HELP (Quickly) PLEASE ... Breastmilk and Formula

A friend has this issue, and they determined that her daughter was allergic to gluten. They had to go on a special prescription formula, and she had to completely alter her diet for the breastmilk.

Aside from trying even more formulas, I might call the ped and see what they say.

Two days and you'll see what the pediatrician recommends.

My son always did better with the liquid formula, not the powder. Have you tried that?
Do you have enough bm to last until Friday?

I also made one big batch for a day the night before...just what was consumed the following day. I felt letting it really dissolve worked better than putting water on top of the powder and shaking. When I would give my son the fresh "shaken" bottle he got so gassy. When it sat a while fully dissolved he seemed more comfortable..

He also drank it cold from he fridge...he didn't like it warmed.

Good luck!!

My son threw up the Enfamil as well, I tried Nestle Goodstart "gentle" formula and he never threw it up. I also used the "breastfeeding" nipple on playtex nursers initially. I was later able to use advent bottles with the level 1 nipple for faster flow. I too mixed it with the 3 to 1 ratio. I wonder if she could be taking in too much too fast? I would give him an ounce and then wait to be sure he could keep it down.

Hi, D.,

Question for you, because I'm not quite certain from your post.... Are you still nursing her when you are home or have you stopped nursing altogether? Either way is okay, but my post may not fit your question, depending on what your answer to my question is. :)

I have exclusively breastfed each of my three babies for a little over a year each. It is a TON of work, and I commend you on making it to the 5 month mark. I also understand how hard it is to maintain that type of a feeding/pumping schedule once you go back to work.

If you are still nursing her when you are at home, I would encourage you to start nursing her on only one side and pumping with an electric pump on the opposite side at the same time. Next feeding, switch sides (nurse on the other side and pump on the side you nursed on last time). Start this during a time of day that you are more full (like the morning). Even when I had gone back to work and was lucky to have time to pump once during the day, my body adjusted, and I was able to get about 4-6 ounces from ONE SIDE while pumping in the morning at the same time I nursed baby. This went a long way toward helping extend my frozen supply. I should also mention that I never seemed to get very good results while pumping at work...I'd be lucky to get 4 ounces TOTAL from both sides when pumping at work. When baby is nursing on one side, that let down response is so much stronger than with a pump (thus the reason why I suggest that you multitask and pump at the same time as nursing).

If you have quit nursing altogether, then you might wait and see what the doctor says in a few days.

Hope this helps!

I would guess your pediatrician will ask you to try a milk-free formula and assume a milk allergy to begin with. FYI, even if you consumed milk and then breast fed, it doesn't mean your child won't react to cow's milk.

Hope it's all figured out soon!

My own experience is both powdered and ready-to-use formulas. If you haven't tried ready-to-use, I would suggest trying it. My oldest just couldn't tolerate the powdered formulas well at all. He would spit up everywhere- to the point where I thought he wasn't getting anything! Ready-to-use settled down much better for him. It's more expensive, but if it works, it works. Good luck.

Are these all dairy-free formulas? If not, use a soy formula. My son threw up Enfamil all the time and we switched to Pro-So-Bee with no problems. We used the powder and just added water at feeding time. The doctor told us to boil water ahead of time, then store it and use it for the bottles. If we were out in a restaurant, I used some of our water and topped it off with just a little of the hot water they have sitting out for tea (it's already boiled, pretty much), and that warmed up the bottle to the right temp. (Some kids have problems with the various emulsifiers in the liquid, plus the liquid can spoil so I never felt it was all that economical. Plus I hated toting around the heavier bottles and having to refrigerate them.) And, as others have said, any liquid proteins (in formula, adult supplements, you name it) break down when they are premixed, so powders are usually much more stable.

Since you are using powdered, when do you make it? I found that it never was mixed well enough if I added it to water and shook it and gave it soon after. What I did was make it in a 2 quart rubbermaid bottle, in advance (for the day, a day's worth at a time). I'd make it at night before I went to bed and then (of course shook it again before filling bottles each time) when we gave it to her, it was WELL dissolved. Very smooth.

We did not heat it up. Straight from the fridge. Our doctor told us that it wasn't necessary to heat it, UNLESS it caused cramping, and for some babies it can do that. Ours never had a problem. And we live where it is hot, so hot drinks never were appealing to me, and my kids seemed to enjoy the refreshing cold bottles. But, if that isn't the case for yours, warm them. But I would still make them at least an hour in advance, rather than add powder, shake, serve.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. Do not completely rule out a dairy allergy. I nursed my son exclusively for 14 months (occasional bottles of pumped milk but never formula). He had eczema, but never had blood in his stool, vomiting, or any other sign of a problem with my diet whatsoever (and my stupid doc at the time never even suggested that his eczema could be caused by my diet). Anyway, we gave him yogurt when he was 9 months old and he broke out in hives from head to toe, vomited, etc. He's 7 now and is still highly allergic to dairy. So, it is possible that she has a dairy allergy but is able to tolerate it through your breastmilk but not formula.

If you haven't tried a soy-based formula yet, it might be worth a shot. Or, if there are any formulas that are neither soy nor dairy, that would be even better since many kids are also allergic to soy.

See what your doctor says. Hopefully you'll find a formula that works. If not, you may need to increase the number of times you pump every day, even though finding the time (and energy) to do that is so hard. I hope you're able to find a formula that works for your daughter!

kellymom.com has tips for how to increase supply if that would help. I do not know much about formula, but I do know you may need to try a non dairy version if she vomits. Also, you can still just supplement during the day and nurse at home/night. Friend did that for 3 of her babies. You should also talk to her doctor about this one. Sounds like there is something else going on.

Please do NOT Give her Soy!!!! soy is used to mimic estrogen and it can affect the hormones in little girls especially. My pediatrician to stay away from it! My 5 year old was on it until she was 2 because she was allergic to dairy, and still is. But, at 5.5 she has breast buds. I don't know if it was from the soy formula, or not, she does have a little extra on her, but, not that much. I just wonder if the soy had something to do it.

I suggest that you are maybe mixing the formula too strong. My son had a lot of problems throwing up, and so we had to mix it with extra water. I think we used 4 scoops of formula to 8 or 10 oz of water. I doubt she drinks that much at a time, but you get the idea. The other thing, is that it might be flowing too fast for her to handle. Sometimes throwing up is not vomiting exactly, but simply un-swallowed. The flap on the esophagus doesn't close well enough.

We used the Alimentum from Similac and had great success with it. It is hypoallergenic so it isn't even broken down milk like the Nutramingen, but if you have been eating dairy, it might not be needed. It is very expensive, but if you receive WIC and get a prescription from the doc, then they will pay for it for you.

Try a slow flow bottle, like the Playtex dropins. These are awesome because you can squeeze all the air out so the baby doesn't drink it. I hope that helps.

What form of formula are you using and are you warming it? I once sat for a child that mom complained he always spit up and seemed to not want to eat. She was going to have him "evaluated". They used liquid formula and kept it in baby bottles in the fridge. When it was time to eat, they would grab one and give it cold. Well, they were not home one day and I warmed it up. No spit, nothing. He drained the bottle every time. I also gave him time in between ounces so he could really get it down. I had to do this with both of my sons. BF no problem but formula required a break. And my kids would not eat the liquid. Also, both of my sons would spit up until about 8 months old. Sometimes it seemed the whole bottle came up.

BTW, Fenugreek and mothers tea did nothing for me.

Do not ever mix breastmilk with formula. Use two separate bottles.

The trace dairy in breastmilk is quite a lot different than the harsher milk-based formula protiens, so dairy really could be the issue. Try Nutramigen.

The early starting of solids may also contribute since her system is seeing too many new things at once, so I'd stop that at least until the formula issue is solved. She doesn't even need solids yet, so that's not a big deal.

Instructions on the powdered formula package state not to mix in advance. I think it says to mix no more than 2 hours before feeding. The reason is that the formula starts to breakdown and lose nutrients.

My granddaughter had gas and discomfort with regular formula But not with breast milk. Her mom did consume dairy also. My granddaughter also refused nipples. Once she got used to Alimentum she did take it. And once her mom stayed with one nipple for over a week she took to the bottle.

However, your daughter's reaction is severe. Good taking her to the doctor. I suspect this could be more of a health issue than simple refusal.

To answer some questions that some have asked:
I do not still nurse, just pump and feed from a bottle.
She has no issue taking the bottle of breastmilk (we use the Playtex Dropin Liner bottles with the Breastlike shaped nipple)
I have not mixed feeding her solids and formula (as that would be a disaster with her vomiting.) And FYI, my ped. recommending me starting her on cereal/some solids when she turned 5 months. I already feel defeated that she throws up formula, so the comment about me feeding her what was recommended by my ped. doesn't help with this issue. If i felt it was bad, I obviously wouldn't feed it to her. She takes solids and cereal fine.
I use a Medela double electric breast pump.
I pump every 3 hours. (even setting my alarm to wake up in the middle of the night, esp. since my supply is getting low.)
I greatly appreciate all of you giving advice. We go to the doctor tomorrow. (She is 10 days shy of 6 months)
I am not lazy about the pumping and feeding, trust me, I am very very dedicated to it, but I have reached a point of mental and physical exhusation with it. She is healthy. I am just trying to find a formula option for her, and it saddens me that nothing has worked yet. Being a mama is the most rewarding thing ever-but also the most challenging.

Updated

I make all of my own "goo". I know exactly what is in it.
I want you to know you have really stressed me out. I wouldn't starve my child. Your terms about dying, starving to death, etc. are a little over the top. You have really made me feel like a "bad parent" and I do not appreciate it. I came to this forum for advice, not to be repremanded on what you feel I am doing wrong, or that you don't agree with my daughter's ped. And, your concerns about babies being obese doesn't have anything to do with this, but thanks for throwing your two cents out about that too. My child is fine on height and weight, it is pretty sad that you go from telling me that I am "starving my baby" to "roly-poly" is not a good eater, but means they are obese. I, however, do appreciate your opinion, I just wish you weren't so "in your face" about it. I am always open to suggestions, which is why I chose to reach out. I hope that other people, who may have an issue similar, can take some information from this and use it to be beneficial to their own problems. It is very very stressful when a baby is so "young" that you can't just ask them what is wrong. The world is full of so many opinions, and that is all I was simply reaching out for. I am honestly hoping this doesn't come across in the wrong way, I am just a little on edge and it just seems like an individual is "out to correct me" on everything. I am frustrated and stressed enough, and don't need the extra jabs. I have an appointment set up for tomorrow, and I would love to share what I find out, but probably won't, simply to keep piece of mind and sanity from unnecessary comments.

Hi D.,

Goats milk is closer to human breast milk than any man-made formula. I know many ladies that lost their milk supply early that use it. My daughter is one. Some will add some juiced carrot to it for additional nutrition....you can get it in the refrigerated section at most grocery stores as well as powdered (as formula) at the health food stores. It's cheaper than formula too with no synthetic chemicals.

Hope this helps!
M.

Those are all milk-based formulas. I would try a soy-based formula, because she might just be sensitive to dairy right now.

Also, mixing formula in advance is fine. The 2-hour time limit is for a bottle of formula to sit out at room temperature or above. After two hours at room temperature or above, a bottle of formula starts to spoil and needs to be thrown out.

Good luck!

Try Similac isomil (pink container soy based formula) or Similac alimentum(purple container) my daughter was on alimentumand it was the bbest ever. She may also not be able to sswitch between breast milkand formula.

My daughter has soy and dairy allergies along with reflux. If your doctor perscribes her a hypoallergenic formula my suggestion would be to contact your health insurance carrier as they might cover the formula. Our policy covered Nutramigen after we paid our out of pocket deductible.

I can't say what your stress level is but it could play an important part in why your milk supply has dwindled.

I am not to say anything about the types of formulas as my experience would be out of date by many years. My son could not take Similac and wound up on a soy based product. The doctor had us keep food from son for about six hours it was to be longer but we had had enough of the crying and decided to feed him. It was the best thing we could have done. All stayed down and he slept peacefully.

You have to use your gut feelings about these things even as a new momma and know that you are trying to do the best you can with what you know for your child. Don't go beating yourself up about this. You may not get your supply back and that is okay. You did the best you could and it was for six months - the first six months of his life. It will be okay.

Please stop back and let us know what the doctor suggested for you and your baby. I would love to know.

the other S.

PS I had one bottle baby and one boob baby. Enjoyed them both. I also made baby food weekly for them and froze it.

My kids are grown now (20 & 23) but I had a similar situation. EVERYTHING came back up - projectile everywhere. We switched to soy and no more throwing up. I saw there was a post warning against soy, but my daughter did not develop any earlier than any of her friends. Soy would be worth a try.

Nutramigen worked best for my babies. I also agree with those below who suggest a soy based formula since everything you've tried is cows milk based.

I would def call my pediatrician and see what he/she recommends.