What exactly is a baby strike?

First, let's be clear about what is going on in your country and whether the situation you are dealing with is really something that can be called a baby strike.
 

• The baby is hungry but cries, pulls away, or arches his back after latching on to the breast.
• When breastfeeding, he is nervous, dissatisfied, tries again to find the nipple, but at most he chews it, pulls away and cries.
• It may happen that he nurses a little and then stops, leaking milk or burps it out and cries again because he is hungry, but he is unable to do so.

It's very likely that your baby is actually on strike.

Breastfeeding strikes and their causes

There are a number of reasons why a baby who has been content at the breast until now suddenly fails to breastfeed.

• The milk, which has been flowing in a stream, has slowed down and the baby is not satisfied with the weaker stream.
• On the other hand, the milk may have a very strong flow that the baby cannot regulate on its own, and it starts to squirm and choke as if to suffocate.
• The baby may have a problem with the bridle in the mouth, which is short and thick, and therefore cannot regulate the flow of milk well.
• Pacifier or bottle use may also cause the baby not to suck properly from the breast, as the baby has adapted the movement of the tongue to these aids.
• The baby may be in the wrong position when breastfeeding.
• The baby begins to perceive the surroundings and suddenly becomes much more interested in the picture on the wall or the bird on the windowsill than in mum's breast when breastfeeding. This is also why the breastfeeding strike appears very often between the 2nd and 5th month, when the baby is more expressive.
• The baby needs a special environment for breastfeeding, such as silence or darkness. Many babies strike in external or noisy environments.
• This may also be due to great psychological discomfort on the part of the mother.

There are really many causes. You will not always be able to detect a single one. It may be a combination of several factors or a small invisible detail. In some cases, the infant strike has no cause and this period will remain as the biggest mystery for some moms. It is important to investigate what bothers the baby, what disturbs him and what, on the contrary, helps him in breastfeeding. However, if you don't figure it out, nothing happens. Don't beat yourself up for it, you're not the only one. ♥️

What can you try at a baby strike?

Again, there are several options and it is good to try what will suit not only the baby but also you.
 

1. Get help from a lactation consultant who knows breastfeeding techniques, has experience, practice and, most importantly, can give you the mental support you need to understand what you're going through.
2. Use a scarf or a carrier. A striking baby is unlikely to calm down at the breast, but in the movement and proximity of mum she is more likely to fall asleep. Rock him, carry him, swaddle him.
3. Breastfeed on the move. Some babies are more willing to breastfeed while moving. You can try it on a fitball or standing.
4. The foundation of breastfeeding support is bonding and lots of co-bowing. You can also intensify these shared moments by having a bath together if that is something you would enjoy.
5. Put down the pacifier and bottle. Now we don't want to make any great enemies of these gadgets, we understand that some babies can function with a pacifier and a bottle with no problem. But the pacifier and bottle really don't belong in a striking baby's mouth. These aids, on the other hand, can prolong the strike or make you lose breastfeeding altogether.
6. Change the environment. Breastfeed in silence and in the dark, ideally in a bed that baby is used to. Tuck older siblings in with dad or in front of the TV for the moment so they don't disturb you while you breastfeed.
7. Change the breastfeeding position. You can try breastfeeding in a carrier or in a semi-recumbent position (this slows down the flow of milk and the baby doesn't latch on). Alternatively, a lactation consultant can advise you on the breastfeeding position.
8. Get the breast ready for the baby. Some babies find that they have to wait a long time for the milk to start flowing and when they do, they suddenly find the initial flow very strong or weak. You can do wonders with that. Massage your breasts, get the milk flowing, and express the initial milk if it's too strong or weak.
9. Breastfeed in the baby's semi-sleep. Most babies have no problem breastfeeding the moment they're asleep or slowly waking up. Baby's half-sleep is one of the most reliable tactics to breastfeed.
10. Offer the breast, but don't force the baby. Baby will latch on when ready. The key is to remain patient and calm.
11. Consider vitamin supplements to support breast milk. Some moms use them, but it's best to consult a lactation consultant who can assess whether you really need them.
12. You may also consider cutting the bridle. This is a procedure that takes only a few seconds and is completely safe and does not harm the baby. However, not every baby really needs it. So consult a professional (lactation consultant, ENT or specialist dentists).

We've gone over the general advice, but there are probably other questions still fogging around in your head. Right?

Let's try to answer them together.

How long does a nursing strike last?

It can be days, weeks, even months. At the same time, a baby strike is like a roller coaster ride - it gets better for a while and then it gets worse again. No mum wants to hear that a baby strike can last for weeks. That's why we recommend you put the issue out of your mind for a while and focus on the present.

"When my son went on strike, I was so physically and mentally drained for the first four days that when the lactation consultant told me on the fifth day that this condition could last until the first feedings, I felt like throwing her out of the house.

But then Janka told me to focus on one single day. I needed to get through Monday. On Tuesday, I needed to survive Tuesday. Eventually, I set a routine and got used to the more challenging breastfeeding conditions."

How to choose a lactation consultant?
 

One consultation with a lactation consultant will cost you about the same as artificial milk for two weeks. So try not to worry about the cost just yet - investing in breastfeeding is really cost-effective in the long run, and a lactation consultant will also help you solve the problem more effectively than if you try everything yourself. Plus, she will give you the psychological support that is crucial in maintaining breastfeeding.

But do you think about the fact that choosing a lactation consultant is similar to choosing a therapist. Although all lactation consultants have experience and practice, it's important that she fits you humanly as well. Don't hang your head if the first or second consultation doesn't help you. Find someone who is close to you humanly.

"The first lactation consultant I had was a recommendation. She came in, explained the basics, even arranged for us to have a bridle cut the next day, but I never heard from her again. She didn't humanise me, she didn't reassure me, on the contrary she tried to convince me of breastfeeding techniques that I wasn't comfortable with.

I connected to the other lactation consultant through my pediatrician and in truth, I was skeptical. However, all it took was one consultation to help save my breastfeeding. She directed me, gave me practical tips, but most importantly put me so at ease that mentally I felt as equipped as possible after she left."

How do I know I have the baby strike under control?
 

With a breastfeeding strike, the biggest concern moms have is whether the baby is starving and hydrated enough. This concern is completely valid, so it's a good idea to keep track of it and learn to recognize how baby is drinking.

If the baby is happy and cries 'only' when breastfeeding, but you still always breastfeed in some way, although perhaps at longer intervals than you are used to, that's fine.

You can also keep track of whether the baby has a wet diaper.

Should the baby be too weepy, unsatisfied and the nappy dry, you definitely need to help yourself with breastfeeding support supplements and supplement with artificial milk. In this case, it is probably low milk production and we would again refer you to a lactation consultant for more specific advice.

I was most reassured when the lactation consultant explained that nothing would happen if she failed to breastfeed my son at the required time. He will simply be breastfed an hour or two later. Because of this, I stopped worrying about longer intervals between feedings. I did offer him the breast often, but I didn't force it. It happened that he cried through three of my attempts, but it worked on the fourth."

Why even keep trying? Isn't it easier to switch to artificial milk?
 

In some cases, it may indeed be the easier route, but that doesn't mean it's the right route for you and your baby. Of course, if you've been struggling for weeks and you and your baby are tossing high levels of dissatisfaction between you like a ping-pong ball, it might really be time to give artificial milk a try.

However, if you're past the first few days of the breastfeeding strike, we want to encourage you that it will get better and that it's worth sticking it out.

Breastfeeding helps your baby build immunity and is also a great helper for snot or fevers. Every illness is easier with breastfeeding. At the same time, it is a tool of contact parenting and through breastfeeding you build your relationship with your baby. Eventually, breastfeeding can also be a great helper in putting you to sleep, but unfortunately no one can guarantee that at the moment. Not every baby needs to fall asleep at the breast.

However, if you do switch to artificial milk, it doesn't have to mean a loss of closeness between you and your baby.

"I breastfed my first son for only 6 months. I had little information and found out little about breastfeeding. Since he didn't mind falling asleep with a bottle, I somehow didn't address it and switched to formula. In hindsight I regret it terribly, so I compensate a bit with the younger one. When the breastfeeding strike came, I felt like the universe was trying to get back at me for weaning the older one so early. Stupid I know, but that's how we moms are. Today, I enjoy putting my 16-month-old to sleep by lying down in bed with headphones on and he falls asleep on my chest. I don't have to walk around the room rocking like crazy anymore."

How do I find out what works for me on strike?
 

By trying. Soak up tips, ask around, talk to a lactation consultant, and then try. Each woman is sure to find her own thing. Semi-sleep works for many, semi-sleep breastfeeding works for many. Try silence and darkness. Breastfeed on a fitlopte or in a carrier. Or both at the same time.

If something works for you, stick with it while you can, because babies and their needs change quickly and often. If at this point you feel like you can't handle breastfeeding for weeks and months just in a semi-recumbent position, trust that it's nothing permanent.

"Breastfeeding in a carrier wasn't working for me, I tried it a few times but I was desperate so I eventually gave up. I was able to breastfeed by rocking while standing, occasionally by jumping on the fitlopta. I varied it up and down. Sometimes my son's needs changed every day, too.

Breastfeeding in a semi-sleep state worked best for me, but that meant putting a hungry and crying baby to sleep with a scream, or waiting for the moment he woke up. I dreaded going out with him. In my head, I was tormenting myself with the fact that I had to change this and I couldn't stay locked up at home. But by getting into a routine and figuring out what and how after a while, I finally got the courage to go outside."

And what if he really doesn't want the milk?
 

More than one mom has heard this line from her partners, moms, mothers-in-law or even friends. A breastfeeding strike is not a transferable experience. You may explain to your partner and mom what you're struggling with and in return you get a raised eyebrow and a question: "I guess he doesn't want the milk, does he?" Auch. If you haven't experienced it, you won't understand.

There are no reasons why a baby shouldn't want milk. It is, after all, his only means of food intake in early infancy and he doesn't know anything else yet. At the same time, the breast soothes the baby, but the opposite is true with the breast.

That's why you should find someone who will be supportive. He will listen to you, hold you, not try to give stupid advice if he knows nothing about it. We've already mentioned the lactation consultant. Female friends can also be supportive, but it takes a strong dose of empathy. Or find someone nearby who has already had a breastfeeding strike.

"The closed community of moms on Mama Gang+ has helped me a lot. When I asked around to see if anyone else had gone through a similar issue, I found that I really wasn't alone in this. The girls in the community shared their stories, which not only gave me the strength to endure, but also the hope that the strike would probably end one day."

How to be mentally cool and accept the situation?
 

We know that you probably don't want to hear right now that your psyche plays a big role in the baby strike. If you're a mom who may have just now been enjoying the completion of your six weeks, you've taken a new breath and now this. You're happy with your baby, breastfeeding is going well, and then suddenly you hear or read that the biggest trigger for an infant strike is that mom is stressed. Now that's exactly what stresses every mom out even more.

Yes, the psyche affects many areas in our lives, including this one. But you can't snap your fingers to solve this problem. The most you can say to yourself is ok, now I'm freaking out, but I'm going to try to calm myself down, at least in small increments. It's important to stay calm while breastfeeding and not worry right away that the baby will start crying again. He'll probably start, you probably won't be able to breastfeed him at that given moment, but keep calm. Stay with the baby in your arms, even when he cries. The baby will quickly understand that he is in no danger.

Important psychological tricks to cope with a strike:

• Accept the situation. This is happening to you now, it is really unpleasant, but you are equipped with everything you need to handle this unpleasantness.

"I remember a particular moment when I was standing half-naked in the living room, a baby carrier on my waist, a fitlopta behind my back, a baby in my arms. I couldn't breastfeed either on the fitlopta, in the carrier or standing up. We were both crying a lot, my tears were falling to the floor. I was terribly abandoned at times like that. I needed to cry it out, complain and accept that this was happening and would be happening for a while."

• You think to yourself. Yes, you probably don't dream of some time for you, but try to find what helps you, what makes you feel good and what makes you feel better. Don't let yourself have to think about that endless breastfeeding thing 24/7.
   

"I used to go outside whenever I could. The baby was asleep in the carrier and I listened to podcasts and got a coffee and chocolate croissant in my hand. I needed to enjoy the little things."

• Not thinking ahead. Relive one day. And then the next. In the evening, praise yourself for each day you made it through.

"I used to give myself little milestones. My husband gently nudged me toward artificial milk while looking at me. I also told myself that if we were going to struggle too much, I was going to try it. But first, I'll stick it out for a week. Then one more week and then a month. Every day I was surprised how much strength this strike had taken out of me, but with how much strength I woke up again the next day."

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Why did you find an article about an infant strike on an e-shop that sells sleeping bags? Because sleep comfort for babies and parents is important to us, and it's a topic we live by every day.

Breastfeeding belongs to sleep and sleep belongs to breastfeeding.

Our goal is to improve the sleep quality of babies and parents thanks to our products, among other things.

Today we are just pointing out that our sleeping bags have already made sleep more pleasant in several families.

When you have the strength for it, take a look at the offer and the reviews.

Dear woman, we wish you a lot of strength. You will give it together! ♥️

Gabka and Janka