For those of you that switched from BF to FF because of LO's allergy...

AlphaKat · February 2011

1. How did you know LO was having problems?

2. How long after you switched to FF did you notice a difference?

3. What kind of formula are you using and why?

DS is so gassy and screams in pain. I have cut out dairy from my diet but he is still having issues. We are considering switching to formula for all our sanity. Just looking for a gauge as to what others have done. TIA!

1ht

LordValuemart · February 2011

I didn't do a full on switch, he was having problems, but not as bad as your little one, he was having trouble farting on his own and it would sometimes discomfort him (Nothing a little leg exercise couldn't cure) and he'd get horribly constipated. I'd had to supplement since the hospital since my supply has never been the greatest, and I can't seem to get it up, we switched from using similac advance to using the similac for fussiness and gas, it took a day or 2, but he now farts on his own like a champ, and has less issues pooping, too.

stephanieandben · February 2011

we are going through this now. our dr. said to cut out soy at the same time as dairy. 30% of infants with a milk allergy/intolerance also have a soy allergy. soy and milk are hidden in a lot of foods. pay close attention to the ingredients. milk is also called whey and casin...and beware of soybean oil. we cut it out at the beginning of the week and are already seeing a difference. if you decide to keep bfing, here is a website that shows you what you can eat https://www.nursingmomrecipes.com/index.html

gl

msm261 · February 2011

1. LO screamed all day long. I couldn't take him in the car, stroller, or play with him. He would arch his back and scream. He was super gassy. He had blood/mucous in his stool. He nursed constantly b/c that was the only thing that would make him stop crying for a short period of time. He woke up from a deep sleep screaming and would take hours to put back down. This lasted from about week 2 to week 12 when we finally made the switch.

2. Within 3 days the difference was amazing. We first started with powder Nutramigen with hopes of getting him on Neocate. He refused Neocate. He finally settled on Alimentum Ready to Feed and is a new child. He started sleeping, smiling, and playing.

3. We are on Alimentum Ready to Feed for a few reasons. First, it was a little thicker than powder and DS seemed to like that. Second, it doesn't have corn like the powder does (Some babies with MSPI will react to that too). Third, I love the convenience of RTF

I also tried to eliminate all soy and dairy from my diet. I dropped down to 118 lbs and I am 5'7". It was not pretty and I was emotionally exhausted from 12 weeks of non stop crying. I really beat myself up for switching him to formula, but in the end my baby is happy and healthy. GL!

ILuvMyPilot · February 2011

this sounded like my baby but it was only for a week when we figured it was MSPI. I have been on a no milk, soy, nuts, tomato, some corn and lettuces diet for the last 2 1/2 months. Once you figure out the diet it is not that bad, I have lost some weight on it, but I want to loose weight so it is fine with me. Most babies can handle soybean oil because that is a fat not a protein. once I went on the diet I did notice change in about 3 day but it takes about 2 weeks to get the milk out of your system. my DD is 3 months old and is a happy baby. I really wanted to BF so changed my diet, and plus the formula is expensive, if you have to go on neocate is about $40 a can and most insurances dont cover it. there is hidden words that mean soy and milk. I have a list of them if you would like them just PM me. Good luck.

ILuvMyPilot · February 2011

I forgot to add.. my baby was fussy, would scream, had to be held all the time, mucusy poop, congestion and reflux. She has been on zantac since she was 3 weeks old.

what helped up with the sleeping was the miracle blanket to swaddled her in.

daenikoffre · February 2011

My baby just cried when pooping and he seemed sad about it, or in pain. There was some blood in his stool. He's now fine after switched from regular Enfamil Newborn to Similac Alimentum. We tried Enfamil's Nutimigen first, but he spat it out and refused to eat it.

I still BF most of the time, but he has about 4 ounces of formula per [24 hour] day in addition to my BM. I've cut out most dairy, like cheese, yoghurt, milk, etc.. but the pedi thinks he has a "sensitivity" and not an actual allergy, so I'm able to have little bits of dairy like a splash of cream in my coffee and butter on toast, etc. No more milkshakes or smoothies though.

Good luck!

AlphaKat · February 2011

They tested his poop for blood at his 2 week appt and it was negative. But things have only gotten worse since then. He cries all the time and nothing soothes him. He will be so tired and fall asleep and then wake up ten minutes later screaming. It is so sad. When he is awake, he is screaming. He is never happy. That is why i feel like it is my milk tha is making him that way. He also has developed a small rash on the side of his face. Could that indicate an allergy? We are going to try formula for 72 hours while i pump to see if that makes a difference. His 2 month appt is in a week, should i make another appt sooner to get things checked out?

daenikoffre · February 2011

Does your Pedi's office have a nurse line? Or can you just call in and ask them? I know it's hard for me to hear my little fella [who is also an Oliver!] in pain, so I think I'd do that. Maybe ask them if they'd recommend the 72 hour formula thing?

ETA: Also, formula is milk based, so you might want to ask about soy or nutrimigen / alimentum instead. The 72 hour formula may make it even worse if you're using the regular one. I don't know anything about the fussy / gassy formulas, though.

ILuvMyPilot · February 2011

rash or eczema is also one of the signs of MSPI(milk, soy protein intolerance). at the 2 month can get it checked out, but I would just go with your gut. you know something is not right. try the formula to see if makes a difference but if you want to cont. bf try taking out all milk and soy for about 2 weeks to see if there is a change. I had to cut out it all, i had something that had a little of soy in it, and later that night she was super fussy,so somethings just a little bit of soy or milk can make the difference.

Bubsie1020 · February 2011

I could have written the same post except the first week we knew there was something wrong when the pediatrician saw one of our LO's dirty diapers and knew there was a milk protein allergy (she has explosive diarhhrea). We are also on Alimentum RTF and it's helped considerably. We also have been giving her Zantac for the reflux and she's much better than she was. We still have a bad couple of hours here and there but nothing like before. I also felt horrible for having to stop BFing, especially when other Bumpies were really unaccepting of my choice, but the baby is thriving (she gained 8 oz. the first full week on Alimentum). I considered still breastfeeding, but honestly, I was scared that I couldn't maintain the non-dairy, non-soy diet when I wasn't home. I'd feel horrible if I ate something unknowingly, came home and made her sick. Stick with your decision- whatever works for you and for LO is the way to go.

AlphaKat · February 2011

Thanks ror all the input. At this point I am not determined to BF if it is causing problems for him. I don't think I could maintain a complete elimination diet for long. I have been EPing due to latch issues anyway. His behavior has pretty much been consistent from birth. He was diagnosed with reflux and the Zantac has helped a little but now the main problem is the gas and fussiness and general irritability. He also can't sleep sometimes, the other day he only slept 11 out of 24 hours. I thought as he got older his digestive system would mature and things would get better. But obviously they aren't. I just put in a call to the nurse to see what they think about trying formula for a few days. We have been using similac sensitive but I don't want to make things worse so I am going to see what they say. I have just been crying all day because I can't do anything to comfort him and he seems so sad. Even when he is sleeping he will make this awful face and arch his back and scream. It breaks my heart. I would do anything to get him feeling better.

etude de la vie · February 2011

::lurking::

DD had horrible colic with really severe reflux.

I had to cut almost everything out of my diet after seeing a few specialists. She would cry non-stop all day and be in so much pain.

The dr. at Children's hospital told me to cut out: Soy/dairy, all cheese, butter, mayo, chocolate, caffeine, carbonated drinks (reflux related), anything acidic (reflux), nothing spicy, and no gassy veggies. I ate a lot of bland food!

She was also put on reflux meds 3x a day and for the colic I was told to give her mylicon after every feeding. If her colic was really bad I could give her mylicon before and after each bfing session.

I cut everything out and saw a HUGE difference. Once she was about 3 months old I could add items into my diet slowly and she was fine. By 5 months old I was eating anything I wanted that was previously cut out and she was fine.

I know it sounds like a lot to sacrifice but honestly 3 months is a short time span. I was told she would get worse on formula (prob need expensive rx formula and it would make the reflux worse) so I stuck with bfing and weaned her when I got my BFP (9 months old). Bfing is horrible in the beginning but it really gets soooo easy and convenient!

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