Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1) Support Group

Feeding your infant and ensuring they are getting enough nutrition is one of the most important aspects of parenting during that first year. This community is dedicated to those who are nurturing a baby, whether breastfed or formula-fed.

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Dawnee222 05/02/2011

I am a working pumping mother of a 10 month old. My DD nurses in the mornings, after work, at bedtime and all weekend. This past weekend, she didn't want anything to do with nursing and of course she picked a weekend we were out of town and I had no breast pump. I had to cut our trip short and drive the hour and half back home so I could pump and get her some milk becuase she won't drink formula and I cannot give her cow's milk yet. I was completely engorged and in lots of pain! I haven't felt like that since she was a tiny baby. And we have not had any issues since then either. This just came out of nowhere. I have theories though. I think either she is about to cut teeth (she has NONE YET!) or, she is starting to wean herself. Or both. Has anyone had this happen to them? I should mention that she finally did nurse before her afternoon nap after we got home and then right before bedtime. No nursing in between. This morning she was very hesitant but did nurse briefly, but not very long at all.

deleted_user 05/02/2011

It's a little early for her to stop weaning on her own. From what I've learned that is usually between 18-24 mos. Could be teething. My son went on a short nursing strike when he cut a bunch of teeth at once. He hesitantly got back into in breast feeding. I was convinced he was done, but he still nurses am/pm at 16mos. I retired the pump when he was year. Good luck.

deleted_user 05/03/2011

Maybe traveling put her in a funk if it interrupted her routines.

deleted_user 05/03/2011

Nursing Strike!!

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html#strike

Babies rarely wean themselves before 18 months and never abruptly. You are looking at a strike - for some reason, teething, travel, both? The first time we went on a long trip DS wouldn't nurse for about 12 hours - thank goodness we had ebm and a pump.

Dawnee222 05/03/2011

I thought it was the traveling too but 2 weekends ago, she just took her first trip by plane to St. Louis for a long weekend and she did great! Not any problems nursing whatsoever. I've spent the night at my mom's several times with her and never had problems. It's so weird but everytime we stay at his mom's, she gives us problems either sleeping or nursing. Maybe she hates being there lol:)

deleted_user 05/06/2011

How are things going?

deleted_user 05/07/2011

Are you pregnant? Did you get your period? Hormonal changes in your body that you aren't aware of might throw her off nursing. It could be teeth, traveling, did you eat something new? She can have cows milk at 10 months and especially if shes refusing breast milk and formula. Good luck and hopefully this was just temp. And I just wanted to say I think it's amazing that you are a working pumping Mom. That takes lots of hard work and dedication.

Dawnee222 05/10/2011

Thanks LibbysMom for your comment! It is a lot of work but I feel, so worth it. Just an update: Ava is done with her nursing strike. It lasted about 5/6 days. She was gradual coming back to it. I still have NO idea why. I swear I thought she was going to cut a tooth or two, but no, no teeth STILL. 10 months on Mother's Day and no teeth. And also, I'm not pregnant. Just got over my period last week. I'm sure this could have been a number of things - the fact that we were traveling (although we traveled by plane the week before and she was fine), it could have been something I ate, it could have been hormonal, who knows. But she's back to enjoying nursing again. One part of me was okay with it since I do want to wean around a year, but now that she's back, I feel so happy and complete. Hard to explain. I will miss it when we do wean.

deleted_user 05/10/2011

Plans can change! If you both enjoy nursing (hopefully no more strikes) you can continue beyond a year. I recently withdrew my 'limit' on nursing and I'll nurse my son until he weans himself. My SIL nursed her youngest to just shy of 3 years and she is such a well-adjusted happy child!

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