My son is almost four months old now. I am going to be starting a medication that has risks of damaging my son's kidney's and thyroid. The doc said with regular blood tests to him, he would be comfortable with me continuing to breastfeed but my boyfriend is not ok with it and I don't think I am either! Although I would have loved to have kept breastfeeding him until he's 12 months, the risks to him make it out of the question. We have given him breastmilk bottles before with a little bit of rice cereal and he responds well to bottles. I would like to do it slowly, start with a formula/breastmilk mix, but I can't wait any longer than a week to start my medication and immediately have to stop breastfeeding him when I start. What formula should I start him off on? He does have a sensitive tummy and spits up quite a bit. And what is the easiest way to transition?
We started with similac advance formula, it has everything in it from protein to probiotics and he is actually reacting very well. Started off with 2 oz formula and 4 oz breastmilk and have been slowly working toward using formula exclusively. I did call my doc to ask him if there were alternative medications I could take, but all have risks to my son when breastfeeding. This was the best way to go for both of us. Thanks so much for the support and advice!
Can you pump a bunch now so you can mix bottles with formula for a few weeks. Maybe start 75% breast milk. Then 50% etc. Doing each for a few days to see how he tolerates it. Sorry you have to wean so early. Obviously though there are times when formula is necessary. Good luck. I know that when the baby is younger you are at an increased risk of engorgement. Try to do it as slow as you can while also thinking of your own health.
please trust that your DOCTOR knows what is best for your child and that the medication can be harmful to babies. the LLL and LC's have books that tend to be outdated or will tell you "oh there isnt much research done so we really dont know for sure but it should be okay." if there is any chance at all that this medicine will harm your child, why take the risk??? as for the formula, you could try either the sensitive formula's or even try a lactose free one. maybe talk to your pedi about what they may suggest.
and also, the man who wrote the book heather suggested is not even a doctor. he is just another greedy person out to get money, hence his $35 book, and has is own agenda in mind not the health of babies.
ETA: Amber and I practiced sychronizing our typing!! :)
Can you start pumping like crazy and freeze some breast milk before you start your medication?
There are soooo many different brands of formula- have a conversation with your pediatrician (or the lead nurse in the office) and find out what they recommend for sensitive tummies. My daughter used a lactoce-free brand and it worked well for her, but you really need to ask your ped first.
When you do determine which brand of formula to use, start by doing a 75%/25% mix and graduate it to 50/50 over a few days, then decrease the breast milk to 25% and finally, all formula. This way, you don't shock him with a new taste all of a sudden and it gradually introduces the formula to his system.
Good luck- sounds like a pretty potent medicine you are going on. I hope YOUR health stays good, too! Let us know how it goes!
I'm with ya. "Probably" v lifelong kidney & thyroid problems...when there is a great alternative w/ no risk? Formulas are so advanced THESE DAYS you can feed them on demand... just like breastmilk. While I am a strong proponent of nursing/breastfeeding there are times when breastmilk is not only NOT best, but the worst available option. Like when on certain meds, or when your body simply doesn't have the available nutrients, or you've adopted, or there are allergies/ infections/ surgeries, or, or, or, or.
ALSO remember you owe NOBODY an explanation for how you choose to feed your child. You will probably tell some people/friends... but they don't have the right to approve/disapprove, & they don't have the right to access your medical records, etc. Icannot TELL you how many people butted into my life when this guernsey lost her milk at 9mo. Most of it was well meaning (have you tried...have you talked to...), but it was still -at best- an ignorant invasion into my privacy wanting me to 'prove' to them that a valid choice is a valid choice so they could relax and get the "Oh. Well for YOU, of course." response. I really am a huge proponent of breastmilk... but I'll tell ya what... I'm an even bigger supporter of assuming people aren't stupid :) Formula is a choice. And if someone is choosing formula... then I'm going to assume it's the BEST choice for that baby.
LOL and back onto a subject with a plethora of choices:
It's pay through the nose expensive, but I would start out with premixed formula of any kind. The texture is *completely* different than powdered (silky, almost luscious) and is far less prone to gas and stomach upset than powdered. Aka... a good way to transition. Although...fair warning... some babies can never tolerate powdered.
DO order free samples online (although they won't get here in time, it will help offset the cost once you find 'the one', and during the trial and error period unless you just get lucky with your first pick). All the big name formula companies offer that service, and many also send out 'checks' ($25 worth of $5 not-coupons...aka you can spend all or some of them... like $19 off of a $19 can one time, and $6 off another).
No matter WHICH brand ... there will be people whose babies thrived on it, and people whose babies were made super sick on it (gas, vomiting, constipation, etc.). So it's trial and error.
While there ARE minimum guidelines that are very strict, that does NOT mean formulas are all the same. In fact, quite the opposite; formula companies "niche" out. More broken down proteins... more complete proteins... whole food based nutrients/vitamins, broken down nutrients/vitamins...hypoallergenic....animal v plant v synthetic sources...etc.
For US... the *worst* were the ones with 'gentle' proteins (aka already partially digested/broken down (similac sensitive & nestle goodstart). Enfamil lipil premixed was the way to go (powdered created mad problems regardless of brand :P). For my niece; just the *opposite*; Similac is fantastic, enfamil gave her the projectile vomiting my son got on similac. Both needed premixed. My goddaughter THRIVES on powdered. Goober.
Trial & error.
Please call a La Leche League leader or International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and have her look up the medication in Medication and Mother's Milk, by Thomas Hale, Ph.D. It may actually be possible for you to continue nursing. There are really very, very few medications that are contraindicated for breastfeeding, but the drs. don't have this book and information, and they just want to cover themselves. It is easiest for them to tell you to quit nursing. Since I don't know the medication, it may very well be necessary to stop, but it may not be, also, and it would be a shame to stop if it wasn't necessary and wasn't what you or your son wanted. Please get more information on the drug. Good luck.
My cousin used enfamil when she had to quit breastfeeding her son. if he has such a sensitive tummy that he spits up alot with breastmilk he might not be able to handle cows milk formula. You might have to use soy. I would NOT try Nestle goodstart. it doesnt blend that well, my son had a lot of problems with it.
I would agree. Start mixing in slowly with breastmilk until he is eventually all formula. That way the body has time to adjust. I would also check with your pediatrician as far as type of formula to start with. That way if it doesn't work, they can guide you from there. I started messing around with soy and some others and my doc told me not to do that unless they truly can't do the other formula. We like the Similac Sensitive.
