From my notebook of letters to Jax, this time last year. It’s interesting to read about Jackson’s nursing strike now that I’m a veteran breastfeeder! Gosh how I worried for days over it, and it turned out to be teething!
2/24/10
Jackson,
You know I love you, but you’re driving me nuts! I think getting your 6-month shots messed you all up, because you’re constantly refusing to nurse except at bedtime, for the most part. I’m trying not to take it to heart (and daddy keeps trying to convince me it’s only temporary), but man it hurts my feelings to be rejected 10x a day. I’m a mess, emotionally. I hope this is only a few days &then we’re back to not wrestling at every feeding. I miss my good, happy, always hungry little boy!
3/1/10
Jax,
Guess what happened yesterday? Your 1st tooth broke through your bottom gums! You were sitting on my lap, trying to chew on my fingers (as usual) and I felt the ridge of it. Sure enough, I could see the white line on your gums! It’s your bottom front left tooth. I’m so excited for you! (And scared for me & daddy.) What a big milestone! It probably explains the tossing and turning every night and your recent lack of an appetite. Poor little man!
Love,
Mommy
Mommy & Jax, Feb 2010
Friend also experienced a nursing strike. Did you try skin-to-skin contact? That opened her baby right up again… I like the advice “make the boob a happy place.” There are so many reasons to make it a happy place. I think babies sense when we’re sad…
Yes – not wanting to nurse is definitely related to teething. I bet he’ll be right back at it in no time.
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That happened to me about a month ago! Definitely teething, but oh man, it hurt my feelings SO MUCH. I remembering handing him off to his dad and just bawling and feeling, yes, totally rejected. Soon after we picked up Tylenol and some teething strips and from then on getting him to nurse was no problem.
I consider myself a veteran breastfeeder now that I’ve been through a nursing strike as well, even though Sebastian is only 5 months now.
5 months is something to be proud of–heck, any amount is something to be proud of! I remember crying a lot when Jax refused to nurse, too (due to teething we later learned, as you read). It’s so tough. I’m glad Sebastian responded to the teething remedies you tried!