formula question- sorry long

soexcited317

Hi ladies... I will try to make this as concise as possible.  Thank you in advance if you have any advice.  Lo is 12 weeks old.  I started out breastfeeding.  We dealt with jaundice and an extra day in the hospital.  I supplemented with formula while he was under the lights.  Lo did have a bowel movement in the hospital on the first day, but did not again up until his five day check.  The doctor ( not our regular doctor because ours was not available) helped him poop with a thermometer, and helped me with breastfeeding/latch.

Lo seemed to be breastfeeding okay, but still fussed during feedings and never seemed content.  I pumped and supplemented with bm.  At his two week appointment he had not gotten back to birth weight.  At that time I was so overwhelmed with a newborn and almost two year old that I began to supplement with formula and within a week I had lost my supply- big mistake  

Lo's bowel movements were regular well bf but on formula he has been pretty constipated going only every three or four days.  He was fine for the first few days with formula, but as soon as my supply was gone and he no longer got bm he would fuss a lot during feedings/ occasionally refuse feedings.  The only formula he will take is Similac Sensitive.  We tried Enamel Gentles and he refused and would scream and turn his head.  We ended up calling the on call doc who recommend soy.  We only used it for a night and went back to the doctor the next day.  She advised not to use soy with boys.  We switched to Similar Sensitive on her advice, and he started out doing okay on it, but within a week he was pretty fussy again.  We recently tried Gerber Soothe and he always refuses it.

For his two month well check he is gaining weight appropriately.  His doc said constipation is most likely causing his fussiness and gave us a powder laxative.  The laxative helped for a few days and now Lo is constipated again.  I called the doctor office today due to Lo refusing feedings (maybe taking an ounce at a time) Family doc is not in this week and the doctor I spoke to said to try Nutrimigen.

 Woosh!  Other things- doesn't spit up much, has thrown up twice randomly after feedings, will poop with glycerin enemas but not juice. does not seem to have colic, no fever, no blood in stool, is small but gaining appropriately (25th %), burps okay..... If I can give any other info that would help let me know.  Mostly it is just stressful for me.  I just want him to be happy.

I'm frustrated with the inconsistency in advice from our doctors office.  My main question is would you persist with a formula change even if he refuses at first?  He usually gets upset very quickly, not just after the bottle.  But he is also very unhappy with the current formula.  I have not tried the Nutramigen yet so any advice on how to make this work would be greatly appreciated.

 Thanks!

saturdaynightdoubletree

If the similac sensitive is working, stick with it. Are you using powder or premixed? Are you sure LO is constipated and isn't just an every 3 to 4 day pooper? DD1 was a really good eater, but sometimes would get constipated and offering her a small bottle of water helped. I'm not a doctor, so I would check with one before trying this. She ate enough that the water didn't replace calories from formula. GL! Sorry you are getting mixed messages and not a lot of help from the doctors.

Diver10

I would ask your doctor to send him to be tested for Hirshprungs based on your pooping history.

hansonam446

Are you sure he's constipated? Newborns don't poop consistently or even every day. Sometimes they can go a day or so without pooping or poop every diaper or once or twice. As long as he's gaining weight fine he should be good. When I went to my 2 week appointment they only asked how many wet diapers LO was making. You can tell if they are constipated if their poop is hard little balls.

sharmane2307

what about getting donated breast milk?

Necack

The info we got from the hospital suggested adding dark karo syrup to bottles... No more than a tablespoon per day. We haven't tried it yet because the gripe water seems to be working so far, but its another option I thought I'd throw out there for you.

stardust317

Once every 4 to 5 days was normal for DD1 with breast milk or formula.

soexcited317

Thanks ladies. I gave him an ounce of prune juice last night in his bed time feeding. He actually had a soft stool this morning.  He has had three 4oz bottles of the similac since 4 am, which is a big improvement.  I'll check back with his regular doctor when he returns to the office next week.