused to eat. I might have scared her a bit since I may or may not have screamed out. It hurt, babies have teeth like puppies, they aren't just teeth, they are razor sharp fangs it seems and it hurts!
I figured okay, she is teething, she did this last time to me and we moved on when she really needed/wanted to eat. At bed time I thought forsure she would eat. No such luck. Fast forward to Wednesday and we haven't nursed since 4am on Monday morning. She has been getting bottles from me, Mike and at school. I have tried every time to nurse her and she either bites me or arches her back, screams her head off and refuses to even try to nurse.
This deeply saddens me more than I can even express. I know some people have a real love/hate relationship with nursing, but I truly enjoyed my time with my daughter. It is our time to bond, have that connection. To be honest it's something I can do and only me in my family. I know thats a bit selfish, but I am proud of the fact that I can offer nourishment to my daughter. I pump 2 times a day just so she can have that nutrition she needs (Do not take this as a post against formula - I know and respect that not everyone can nurse, it's not an easy thing to do and for some it just doesn't work).
I had a emotional breakdown Monday night because she kept biting me and while it hurt physically it hurt more emotionally. Only 1 time in my life of nursing have I thought that I might give it up and just do formula. That was week 2 with Gabby, I was having such a hard time, had no idea what I was doing. Since then however I haven't even considered it until yesterday.
I am now pumping 4 to 5 times a day, with little output, I get maybe 3 or 5 ounces at the most each time. I only have about 300 or so ounces stored up, but Liv is eating about 18oz of milk a day. at this rate, if I stopped pumping we could continue with my milk until september 13th or so.
I have a few options.
Things in our life started to go a little crazy last Thursday. Liv wasn't feeling well I thought she was warm, but the thermometer told me not so much. So I sent her off to school. around 12 or so they called me and said she wasn't feeling well, and had a 102.7 fever. EEK! So off I went. We had a doctors appointment for her 9 month check up the next morning so I wasn't worried. 2 days later fast forward to Saturday and her fever broke over night and she was doing fine. Saturday evening Gabby got sick with the same thing. They decided to trade off getting up in the middle of the night and Mike and I were up every hour it seemed like that night. It was a rought night. Liv was still nursing just fine.
Sunday they were both a bit clingy but doing great, Liv was obviously teething as she was trying to bit everything, the dog, me, her toys, her sister! You name it, she would bite it! We would sternly but nicely tell her no bite - I even started doing the sign for no bite. She would just look at us and giggle.
Fast forward to Monday evening, I get home from work and I go to nurse Olivia. She bites me not once, not twice but three times. Apparently I am a sucker for punishment. She arched her back and refused to eat. I might have scared her a bit since I may or may not have screamed out. It hurt, babies have teeth like puppies, they aren't just teeth, they are razor sharp fangs it seems and it hurts!
I figured okay, she is teething, she did this last time to me and we moved on when she really needed/wanted to eat. At bed time I thought forsure she would eat. No such luck. Fast forward to Wednesday and we haven't nursed since 4am on Monday morning. She has been getting bottles from me, Mike and at school. I have tried every time to nurse her and she either bites me or arches her back, screams her head off and refuses to even try to nurse.
This deeply saddens me more than I can even express. I know some people have a real love/hate relationship with nursing, but I truly enjoyed my time with my daughter. It is our time to bond, have that connection. To be honest it's something I can do and only me in my family. I know thats a bit selfish, but I am proud of the fact that I can offer nourishment to my daughter. I pump 2 times a day just so she can have that nutrition she needs (Do not take this as a post against formula - I know and respect that not everyone can nurse, it's not an easy thing to do and for some it just doesn't work).
I had a emotional breakdown Monday night because she kept biting me and while it hurt physically it hurt more emotionally. Only 1 time in my life of nursing have I thought that I might give it up and just do formula. That was week 2 with Gabby, I was having such a hard time, had no idea what I was doing. Since then however I haven't even considered it until yesterday.
I am now pumping 4 to 5 times a day, with little output, I get maybe 3 or 5 ounces at the most each time. I only have about 300 or so ounces stored up, but Liv is eating about 18oz of milk a day. at this rate, if I stopped pumping we could continue with my milk until september 13th or so.
I have a few options.
1. Give up nursing her and see if she goes back to it after her teeth come in. Keep pumping 4 or 5 times a day and pray that my supply stays.
OR
2. Give up nursing her, use the rest of my supply, stop pumping and switch to formula for the last 3 months or so until she can switch to cows milk.
Right now I am actually leaning towards option number 2. It's stressing me out having to pump so much - I give props to all your women out there that exclusively pumped for your little ones - you know who you are. You are better women then I.
The more I stress out this, the more my supply will tank...So if anyone out there that is reading this has ANY thoughts, other options suggestions please, I am all ears.
The things that I have done to help relieve Olivia's teething are as follows
1. Alternated Pain meds from advil to tylenol
2. Tried the numbing gel - didn't work
3. Tried a cold wash cloth - the only thing she WON'T bite
4. Teething oil - somewhat works at least to start with
5. Amber necklace, we just got this, if it doesn't work it still looks adorable! HA!
6. Teething toys, she bites pretty hard on them but it doesn't work at night.
6. Teething toys, she bites pretty hard on them but it doesn't work at night.
So let me know your thoughts! and if you made it this far Thank You!
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6 comments:
I don't have many suggestions except to keep offering! Also, try posting to the kellymom facebook group. They are TONS of help!
Have you tried teething tablets...they were a lifesaver for us...also I have heard (but not tried) frozen bagels...my SIL and the nurse at Children's ER swear by it.
We finally had to ignore the "I'm going to bite everything...and then laugh when you tell me no". The more we ignored it the less she did it.
Good luck and don't stress too much about the breastfeeding strike...give her formula and if she doesn't like it she'll go back to breastfeeding and if she does like it that's fine too.
So sorry you're going through this, Jess - I can imagine how tough it would be! I would keep offering the breast, and keep pumping as you can at this point. I'm guessing she'll start BF'ing no problem again in a few days. If not, then you can decide which way to go. Doing the EP thing is REALLY hard - I did it for 6 months and wasn't even working! So, don't feel bad if you decide to go with formula for the last couple of months. You just need to do whatever works best for you and your family. (((hugs))) to you!
Thanks ladies I appreciate the support and advice. She is still on stike, I am offering the breast every time and every time she still bites me. I offered her the teething toy, but she just throws that on the floor.
I think I might keep pumping during the day - after I get the clogged ducts worked out and supplement with formula to keep up with her needs.
Awww. Hopefully the teething is over with quickly! That is never fun.
I just came across your blog today and I have nominated your for a Leibster Award. Come check out the link and participate if you want!! http://mitchalycia.blogspot.ca/2013/08/my-leibster-award.html
For the teething, break up some frozen BM and give it to her in one of those mesh feeder bags.
For the nursing strike check out Kellymom (if you haven't already.
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