K.L. asks from Poway, CA on May 18, 2010
Formula HELP - Poway,CA
My daughter is 8 weeks old. I have been breast feeding and supplementing about 6 oz of formula a day. I am using Similac because Enfamil she threw up immediately after giving it to her. She has been really fussy, kicking her legs, and clenching her fists. We took her to a homeopathic doctor who tested her on the formula and said that she has an allergy to it. He recommended we give her goat's milk. I called my ped. to make sure that this was ok, and he said do not give it to her at this time because it lacks protein. He also said many infants have a hard time putting on weight and muscle mass. He referred to goat's milk as sugar water. So, after researching formula, I have learned that the soy base formulas first ingredient is Corn Syrup. I DO NOT want to give that to my child. Does anyone have any recommendation for a natural formula? HELP!
So What Happened?™
Thank you everone for your responses and opinions. Yesturday I bought the Good Start formula to supplement about 6 oz with last night. My daughter did wonderful! So much less fussing and screaming! Of course this was just one night so we will see how she takes to it over the next couple weeks. I am also going to try Earth's Best if Good Start doesn't do the trick! These seem to be the only store bought formulas that are mild and don't have corn syrup. Thanks again for your help.
Featured Answers
J.L. answers from Los Angeles on May 19, 2010
Not that it is a bad thing but just shocking... when I gave my kids good start they had navy blue poop! it freaked my out. My sis in law had the same thing. Just fyi. good luck!
S.E. answers from Los Angeles on May 19, 2010
unfortunately all formula is made of sugar and fat, basically because that is what is in breast milk. goat milk is not even good for toddlers. i had a homeopathic doctor recommend it for my dtr who has a severe dairy allergy and we found out through my ped that it leaches vitamins. and...my dtr ended up anemic. so we have to use soy, rice or almond. try to find a formula with plain sugar, howerver corn syrup is an easier to digest. i know Earths Best and Happy Baby make formula both are organic company's. good luck and let us know what you find.
More Answers
K.C. answers from Barnstable on May 18, 2010
My first question would be why supplement with formula at all since you are breastfeeding?
There are SO MANY ways to increase your milk supply and just give her fresh, squeezed breastmilk :) She obviously has trouble on the formula, but not the boob.
I would be happy to help you via email or phone if you like! I never like to see a nursing mom struggle.
Peace-Love-Boobies!
1 mom found this helpful
J.R. answers from Dallas on May 18, 2010
I don't have advice on formula, but if you're only supplementing with 6 oz/day, that doesn't seem like a whole whole lot. Have you tried upping your pumping or doing things to increase your milk supply? Then just cut out the formula, unless of course she needs it for some other reason you didn't mention. :) I had a hard time making milk but I worked HARD to be able to nurse. I was even put on a prescription to increase my supply. It is perfectly safe to take the entire duration or nursing and literally, it probably doubled my supply. Just a thought but of course I am not a doctor and you're mom. Mom always knows best. :) Feel free to message me if you want anymore info on the medicine! I do recommend it!!
1 mom found this helpful
V.M. answers from Los Angeles on May 19, 2010
Classical Homeopath would never do such a thing. Homeopath need to find the Remedy for your problems not to make your life more complicated. Find another homeopath. Screen them before appointment - if they do muscle testing and all sort of medical "suggestions", keep looking for the one who does not.
Good Luck
V.
J.D. answers from Los Angeles on May 19, 2010
Hi K.,
I am not understanding why you would be supplementing if you are breastfeeding as that will not increase your milk supply. You are right in wanting to avoid most of the market store brands of formula if you do continue to use something. I would be looking into ways to increase my supply and if I had to use a formula, knowing what I know now, I would NEVER use a soy one and would go to something like www.neocate.com as it is made specifically for babies unable to tolerate dairy.
Also, if your baby is already experiencing food allergies and intolerances, you need to seriously look into delaying and spreading out any of her shots as there are several ingredients in them that will affect her even more and cause problems. Did you know that there are soy, dairy, wheat, yeast used as ingredients along with the aluminum and traces of mercury and that most of the shots are 'brewed' in chick egg embryos? My daughter is and has been severely allergic to this list since she was little and I have seen it happen to hundreds of other children personally.
A great book to have on hand to start doing your own research of what is best for your child is The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert Sears and also Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders, by Dr. Kenneth Bock.
Listen to your gut, increase your milk supply as that is what is best (if your baby starts to have problems with reactions to that then you will be needing to eliminate things from your diet), and delay all vaccines until you understand what they are doing and then which would be best for her.
S.I. answers from San Diego on May 19, 2010
Dear K.,
A few items need correction here. One is that the pediatrician has a certain amount of ignorance regarding the nutritional value of goat's milk. The other moms have already chimed in on this. Second, Victoria is correct in that a properly trained classical homeopath will not be using simple muscle testing or other shortcuts to find an appropriate remedy. Finally, there are proven techniques in both oriental medicine and homeopathy for enhancing your own milk production naturally if you choose to do so. Best of luck!
M.W. answers from San Diego on May 19, 2010
I have a close friend who was in a similar situation as you and she just gave her child the goat's milk. Her daughter is now 17 years old and very healthy. I'd maybe consider getting a second opinion if soy formula is not the route you want to take.
M.N. answers from Los Angeles on May 19, 2010
Soy based is also genetically modified and can ruin her intestines. Goats milk is good and mothers milk is better, keep breast feeding is first choice.
Goats milk is easier to digest than cows milk. And it is not sugar water. Wonder what he would call mothers milk. Corn is also GMO and it is horrid. Watch all labels. No soy, corn and use organic. I would wait until she can have raw milk. In the meantime breast feed. It is the best and she is only eight weeks, it may be hard but it is really what we mothers do for our children. Priorities.
L.A. answers from Los Angeles on May 19, 2010
Hi. I switched from nursing to formula at 5 weeks and experienced the same spitting up problem. I started with Enfamil and my son spit up quite a bit. I switched to Good Start and it helped for perhaps a week then the spit up started up again. My baby's Ped recommended Enfamil AR - so I tried it and absolutely hated it. The spit up was very curddish/chunky. So, my baby's Ped recommended Enfamil GentleEase - LOVE IT. There is still some spit up, which is common, but definitely nothing to complain about.
I also gave my baby Gripe Water (you can find this is the medicine aisle). My g/f told me about it and I really think it worked! Gripe water is for gassiness, colic etc. My baby was extremely fussy and like yours, clenching his fist and kickig.
I have to say once he hit the 3 month mark it has gotten much easier.
All the Best.
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