Nursing Strike: Getting to the Root of It
by Melanie Bettinelli on June 17, 2010
I’ve made the disclaimer several times in the past week that, no, I’m not pregnant even though I’m posting on this or that pregnancy related topic. Well, the joke’s on me.
Turns out I was too quick to make that denial.
I started suspecting last night. First there was Ben’s sudden refusal to nurse, which unlike the last time seemed not teething or biting related. Rather, he seemed mad about the taste of the milk. He’d latch on, get a mouthful and then pull off and scream, with the milk running down his chin.
Then, there was my moodiness. I snapped a couple of times at Dom. Over really, really silly stuff. I found myself on the verge of tears several times. Well, it’s probably just PMS. Man, I’d almost forgotten how crazy that can be! Oh and maybe it’s just the hormonal shift that’s making Ben so upset.
Well, there were hormones at the root of it all right. Just not the ones I was thinking of.
I hardly touched my dinner. Fish suddenly didn’t sound good at all. But it must have been that cookie I ate before dinner. Right?
But I’ve never got queasy with PMS and by bedtime I was feeling a little green.
I looked at my charts and a different explanation started to form in my head. Waking up in the middle of the night feeling overheated: check. Elevated temperatures: check. Excessive tiredness in the evenings of late: check.
One of the suggestions I discovered in reading about nursing strikes suggested that the shifting hormones of pregnancy can make the milk flavor change and babies might decide they don’t like the new taste.
So that’s my working theory: the problem is a flavor change in my milk caused by shifting hormones. I tried to do tonight what I did last time and rocked Ben to sleep and then tried to get him to latch on while asleep and, well, he got a mouthful of milk and then grimaced and pulled away and started crying in his sleep and refused to latch on again.
So I’m wondering if this means he’s really and truly done or if I can gently convince him over time that the new flavor isn’t so bad. He’s a strong willed guy and if he decides that cheese and bread and strawberries are good enough for him and that nasty tasting milk isn’t worth it, I’m not sure I’ll be able to convince him otherwise. But I’d like to hear about any success stories with similar situations that anyone out there might know about.
I do remember Sophie having issues with nursing at around the time I found out I was pregnant with Ben. But it never went as far as a nursing strike. She was much younger, about seven months old, and eating almost no solids and her hunger led her to just deal with the taste issue. Ben, however, might just be a little milk snob (thanks, Kate, for that perfect description!) and not be interested in forging on with our nursing relationship.
*Yes, I did just bury the news that I’m pregnant in the middle of a blog entry about Ben’s nursing problems. I also announced my engagement to my sister by asking if she’d like to help me host a party. I’m subtle like that. I don’t know why; but being direct sometimes does not suit me at all.
Comments
Well, congratulations!
I hope Ben stops being snobby at least long enough to taper off rather than go cold turkey!
God bless you and your family!
Posted by Leila on 06/17/10 at 10:18 PM
EEEEEEEEK! Congratulations!!! I am so happy for you all! You’ll be in my prayers, pretty Mama!
Posted by Hallie Lord on 06/17/10 at 10:19 PM
And now we know… the rest of the story!
Congratulations!
Posted by Charlotte (Matilda) on 06/17/10 at 10:32 PM
Wow, congratulations!
Posted by Jamie on 06/17/10 at 10:35 PM
Wait, what?
Congratulations, Melanie. God bless all of you!
Posted by Amy on 06/17/10 at 10:38 PM
Congratulations!! That is so exciting!
Posted by Jennifer (Conversion Diary) on 06/17/10 at 10:54 PM
Congratulations! What a blessing! You are in my prayers.
Posted by mary@evlogia on 06/17/10 at 11:10 PM
Wait, you’re what?
Posted by Domenico Bettinelli on 06/17/10 at 11:11 PM
We’ve all been there…
I just mentioned your news to Darwin, and followed up with, “And in case you hadn’t heard, I’m pregnant too.” It being awfully late here, his first reaction was, “What? We haven’t discussed this!” before he remembered that I’ve been pregnant for the past eight months.
Congratulations!
Posted by MrsDarwin on 06/17/10 at 11:39 PM
Melanie, so funny! On your post about the strike, I almost asked if you could be pregnant. But then I figured you would know. And look at that, you do!
Congratulations! Praying for you and the (tiny tiny) little one!
Posted by Arwen on 06/18/10 at 12:11 AM
That is so funny ... all that “no, I’m *not* pregnant”, then “oh! hang on a second ... I am pregnant!”. Congratulations, Melanie. Prayers coming for an easy pregnancy and not too much nausea.
Posted by Kathryn on 06/18/10 at 01:41 AM
Congratulations! I’ll be praying for you, your newest miracle, and your little milk snob.
Posted by Kate Wicker on 06/18/10 at 06:24 AM
Congratulations, and I’m right there with you (w/ #5. the current baby is 14 months old)!
Posted by Sarah in MI on 06/18/10 at 07:43 AM
Congrats, Melanie!
Posted by Celeste on 06/18/10 at 09:25 AM
Congrats!
Posted by The Sojourner on 06/18/10 at 09:31 AM
I had this hunch…ever since you posted that prayer from St. Francis De Sales. Melanie - I love your blog, reading about your kids, your pregnancies, and I really, truly hope that my DH and are able to experience some of the same joys (and yes, sorrows) as your lovely little family. Sometimes pregnancy annoucements are hard to take (as one dealing with infertility and miscarrriage), but yours is downright wonderful and beautiful. Who wouldn’t want to be part of your family? (I know this is not the way it happens…but if it were, I can just imagine some little guy or gal up there saying to God - “Pick me, Pick me, I want to join that family!”). Okay, I am sorry, I am now rambling. God is GOOD! Many prayers for a holy and blessed pregnancy.
Posted by Marie on 06/18/10 at 11:00 AM
Wow! Congratulations! Prayers for a healthy, happy pregnancy…and for your little Ben!
Posted by Kimberly on 06/18/10 at 11:05 AM
Congratulations! I love the hints it takes to make us look beyond our “I know this isn’t the answer” ways.
Posted by Kathy on 06/18/10 at 12:09 PM
Congratulations! I will pray for the gift of an easy pregnancy and/or the grace to handle the journey of pregnancy.
Posted by Katie on 06/18/10 at 04:05 PM
Um…what?!!
..................Congratulations!!!.......................
Posted by Margaret in MN on 06/18/10 at 06:44 PM
Congratulations! Blessings to the whole family and prayers for a healthy baby and smooth pregnancy!
You can always tell Ben that he knew FIRST about his little brother or sister!
(Fun—the captcha word is “growing54”!)
Posted by Elizabeth M on 06/18/10 at 08:08 PM
Congratulations! Such wonderful news!
Posted by jen ambrose on 06/19/10 at 01:04 AM
Congratulations, Melanie! Feel well—praying for you.
Posted by KatieButler on 06/21/10 at 05:36 AM
Oh, wow!!! We’re so happy for you all. Your husband’s comment is the best.
Posted by ErikaErika on 06/21/10 at 02:28 PM
Congratulations from a lurker, you’ll all be in my prayers!
Posted by Lindsay on 06/21/10 at 03:00 PM
Another lurker here saying congrats!!
Posted by Bobbi on 06/22/10 at 08:45 PM
Belated congratulations!
Posted by Maureen on 07/1/10 at 07:40 PM