Formula feeding

kdoak2015 · February 2016

Gingermom15 said:

Looking for advice for a co-worker.

Her baby is 4 weeks old and EFF, he is on Enfamil Gentlease and having problems with reflux and constipation. He had been on this formula since he was born. I don't really have experience with formula, but could switching possibly help? I gave her some Dr. Brown's bottles with preemie nipples and that helped his spitting up the whole bottle, but he still gets so gassy and goes more than a week at a time without pooping. He is obviously in pain and strains hard to pass stool. The pediatrician said all this is normal and switching isn't necessary, after seeing the poor baby so miserable I'm highly doubting his advice and his humanity. The mom in me says something is off.

Also, she wanted so bad to breastfeed but couldn't due to medication. I EBF, so of course I want to approach this topic sensitively without her feeling like I'm being pushy. Advice on how to do that? I don't care at all that he's on formula but it's painful to watch the poor little guy suffer especially because I feel it could be made better for him.

Is the stool hard when he eventually passes it? My DD always strains to poo and is BF and FF due to low supply. Going up to 5 days without pooing is normal for any baby(all babies are different) she could try a lactose free formula as gentle ease is only partial broken down.
Some babies just spit up, holding upright 30mins after feeding and feeding smaller more frequent meals is suppose to help.

Gingermom15 · February 2016

kdoak2015 said:

Gingermom15 said:

Looking for advice for a co-worker.

Her baby is 4 weeks old and EFF, he is on Enfamil Gentlease and having problems with reflux and constipation. He had been on this formula since he was born. I don't really have experience with formula, but could switching possibly help? I gave her some Dr. Brown's bottles with preemie nipples and that helped his spitting up the whole bottle, but he still gets so gassy and goes more than a week at a time without pooping. He is obviously in pain and strains hard to pass stool. The pediatrician said all this is normal and switching isn't necessary, after seeing the poor baby so miserable I'm highly doubting his advice and his humanity. The mom in me says something is off.

Also, she wanted so bad to breastfeed but couldn't due to medication. I EBF, so of course I want to approach this topic sensitively without her feeling like I'm being pushy. Advice on how to do that? I don't care at all that he's on formula but it's painful to watch the poor little guy suffer especially because I feel it could be made better for him.

Is the stool hard when he eventually passes it? My DD always strains to poo and is BF and FF due to low supply. Going up to 5 days without pooing is normal for any baby(all babies are different) she could try a lactose free formula as gentle ease is only partial broken down.
Some babies just spit up, holding upright 30mins after feeding and feeding smaller more frequent meals is suppose to help.

After he eventually goes it looks like tan, crunchy peanut butter. That's what is concerning to me more than anything because he's only 4 weeks old, FF or EBF shouldn't it be smooth with no hard lumps? That was my understanding, but I could be wrong.
The bottles helped with the spit up, though. He was spitting up whole bottles before them.

Does Enfamil make a more broken down formula? I gave her around $60 in Enfamil checks I had sent to me and she doesn't have much money to spend trying different kinds. Or would anyone reccomend a different brand? I'll buy the formula myself if anyone has suggestions because it's the worst watching a baby struggle so much.

missaero · February 2016

Similac Sensitive is pretty good and partially hydrolized.

KRH6829 · February 2016

I used similac with DS and now use similac sensitive with DD. Similac sensitive is great for little ones who struggle on regular formula.

Mother0fDragons · February 2016

Gingermom15 said:

Looking for advice for a co-worker.

Her baby is 4 weeks old and EFF, he is on Enfamil Gentlease and having problems with reflux and constipation. He had been on this formula since he was born. I don't really have experience with formula, but could switching possibly help? I gave her some Dr. Brown's bottles with preemie nipples and that helped his spitting up the whole bottle, but he still gets so gassy and goes more than a week at a time without pooping. He is obviously in pain and strains hard to pass stool. The pediatrician said all this is normal and switching isn't necessary, after seeing the poor baby so miserable I'm highly doubting his advice and his humanity. The mom in me says something is off.

Also, she wanted so bad to breastfeed but couldn't due to medication. I EBF, so of course I want to approach this topic sensitively without her feeling like I'm being pushy. Advice on how to do that? I don't care at all that he's on formula but it's painful to watch the poor little guy suffer especially because I feel it could be made better for him.

DD struggled with constipation for several weeks after starting formula and her pediatrician said that was normal as well. He suggested bicycle pumps, warm baths and giving her 1 oz of apple juice added to 1 oz of water daily. The juice and water mix helped her the most.
She also has a problem with reflux, so as pp mentioned, have your friend keep her baby upright for 30 minutes after feedings.
Mylicon or Little Remedies are over the counter and contain simethicone which helps with gas. Does she burp her baby after feedings as well?

littlebitmom · February 2016

My little one needs to start taking 5 ounce bottles since she is finishing 4oz bottles with no leftovers. Why doesn't the scoop measure 1 ounce at a time

. What's the best way to go about this? Making 6 ounces and wasting each feeding seems ridiculous to me. Anyone have a better way? Thanks!

katy4128 · February 2016

@Gingermom15 I had similair issues with Leo when we started formula. I was using gentlease and Leo had a hard time pooping and would go days without it. He was also very gassy and acting like his was in pain. With my pedi's advice, I switched him to similac sensitive. It was AMAZING at how fast he was feeling better. He still only poops about every other day but he does it much easier. You can go on similac's website and sign up for coupons too.

esscapelle · February 2016

@littlebitmom I bought the Dr. Browns pitcher at the suggestion of multiple ladies here and I LOVE it. You mix up a big quantity at a time then you can pour however much you want at a time! I'm currently pouring 5-5.5 ounces for my LO so it's so handy. And it's like $10 on Amazon.

KRH6829 · February 2016

Dr. Browns pitcher!!!

littlebitmom · February 2016

@esscapelle and @KRH6829 does your little one drink it straight from the fridge? Also, with the increase in formula amount did you up the nipple size?

redfallon · February 2016

littlebitmom said:

@esscapelle and @KRH6829 does your little one drink it straight from the fridge? Also, with the increase in formula amount did you up the nipple size?

We have the pitcher and DS will not drink it straight from the fridge. We got a bottle warmer for him. DD was fine with whatever temp so we never had one for her. We have this one that steams it. It works pretty well.

https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Speed-Bottle-Warmer-White/dp/B00DUTKBSE

redfallon · February 2016

I have also estimated/eyeballed a half scoop to make 1 oz of formula.

KRH6829 · February 2016

I also have the Dr. Browns bottle to take the chill off the formula. It is too cold for DD just out of the fridge. I am going to try out size 2 nipples either tonight or tomorrow. I think with my son we went up a size about every three months. DD will be three months tomorrow. If I switch and it is too big, she will leak formula out of her mouth while feeding, and then I'll just switch back.

rockinmathchic · February 2016

We have a cheap Rubbermaid pitcher type thing that measures ounces. We make a days worth of formula in it and pour 5 ounces into bottles which we keep refrigerated. A lot of other posters swear by the dr Browns pitcher. I haven't used it but I use a similar method with a cheaper pitcher.
@littlebitmom

esscapelle · February 2016

@littlebitmom I just heat up a bowl of water and then stick the bottle in it to warm it up. My LO will not drink it straight from the fridge. I haven't upped the nipple size yet, my little guy still dribbles (he's 11 weeks tomorrow) so we are waiting on that.

redfallon · February 2016

esscapelle said:

@littlebitmom I just heat up a bowl of water and then stick the bottle in it to warm it up. My LO will not drink it straight from the fridge. I haven't upped the nipple size yet, my little guy still dribbles (he's 11 weeks tomorrow) so we are waiting on that.

My little dude won't wait that long. The steam warmer I got will heat a 4 oz bottle to room temp or a bit warmer in about 90 secs.

Mother0fDragons · February 2016

littlebitmom said:

My little one needs to start taking 5 ounce bottles since she is finishing 4oz bottles with no leftovers. Why doesn't the scoop measure 1 ounce at a time . What's the best way to go about this? Making 6 ounces and wasting each feeding seems ridiculous to me. Anyone have a better way? Thanks!

We have been mixing up a days worth of formula and keeping it in a nalgene bottle.

Mizuiro007 · February 2016

@Gingermom15 She could try adding a probiotic. We found this extremely helpful.with DS until he started solid food and we could just manage his constipation with that. We weren't in a position to be able to change formulas by that point.

If you try different brands. I seem to remember similac total comfort being about the equivalent to gentlease but it was constipation for both my babies. There's also Enfamil reguline that might help with the straining.

I also agree with the simethicone drops. They make a huge difference for DD along with bicycling and pumping her legs. Also the smaller amounts more frequently is pretty standard for reflux. We recently switched from Dr Brown's preemie to Avent Natural with the first flow nipples. They seem slower than Dr Brown's and she's actually ended up with less gas with them.

Also with the gas is burping even between feedings. A lot of people don't think of how they swallow air with things like crying and nonnutrivitve sucking such as with a pacifier.

littlebitmom · February 2016

@redfallon what brand warmer?

Gingermom15 · February 2016

@Mizuiro007 thank you! Is there a brand of probiotics you preferred? She would like to try them out. She wants to stay with Gentlease for the time being, but I'll also see if I can find a small can of Reguline for her to have on hand in case she changes her mind.

He gets burped every couple of ounces and after each bottle is done. He sleeps in a RNP, as well. After the bottles I gave her he hasn't had much trouble with spitting up and he is less gassy. But still has the hard, painful poops

Mother0fDragons · February 2016

@littlebitmom

littlebitmom said:

@redfallon what brand warmer?

redfallon said:

littlebitmom said:

@esscapelle and @KRH6829 does your little one drink it straight from the fridge? Also, with the increase in formula amount did you up the nipple size?

We have the pitcher and DS will not drink it straight from the fridge. We got a bottle warmer for him. DD was fine with whatever temp so we never had one for her. We have this one that steams it. It works pretty well.

https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Speed-Bottle-Warmer-White/dp/B00DUTKBSE

Mizuiro007 · February 2016

@Gingermom15 we used the Gerber ones with DS with quite a bit of success. Since we mixed his formula for the day in the Dr Brown's pitcher we actually just added them to the pitcher. They're the same as the biogaia drops (which we've been using for DD).

Gingermom15 · March 2016

@Mizuiro007 I took her some Gerber Sooth drops yesterday evening. Fingers crossed that they help her little guy.

Gingermom15 · March 2016

She just texted to let me know that he pooped little more comfortably and it was less hard/lumpy. Never thought I would be so happy about another baby's poop.

Alantry01 · March 2016

My daughter never would really latch on. She was also only 4lbs 10oz due to space restrictions, so it partialy had something to do with her size. I have been exclusively formula feeding since she was a month old and she is doing great with it. I use the Enfamil Gentlease and Nuk vented bottles after trying a few different ones and that seemed to work best.

teachmegs817 · March 2016

Have any of you moms or know of any moms who have had their babies on a specialized formula like Alimentum (Similac) or Nutramigen (Enfamil) and switched back to regular type formula after LO's stomachs were more regulated?

DS has been on Nutramigen for about 1 1/2 months. Pedi. suggested treating him as if he has a cows milk intolerance at this point, due to pooping issues/stomach irritability. This was back around 4w old. He does well on it, and it has helped a ton with regulating him and easing his stomach. However, I am not opposed to trying to get him on something such as Gentlease once he gets a little older because the formula is expensive and it's to the point where it's causing him to poop 5-6 times a day some days and then 2-3 times on others. His BM's also are very thinned out (Dr. said they would be, due to the formula being partly broken down) but It's to the point where we've been changing his diaper and mid change he poops again and literally clear/ faintly tinted brown water come out. Sorry for the TMI.

I plan on talking to his Pedi. at his 4 month checkup, at the end of April. I thought I'd reach out to you ladies on this thread first and see if anyone has had their LO's on a specialized formula and then been able to put their baby back onto a more typical brand/type of formula.

Mizuiro007 · March 2016

@teachmegs817 we were told with DS that we could try any formula with at least partially hydrolyzed protein. We did the best with Gerber Soothe but ended up with Similac Total Comfort because we could get WIC to provide it with special authorization from the doctor. We tried Enfamil Gentlease but DS wouldn't take it once he'd tried others so we thought maybe the flavor. Similac Total Comfort seemed to be constipating but adding a probiotic helped. The same probiotic is already in Gerber Soothe plus it's cheaper.

kdoak2015 · March 2016

Any STMs have experience with soy based formula? DD is on lactose
free but still seems to have tummy issues, gas and irritability I've read so many negative about soy based but looking for experienced moms.

Mizuiro007 · March 2016

@kdoak2015 One of my cousins used it with her first and said it made his gas and dirty diapers stinker than normal but overall he did well with it. They had started him on lactose free and later switched to the soy for the same reason you're saying. He had had such horrible gas and the simethicone drops helped but not enough. She told me recently he was later able to switch back to lactose free without as much issue. I think she said around 6-8 months.

kdoak2015 · March 2016

thanks, I'm not even sure that would help anyways she's bf also, not sure if that's playing a part as well.

kdoak2015 · March 2016

How much are your babies eating now a days? How many times a day?

KRH6829 · March 2016

We're dojng about five six ounce bottles a day. DD has been spitting up a lot since her hospital stay, but her doctor is pushing for her to get thirty ouncesin each day. DD is three months old and weighs 13 pounds.

kylabychuk · March 2016

*Removed*

redfallon · March 2016

kylabychuk said:

You need to drink plenty of fluids to keep your breast milk going, as well healthy meals to send your baby's way

???

kdoak2015 · March 2016

redfallon said:

kylabychuk said:

You need to drink plenty of fluids to keep your breast milk going, as well healthy meals to send your baby's way

???

Yea, I'm bit sure either I think she was replying to my comment about breastfeeding. Not sure either!

KRH6829 · March 2016

DD has been on smilac sensitive since she was born, and had been doing great on it. She was hospitalized with RSV three weeks ago, and ever since then she has been spitting up a ton. I have been in constant contact with her pediatrician, and we are switching her to similac for spit up...its a green container. Has anyone used this? Did it work?

esscapelle · March 2016

My little guy is 12 weeks and does 5oz bottles...anywhere from 34-45oz per day total. He's HUNGRY these days oofda

KRH6829 · March 2016

esscapelle said:

My little guy is 12 weeks and does 5oz bottles...anywhere from 34-45oz per day total. He's HUNGRY these days oofda

Oofda!!! Are you from minnesota or north dakota???

kdoak2015 · March 2016

esscapelle said:

My little guy is 12 weeks and does 5oz bottles...anywhere from 34-45oz per day total. He's HUNGRY these days oofda

Holy cow that's a tone lol. I'd be broke if my kid ate that much lol. She's about 20-25oz of formula and then maybe 10-15oz of breast(estimating based on pumping yield.

esscapelle · March 2016

@KRH6829 omg I typed it without even thinking how it would sound to others. From Minnesota.

Want a personalized experience?

Formula feeding

Re: Formula feeding

Jamie

Jamie

Jamie

Jamie

Choose Another Board

Search Boards