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UPDATE #1 – April 9, 1PM
Since writing yesterday, you have nursed ineffectively (a couple minutes) about 3 times in 24 hours, with your last nursing now 7 hours ago. I’ve offered you the breast 4 times since then. This is well on its way to becoming a full on nursing strike.
UPDATE #2 – April 9, 7PM
After doing some more research, I decided to not wait any longer and go ahead and spoon feed you some expressed milk. (We’re supposed to avoid bottles if we have any chance of getting back to nursing.) I tried one last time to offer you the source, and you flat out screamed at me. I got you to take about an ounce from a spoon (also tried a sippy cup which you thought was a bottle and got very upset when you couldn’t figure out how to get it to come out) whining and fussing the whole time. So, I broke down and gave you some squash. Then, I tried again and got you to take another ounce with much less fussing. So, as counter intuitive as it is, I guess it may be true that waiting until you’re ravenous is probably not the best way to get you to eat (which is what the experts I’ve read claimed). Anyway, it was a long process, but I know you got at least most of 2 ounces in you. So, I’ll continue to pump every time you’re supposed to eat and don’t (as I have been for the past 4 days), and I’ll keep offering you the source and – if you refuse – the spoon.
According to what I’ve read, nursing strikes (if that’s truly what this is) can last from a day to a week. I’m going to take this one hour and a time. I can’t believe the havoc this is wrecking on my emotions. This is very hard. I feel rejected and like I did something wrong. And I’m worried about you. And I’m sad. And I’m frustrated. And I want to know what’s wrong! And fix it!!
UPDATE #3 – April 11, 12PM
What a difference a day (or two) makes! I actually went out and bought formula and bottles. I was THAT concerned about you. Now, two days later. WaaaaaLA! You are a different baby. Or maybe I’m a different Momma. I was really broken there for a day or two. A lot of people were praying for us. I don’t know how else to explain the change that’s taken place except as a testament to the power of prayer.
You never did end up getting any formula. When you wouldn’t nurse, I pumped and fed you with a spoon. When you wouldn’t take the spoon, I gave you bottles of breast milk (against advice). I was so concerned that you were not going to stay hydrated. It has been above 100 degrees for the past few days. Every time we go anywhere your hair gets all sweaty. We don’t live in a typical climate. We need more fluids here than most, so I was especially concerned and figured that the rules must be different for us. Your health is the most important thing after all. We took it one feeding at a time.
Then you woke up yesterday morning, and – *poof*- you were all about nursing again.
To keep things real, I have to include another piece of information that might be relevant. I did cut my caloric intake fairly drastically a little over 2 weeks ago. And I think it did affect my milk supply some. When I noticed, I pumped regularly and upped my caloric intake until things seemed back to normal. This kind of coincided with our dramatic increase in nursing drama. So, maybe you just got especially frustrated because you had to work harder and were getting a little less for a couple days. I don’t know. I know that you would have gotten enough milk had you been willing to work for it, but then you’re very sensitive to having to work hard for your food. Maybe that contributed to bringing on your mini-strike? Or maybe the flavor of my milk changed because of the increase in fruits and veggies in my diet? That seems unlikely to me since you had no problem drinking the stuff from a bottle, and I have always eaten a lot of produce. Anyway, just wanted to be fair and admit that perhaps I could have contributed to your frustration.
Whatever the cause for its onset and whatever the cause for its resolution, I am extremely grateful for the past day. We have clicked again. I have felt very close to you, like we came out of a traumatic ordeal more closely knit because of our shared experience.
Phew. You’re still impatient. You still squirm and hit and kick and fuss, but that is FINE with me! As long as you are EATING and not MAD! So we have a reprieve from the Num Num Wars for the moment. Thank you, Jesus.
Being a Momma sure keeps me on my toes.