Stomach Bug/throwing Up.

Hi K.. These things can take a week to get over, so it doesn't sound to weird to me. Mainly, I wanted to reply that I went through something similar with my daughter when we were breastfeeding and supplementing with formula. When she had the stomach bug in the fall, she would only keep down breastmilk too. That's sometimes just because the breastmilk is so much easier for them to digest, not necessarily because the formula is bad for them. If she is not dehydrated (still peeing and active), she's probably still recovering and doing okay.

Also, PLEASE don't dilute formula. That is very hard on the baby's system because it's a delicate balance of electrolites and everything they need. It can really hurt them to give them too much water--not to mention that they aren't getting nutrients. Pedialite is much better than watered down formula. I asked my sister, who is a doctor, about this when my baby girl was vomiting.

Hope you all feel better very soon!

Hi K.,

Bless your heart. It's so heartbreaking for us mom's when our kids are sick. And for so long.
I kinda have an answer but not really. How's that?
You absolutely ned to keep an eye on her especially being so young and small. I will tell you that it has been at least 10 years since I have thrown up, until last week! I just don't get stomach bugs! But whatever this is going around is strong and wicked! Granted I was only getting sick 24 hours, but have continued to feel "icky" now for 4 days. So I can imagine with a little one with a weaker immune system it's probably going to hit her harder.
But again, PLEASE, PLEASE keep an eye on her and if your mommy intuition tells you to take her back in, DO IT. If nothing else it's another pair of eyes looking at her.

Good Luck!

Lori K

my grandson was throwing up for weeks and the Dr told them he was just teething, but he had some nose congestion, does she have any? anyway the Drs kept insisting he was OK saying he was teething, I got upset and told them to get another DRs opionion and finally my son in law took him to the emergency room on a sunday night and he had pnemonia! SHe may need a n upper GI, my daughter threw up everything we tried her on and we had an upper GI done and found her opening out of her stomach into her intestines was failing to open so after souring on her stomach everything came up, be persistent with the Drs

You might try another formula. My mom always told me that I threw up all the time, until they changed my formula to Similac.

My daughter is just getting over the same thing. My Dr. said to try soy formula. Good luck! I know how helpless we feel when our babies don't feel good!

Hi K.,
you've gotten a lot of good advice. I'm a nurse and I've seen a lot of patients and co-workers, not to mention my family with this particular flu bug. In 90% of the cases I've seen the bug is only 24 hours or so. I had nausea for two days, but no throwing up. My two year old had throwing up for one night, then fever for one day. I would say in any case, it is not normal to be throwing up for 6 days. Do not let the doctors blow you off. I would say it is probably the formula and to maybe get a second opinion. best of luck.

My daughter had the flu for three weeks straight last June. I kept being told the same thing that she was fine as long as she had a wet diaper. It was very hard to believe them after she threw up every single day for at least a week. What we finally did was reduce the ratio of formula to water in each bottle since it must have been upsetting her stomach. We started off with a mixture of 25% formula and 75% water. We did that for a few days and then switched to 50%, 75% and then 100%. This was hard for me to do because I kept thinking she was not getting enough nutrients. However, she stayed hydrated and at least kept something down. I will warn you not to switch the percentages too fast because you might think that she is fine and then they get sick again. Been there :)

Hi,
My guys are a little older (2 year old triplets) but we are dealing with the exact same thing. Just when I think they are getting better somebody starts throwing up again. Its been over a week now. No fever, one day of diahrea for one of them, so we are just waiting it out. good luck!

She either developed an allergy to the formula, ask your doctor asap about that or she is throwing up from all of the acid in her stomach. My daughter was a preemie (esophagus always develops later and you deal w/ acid reflux a lot w/ them, so i have dealt), and she has had stomach flu twice now, but it always lasted longer than most. My doctor recommended Pepcid AC for children and it worked, she stopped throwing up, definitely the acid in her stomach from the flu. Hope this helps and always check w/ your doctor, as I am not a doctor and this is only advice based on my experiences.
p.s. i apologize for my typo's in advance...

Have you thought about relactation? Depending on how long it's been since you weaned her, it may be very easy to do (as simple as putting her back to the breast), and as breast milk seems to work for her, it might be worth it. She'll get all the other benefits too. I certainly don't think it's bad to use formula and get through this (and now is the time to use up that freezer supply if that is what is staying down), but I just wanted to mention it as a possibility. Here's a little bit of information...
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/relactation.html

I hope she gets well soon, it's so hard.

K.

It could be rotovirus. Just something to think about. I'd ask the dr. When mine had it, it had a distinctive odor to her diarrhea. Hope she gets to feeling better!!!!

I agree with the most recent posting from Maranatha B. so instead of regurgitating that same info...just know this too shall pass and she's gonna be better soon. Take care of you too so that you don't catch the bug or continue to pass it around. It's hard when our babies are sick but it's equally hard when Mommy's sick and still having to take care of all the kids too. Hopefully, Spring will come quick! I absolutely detest cold and flu season.

Try using a different formula, since you are using enfamil. You may want to try Enfamil Gentilease. I'm not sure on the spelling but I believe its a purple label. Also try mixing the formula into the breast milk, like 1 oz formula and 3 oz. breast, then half and half, and then work your way up to all formula.

how much are you feeding her at a time? My 6 month old son was recently sick, well still getting over it, but he threw up for only 3 days. I only let him take 2 to 3 oz at a time, try more smaller and frequent feedings. Also maybe a good idea to burp halfway through. I use Good Start formula for my son.

Good Luck.

Six days sounds like a long time to keep throwing up. Is she running a fever? If not, then it sounds like she may need to be switched to a soy or milk free formula. Consult your pediatrician first though. Both of my children had to be on soy formulas and they did great with them. I hope that she gets better soon.

Since she is 5 months, I'm willing to bet she got the Rotavirus immunization..? Hopefully so, and hopefully that's not what it is. However, if she is only throwing up with no diaherra, I'm thinking it might be the formula, since she's taking breastmilk and only throwing up the formula. My son had acid reflux really bad and we had to put him on meds and special formula. It was a nightmare until those two kicked in. He has since outgrown it, but the right formula can make all the difference in the world. If your daughter doesn't have any other symptoms (fever, diaherra, etc.), I'd be willing to be it's the formula. Hope that helps and good luck!