| Every member of our Customer Service team is a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), so when you have a problem, they are well-equipped to solve it.
And because sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know, we’d like to share their answers to frequently asked questions to keep you informed. Today we are talking about how you deal with a potential hunger strike (is it even a hunger strike or is your baby weaning?) and what it can mean when you see a diaper rash combined with white patches on your baby’s cheeks. |
Meet Sarah Smith. She is a Certified Lactation Counselor and on our amazing customer service team. (Seriously, if you ever need help, Sarah is just an email away). 
Q: Is my baby trying to wean or just on a nursing strike?
A:
A nursing strike is a baby’s sudden refusal to nurse, even though there is plenty of milk. That’s very different from weaning. There are many reasons why a baby might refuse to nurse, ranging from teething, an ear infection, or a stuffy nose to bottle preference, family stress, or separation. To end the strike I suggest lots of skin-to-skin contact, avoiding bottles (if possible), and offering the breast while your baby is sleepy. Whatever you do, don’t force the baby to your breast. If all else fails, try bringing your baby around other babies while they are nursing. Babies have been known to respond to peer pressure!
Q: Breastfeeding has been painful lately, and today, I saw that my baby has a diaper rash and white patches inside her cheeks. What does that mean?
A:
If you experience a burning pain during and after breastfeeding and notice shiny, flaky skin on your nipple, your baby may have yeast, also known as thrush. You should see your doctor and pediatrician right away. You and your baby will likely be prescribed an oral medication, and any object that can harbor yeast must be treated. Note that treatment is only effective if breast pump parts, nipples, pacifiers, bra pads, and bras are carefully cleaned in order to eliminate the yeast. If it’s deep radiating breast pain you’re experiencing, you probably have a bacterial infection (as opposed to a fungal infection).
