How I Survived a Nursing Strike

​by Iman Saade
Lebanon Group

My breastfeeding journey with my son began easily and effortlessly. This is the second baby I have nursed, having nursed my daughter past one year. I was a pro and had always had an abundance of milk.

​When my son was around 14 months and only nursing about four times a day, I had a family emergency and had to leave him. I made sure I left plenty of breast milk for him to drink. I pumped twice a day while I was gone in order to keep my supply. Once I got back I picked up my son and tried to nurse right away. He refused me and would not latch. I was devastated and heartbroken. That whole day and the next I kept offering the breast and he kept refusing. However, I continued pumping in case he decided to nurse again.

On days three and four I gave up hope. Even after offering many times a day and wearing him around the house, he was making no progress. I stopped pumping. I felt selfish trying to make him nurse when he obviously didn’t want to. I felt completely defeated and told my husband it was over. Then the
unthinkable happened: my son asked me to nurse. He latched and nursed as if nothing had happened. I definitely cried tears of joy. I called my friend, La Leche League Leader Tamara Drenttel-Brand, with the wonderful news and she told me what I needed to do to get my supply back up.

Since I had stopped pumping, my milk supply had reduced a lot. I have always had lots of extra milk while nursing, so feeling my breasts so empty and pumping barely drops was a very humbling experience. So I started pumping as many times as I could during the day, even if it was only for a short amount of time. I managed about eight pumping sessions, some lasting only 10 minutes. After ten days of pumping, I felt my supply was back! I stopped pumping, and continued nursing on demand.

Now, five months later and at 19 months old, my son is nursing more than ever. My goal has always been to “get past a year, then we’ll see”. But once we overcame that huge hurdle, I knew I didn’t want to stop. Now my goal is two years, then we’ll see. For now, I am enjoying this second chance and I am so very grateful.

Close to the Heart Vol. 15, No. 1 (Early-Year 2014)

Share