A month ago, I blogged how I had mixed feelings about nursing and thinking of slowly weaning Mavi to give him formula. I didn’t go ahead with the weaning and decided to stick with the nursing. Why? Mostly because it was quick (Mavi is a quick drinker) didn’t require any prepping and I liked the bonding. I would pump what I could and try to keep an inventory (though I wouldn’t pump more than 2.5 oz at a time) but I did it.
But then the strike happened. I didn’t know what was going on and I had never read anything about it but Mavi didn’t want boobie anymore. Notice I didn’t say breastmilk because he still wanted that, lots of it…. but in a bottle. He just didn’t want boob and that my friends is called the Nursing Strike. They say the nursing strike can last several days even weeks and its cause could be : teething, Low milk supply, a change in the taste of the milk…etc.
To be honest, I think it’s the teething. Luckily he only refuses the breast one or two times in a day…Problem though… my little milk inventory diminished rather quickly and my pumping couldn’t keep up with the demand. So as of yesterday, I gave Mavi a bottle or two of forumla.
Wanting to wean him myself, seemed okay because it was under my control. But now that Mavi is refusing to breastfeed (which makes it seems as if he is weaning himself) is tearing me up. Plus the fact that I had to give him some forumla, kills me because I finally accepted that I would breastfeed for as long as I could. But my plans changed rather quickly and it wasn’t in my control. Don’t get me wrong, I think formula is as good as breast. It’s just hard.
I hope that the strike will end and he will go back to only feeding on boob. But that is big unknown. Let’s me just say I hope it doesn’t happen to you. Because honestly it’s heartbreaking.
Breastfeeding is hard, I don’t care what anyone says… and now you add a freaken nursing strike to the mix. Fuck off!!! Egh!
Posted by: Kelly | Glamour This! official blog of Blushink with 3 comments
Nursing strike! lol. I never did nurse, couldn’t bring myself to do it. I give you credit for going there! Very good post.
Welcome to motherhood. Nothing ever goes as you planned! lol
I found your blog when I googled “nursing strike and formula”. I’m in the same boat, and reading your post it felt almost like I had written parts of it myself! We’re on day 8 of my 10-month old baby’s nursing strike, which started in conjunction with her getting a cold and an ear infection. She has nursed only ONCE in 8 days, and only because I tricked her into it when she was asleep. It is emotional torture… I haven’t felt so rejected since I got dumped by my high school sweetheart during my first semester of college! But I’m hanging in there and staying hopeful that we’ll be back to normal soon. I’ll also be checking back for updates — good luck to you!