Partner wants to give 5 week old rusk

[FirstNov2017]

Had a few problems with breast feeding but it seems that they are normal. I have been going to bf cafe/clinics to get advice and they have observed me feeding. Every clinic I've been to says lo latched on fine. Breast hasn't felt empty after a feed and lo was unsettled after 2 hours. Have been putting lo on the breast and then expressing and feeding to make sure he is getting something. This is working well but it's exhausting. He's settled and now gaining weight. My partner wants to give him rusks as him mum told him she did this with him as he was always hungry. I really don't want to give out lo rusks. He's 5 weeks old. As we're both his parents I don't know how to tell him to bugger off with that idea. So much conflicting information about solid food before 6 months. I just want to do what's best for our lo. Anyone done this or something similar?

Leave him to suck his fingers at times which he's happy to do after a good feed

Has he been checked for tongue tie by a proper lactation consultant? Several medical professionals said my dd was fine but luckily one person did spot a posterior tongue tie and having this cut (3 times!) really did help. My dd made clicking sounds when feeding, which disappeared when the tt was cut. She also began to gain weight properly. Southampton was where her tt was cut successfully.

Been checked by bf specialist twice and neither one found one. He's recently clicking but have taken him off and repositioned and then it's gone and he only ever clicks on one side!

When you say he’s been checked by a Bfing Specialist, do you know their qualifications? Was it a qualified Tongue Tie practitioner?

Not questioning you but if I had a quid for everyone who came on MN with undiagnosed TT, including my own DS, I’d be very rich indeed.

Losing weight at 2-3 weeks is very unusual and would suggest that the way the milk is transferred to the baby needs investigating. The clicking is a classic sign of TT and yes, their stomach can growl if they are hungry. Nothing you have said suggests low supply though.

Have a read of this on tongue tie. Not all mothers suffer pain and nipple damage, I didn’t for one.

Hmmm I might take him to be checked again then. Could be one that's hard to diagnose. The clicking started this week and goes with repositioning. Today's he's not been topped up and seems settled. More alert at the breast. Fingers crossed we're getting there

Like I said, it could all be normal but if he’s lost weight between 2 and 3 weeks and is clicking, it’s definitely worth getting him checked by a Qualified Tongue Tie Specialist. Most HCPs don’t get any training on Bfing let alone Tongue Tie

It might be worth talking to a BFC tonight about the clicking, see,ink unsettled and the early weight loss. Like I said, it could all be normal but prolly best to speak to a trained BFC —rather than a random person ont’internet— earlier rather than later. Have you got the Helpline numbers?

I was apparently given rusk at 3 days old in the 70's from a midwife as I wouldn't stop crying. No ill effects, but probably not to be recommended.

If you baby cannot sit up giving him a risk could very well kill him. You categorically do not f Ed babies who do not have the muscle strength to sit with their heads held up.

No advice in the bf, but just wanted to say DD and I just didn't fit together - nipples too big and mouth too small. She couldn't get enough of the surrounding tissue in her mouth to suckle effectively, but looked like she was latched on properly when people looked. She was losing weight and wouldn't wake to feed.

I ended up expressing for a few weeks, intending to go back to bfing when she was a bit bigger. (ended up going to formula instead as I found expressing wasn't very effective and was using formula more and more, but sounds like you are doing better than me in expressing)

I've got the national breast feeding helpline number. Are there anymore?

God no I'm an avid follower of 6 months solid foods and baby led weaning. If you need an excuse for OH just show him the amount of sugar in a rusk and I'm sure he will agree!

I've got the national breast feeding helpline number. Are there anymore? I’ve always found the them useful when I’ve rung them but there are others. There’s La Leche League, the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers and the NCT which is 0300 330 0700. I’d give one of them a call in the morning. The LLL May have a grouo near to you too

Breastfed babies do feed really frequently , please dont give rusks a newborns digestive system is not cut out for that a friend of mine gave a formula feed at bedtime on top of breastfeeding as her baby was constantly on the breast and it meant she could have dinner and a shower whilst daddy fed and put baby to bed

Flapjacks were a game changer in the early days for me. Noticeably increased my milk supply. Plus drinking a large glass of water at every feed. Mantra: Baby drinks, I drink + flapjack.

Another vote for getting checked for tongue tie again, preferably by a lactation consultant or other breastfeeding specialist. That sounds like the baby is not transferring milk effectively as you can pump reasonable amounts straight after a long feed.

Thank you. Hopefully one of them is open tomorrow.

They should be. Have a look here too to see if there are any Tongue Tie Practioners in your area

Good luck and stand your ground with dh and mil. My dd dropped a lot of weight so I had to do top us (2 a day from one month old) but I didn't get anything when I expressed, so they were formula. Did eventually drop to one top up. Maybe try to phase them down a bit. My dd was the kind who fed for 20 mins, slept on me for 5 mins, screamed for 20 mins then the cycle repeated. Was shit.