Nursing Breaks

It is unusual for a baby to wean entirely on his own during the first year. But it’s not unusual for a baby to take occasional nursing breaks. This is different from weaning. Natural weaning happens over several weeks or months. A nursing break is usually abrupt. Both you and the baby will be unhappy when such a break happens. Try to discover why your baby is unhappy nursing.

• Are you wearing a new perfume?
• Are you using a new soap?
• Are you stressed about work?
• Have you started menstruating again?
• Are you eating a new, spicy food?
• Have you started to smoke?

Some of these involve odors that can confuse your baby. They may make your milk taste different and unappealing. Sometimes a sick or teething baby refuses to breastfeed. When your baby feels miserable, not even nursing takes the hurt away.

There are things you can do to help your baby get back to breastfeeding. Rule out a medical reason for the nursing break. If you can identify something that your baby dislikes, try to change the product or behavior. If you can’t identify the cause, try giving your baby more attention. Change your nursing position. Offer to nurse when your baby is relaxed or drowsy. Take some deep breaths before you nurse. Be patient. Most babies will return to their regular routine within a few days.

While your baby is on a nursing break, express your breast milk according to her old nursing routine. This will help prevent uncomfortably full breasts. It will also help maintain your milk supply. Offer your baby breast milk from a cup until she is ready to return to nursing. Milk from a cup will not satisfy her need to suck. This may encourage your baby to return to nursing more quickly.

You can express milk with a mechanical breast pump or your hands. It is easiest to learn to do this from a lactation specialist. Check with your doctor to get the name of someone who can help. As you learn, be patient with yourself. Remember breast milk is the best food you can give your baby.

To learn more about breastfeeding, you may want to contact your local health department, WIC clinic, hospital, La Leche League or doctor. You can call La Leche League at 1-800-LALECHE or visit their Web site at www.lalecheleague.org/.

This content has been provided freely by CMC. Click Healthy Start, Grow Smart—Your-Ten-Month-Old for your free download. Click GreatDad Free Ebook to download the entire Health Start, Grow Smart series.

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