Our baby has been breastfeeding normally and suddenly rejects the breast suddenly and without apparent cause. It is what is known as strike or breastfeeding crisis, a situation that causes great concern in the mother and that in many occasions is also accompanied by confusion for the baby.
Know what is a breastfeeding strike and what are the causes that cause it will help us overcome it.
Strike, crisis or breastfeeding bump It is a sudden situation in which our baby rejects the breast. So far he had been breastfeeding normally but suddenly he totally refuses, even seems to have forgotten how to suck.
Normally, the natural weaning by the baby occurs gradually but the breastfeeding strike is an abrupt, sudden, absolutely unexpected rejection. The baby takes a normal shot and suddenly he doesn't want to know anything about the breast again.
It would be great if babies could talk and tell us in detail what happens to them, why they suddenly reject the breast they have enjoyed with pleasure, but although this is not possible we do know some of the causes that most frequently produce these crises of lactation.
If the baby is younger than six months, in many cases the breastfeeding crisis is associated with some type of interference by the use of pacifiers, teats or bottles. There may be a nipple confusion syndromeFor example, an oral motor dysfunction that in many cases ends up ending breastfeeding.
Other causes may be:
- During a mastitis, milk may have a more salty taste than usual, the baby may not like that sudden change.
- The baby rejects the breast because while the mother was breastfeeding she has shown some gesture of anger or discomfort, for example if she accidentally bites the nipple and the mother abruptly withdraws or screams.
- Changes in the mother's diet.
- Stress of the mother or the baby, for example, as a result of a trip, a change of address, a family holiday too active, a sudden absence of the mother, etc.
- The baby is sick and ill, especially if the discomfort affects the suction, such as a sore throat, mouth sores or otitis.
- Arrival of menstruation in the mother.
- In very rare cases, it can be an early sign of diseases such as breast cancer.
In an upcoming article we will explain how we can overcome a breastfeeding strike, which in many cases involves a high level of stress and sadness for the mother, who feels rejected, but also for the baby, who cannot explain why she does not want to breastfeed in that moment.
