Breastfeedeing

[SophieandElls]

Hi all,

New to this site but have heard good things. I am breastfeedeing my daughter who was four months on Friday, I have recently introduced her to rusks as she seemed very hungry to me, I am aware this is not recommended. I love feeding her myself and I know it's better for both of us but each time she finishes any feed, rusk or breast she screams as if she isn't satisfied.

Please can someone give me some advise?

Thank you :-)

[showtunesgirl]

Honestly? Just BF more often. There's a big growth spurt at four months and the only way to get through it is to feed more often.

I would not be giving rusks to her at four months as they are dry and hard and could be a choking hazard.

[noblegiraffe]

What happens if you put her back on the breast?

[thedicewoman]

I started weaning both of mine at 4 months as they seemed ready for it, wouldn't necessarily agree with giving a Rusk as probably full of sugar, but I don't see any issue with starting to give banana and other well cooked vegetables. but also agree with pp, if you don't want to start weaning off breast then you probably have to increase feeds.

[SophieandElls]

I feed her every two hours and give her low sugar rusks twice a day with boiling water or breast milk. This just does not seem to be enough. What is the problem with low sugar rusks mixed with breast milk or water?

[showtunesgirl]

OP, babies under six months are not supposed to have water either, only a few sips at the very most. More info here.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Do you offer each side at least once during each feed OP?

[UniqueAndAmazing]

it might be that she's not needing more foodd.

they start to get boredat that age as well as going through a growth spurt, so she might need entertaining.
bt t 4 months, dd went back to almost every hour for a couple of weeks.
try swapping sides more often, or even feeding her, taking her off for 10 mins then giving the other side.

[AmelieA]

Hi Sophie, my health visitor said its impossible to empty the breast, so just keep feeding her. It might feel emptier, but you will go on producing milk as long as she feeds. Also, longer feeds will stimulate more milk production. Also, make sure you're eating enough fat and protein even though you may crave sugar!!! I got some good advice from this website... diamondsanddaisychains.com/breastfeeding/ she talks about lots of breastfeeding things, but there's a section on how to keep going with feeding and it's really good. I know the lady who writes it and she has breastfed six children!!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

The thing with weaning is that the first foods you offer are supposed to influence food choices for later in life so if you offer over sweet foods now, that might create a pattern your dd might want to continue for life. If you do want to offer food, like rusks does she show the signs of readiness? Have you read the MN info on weaning too?

Also, there are more calories in your milk so the rusks will take up stomach space that should be filled with your lovely milk, so you could be depriving her of the calories she needs to grow and develop.

When you say she screams, has this being going on for long or is it a new thing? do you think this is a Growth Spurt?

If you think she is hungry she just needs more of your milk so offer bfs more regularly, at least every 2 hours in the day and make sure you offer each side at least once during each feed. If she still seems hungry you can start again with the first side again and just keep offering each side until she seems satisfied.

Keep posting and let us know how you are getting on