Allergic to Formula?

my first child was lactose intolerant and my twins were flat allergic to milk...we used enfamil soy formula...my female twin still threw formula up, but it was due to acid reflux...

I hope this helps...

Good Luck

Hi, S.,
I had the same thing with my daughter. She did fine with Similac Soy. Now she's almost 12 months old and is fine with Milk based formula. Good luck! E.

Try pets milk and carol syrupe if that don't work try goats milk or soy milk. If still don't work talk to pediatrition.

Hi S. - hang in there, it gets better! i'm a 46 year old mom of 5 natural born (breast fed) and 5 steps as well as an RN for 23 years so maybe this will be helpful. Try using isomil formula - it's a soy based formula so if she is having an allergic response to the other formulas, that should help. to ease the transition, mix it with your breast milk. gradually decrease the amount of breast milk in the bottles until she is comfortable with and tolerating the formula. i would start with a 3:1 mixture - ie, 6oz breast milk with 2oz isomil. do that for at least 48 hrs and assess her for tolerance. if things are good, then go to half and half for 48hrs; still smooth sailing, go to 2oz breast and 6oz isomil for 48hrs. hopefully this will help; lots of babies do not tolerate the similac and enfamil because of the heavy dose of iron. it can cause gas and cramping which makes for a very unhappy baby and mommy! good luck!
PS - if she wrinkles her nose at the new taste, add a drop of light Karo; the formula is not as sweet or as rich as your breast milk!

You're probably right about the allergy. Don't you have a pediatrician or a LaLeche League contact whom you can talk to? Maybe you are tired of pumping but need some encouragement with your decision. While breast milk may be the best for your little one there are alternatives. In the "old"days we (I'm a grandmother of 13) we could try goats milk or soy formulas. Your baby's doctor should be able to advise you. Don't be shy. He(she) or the office nurse or PA is there for you.
M

I want to draw attention to the post by Alysha G.
I have talked to her personally several times and have sampled her farm's raw milk. (It's FABULOUS, btw!).

The reason why there are so many milk allergies today is because we pasteurize our milk. Pasteurization basically turns milk into a glue substance we can't readily digest!! No wonder why so many people and babies are lactose intolerent!!

I pumped for 9 months (with twins). So I encourage you to pump as long as you possibly can. It's a drag, I know... but it's such a short season in your life and it means SOOO much to your baby! Keep up the good work!!

I also had to supplement. I had one twin with reflux and so until I learned about raw milk... we had them both on Similac Alumentum. It worked, but they were never on a 100% formula diet.

Then I learned about Sally Fallon and raw milk. I switched my babies to Raw Milk Based Formula that I made using Sally Fallon's Recipe. You can find it online. My milk dwindled around 8 months as we slowly switched them to the Raw Milk Formula.

SALLY FALLON WEBSITE - RAW MILK FORMULA:
http://www.westonaprice.org/children/recipes.html

YAHOO GROUP for RAW MILK FORMULA:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/waphb/

YAHOO GROUP for TEXAS NUTRITION SOURCES (MILK):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/native-nutrition-C-TX/

We use both raw goat and raw cow milk. Goat milk might be a little more digestable, but as long as you have a good clean source for raw milk, don't sweat it. I must stress, if you use plain milk, you must supplement it. It's not sufficient enough for an infant on its own.

I'm sure this all sounds strange... but real food is the best thing for anyone ESPECIALLY babies.

If you don't go the raw milk route, here's a few tips.
Someone said, try SOY MILK. Under NOOOO circumstances should any infant be given soy milk (big difference from Soy Formula). SOY MILK will malnurish your baby. As far as Soy Formula goes... use it as a last resort. There's too much controversy over the phytoestrogen effects on infants (especially boys). If your baby will begin to tolerate regular formula - try to go Organic like Horizon/Earths Best.

I would not use any carnation or nestle formulas. In general they don't use high quality ingredients.

As for the other mom's that read this post... I know this is not mainstream and I don't want to make anyone feel bad if they are using formula. I used Similac for 8 months. But please take a look at the websites above. There's no better time than now to start learning about the quality of our food supply, feeding your family right, and supporting locally grown food and farmers.

And talk to Alysha G at http://www.sandcreekfarm.net. She got me on board with the idea of raw milk and I am ever so grateful to her for my super healthy babies who are now almost 2 1/2 and have never had anything more serious than a cold.

ALysha's Post:

From: Alysha G Date: Fri. Mar. 07, 2008
Buy the cookbook "Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon. She has a raw milk formula for infants that they really thrive on. Our farm is just outside of town and we are licensed to sell raw cow milk and we test, test, test b/c we know many families are using it for babies or are ill. We are the first dairy in TX to be licensed to sell raw milk. You can check out our web site www.sandcreekfarm.net. Our customers come weekly and monthly from Houston to Dallas to Austin to Waco and everywhere in between. We have even had requests from CA, LA, NM and Arizona. It is very difficult to find clean raw milk and you have it right here outside of Cameron. Many of our customers successfully use Sally Fallon's recipe for adopted children, premies and their own that they don't have enough breast milk to feed. If you can nurse however, try to get in as close to 2 years as you can. If you contact the College Station Leleche league you can get some help with the latching problem; they really helped me with our first (we have 4 now). Formula from the store is one of the worst thing in the world for your child. I commend you for pumping for 5 months. I found when I pumped that my supply dwindled away b/c the body just does not respond to it like it does nursing. Good luck.

Buy the cookbook "Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon. She has a raw milk formula for infants that they really thrive on. Our farm is just outside of town and we are licensed to sell raw cow milk and we test, test, test b/c we know many families are using it for babies or are ill. We are the first dairy in TX to be licensed to sell raw milk. You can check out our web site www.sandcreekfarm.net. Our customers come weekly and monthly from Houston to Dallas to Austin to Waco and everywhere in between. We have even had requests from CA, LA, NM and Arizona. It is very difficult to find clean raw milk and you have it right here outside of Cameron. Many of our customers successfully use Sally Fallon's recipe for adopted children, premies and their own that they don't have enough breast milk to feed. If you can nurse however, try to get in as close to 2 years as you can. If you contact the College Station Leleche league you can get some help with the latching problem; they really helped me with our first (we have 4 now). Formula from the store is one of the worst thing in the world for your child. I commend you for pumping for 5 months. I found when I pumped that my supply dwindled away b/c the body just does not respond to it like it does nursing. Good luck.

my son had acid reflux very bad up until he was 1 1/2 so upon the request of my pedi I put him on soy ( Wal Mart brand is pretty good and not so expensive, I also addred oatmeal or apple baby cereal to it to thicken the formula. It worked wonders!! Good Luck!
Theres S.

I'm not sure what kind of formula you should give your baby. But please be careful when you change the formula. I changed the formula on my son, now 10, and I feel it was a big mistake. Because two different changes, I feel my son in now asthmatic. He developed allergies that then turned to asthma. Please be careful or just contact your doctor about your problem. He or she might guide to a better formula for your baby.

We had the same experience until we started on Similac Lactose free that did the trick. Brayden, My son is about to turn one next week and still gets really congested with regular formula his pediatrician has suggested we start on lactose free milk when he turns 1. He thinks Brayden will outgrow this by about 3 years of age.. Hope this helps.

You might want to try a non-milk based formula. Your son could be having a reaction to casein which is an imflammatory protein in dairy products or a sensitivity to lactose (milk sugar) or both. We have used a soy based formula (Enfamil ProSobee Lipil) with my son with no problems.

Try Infamil or Soy Milk.

Have you try to nurse her again? Babys are extremly quick learners. The first six weeks of my sons life I pumped & wow is that time consuming & frustrating. They have wonderful lactation consultants at the WIC office who taught me how to properly get my son to latch on & I exclusively nursed him till 14 months, then he went straight to a sippy cup. The main reason your milk production is decreasing is that a pump cannot drain you as well as your child can. Give the WIC office a call.###-###-####, your baby & your wallet will thank you. A.

I have 3 children I breast fed all of them and they were all allergic to milk products. They grew up on vitamite )other than that, they would vomit where ever we were all if it would come up as a big gush the doctors called it reflux. it was a very miseralble time for us. When I had my 3rd child i breast him and after 6 mos, i tried forumula one time & he had the reflux action I then put him on vitamite. He liked it and did not have reflux but they were all allergic to icecream, cheese, homog. milk. they even ate vitamite on their cereal. one thing you should know is that the Pediasure has milk in it and it made my children very sick also. My doctor explained to me that milk is cows mucus and if you are allergic to it they would have mucus build up. As a matter of fact, my children developed asthma from drinking formula and pediasure but when I took them off of it (pretty much until they each made 5 years) they were better and did not suffer any asthma attacks after that. Vitamite is found at most grocery stores, my mom drinks it also bcuz she can't drink milk. she recommended it to me. My kids had a healthy weight as children

HI...My daughter was latic intorent, I didn't find this out until she was grown. 3 of my 5 grandkids are lactic intorent. My daughter in law put her youngest son on goats milk and he could take it without problems. Now you can buy goats milk in cans at the grocery store, you might try that.

Have you checked the Allergy Forum on LLL forums? They have lots of advice on this subject. http://forums.llli.org/index.php

The first question would be, why is your milk slowing down? When I was nursing, stress or an overactive schedule was the problem. Sometimes, I would get so busy that I would forget to make sure that I was getting plenty of liquids and the result would be that I wouldn't have as much milk. Breast milk is such a superior food for your child and I would encourage you to stick with nursing. Do whatever you can to stop all unnecessary activity, while you get a handle on this. I would also encourage you to get a lactation consultant, who can work with you on getting the problem solved.

First, ask your pediatrician, but it does sound like she is allergic. My daughter was allergic to milk-based formula as well, but she broke out in a rash. We have been on soy formula since trying several with no luck, and everything has been great! (Prosobee Lipil by Enfamil)

Hi S.,
You should probably just keep trying diffent types of formula. I really doubt that she is allergic to milk since she takes your breast milk just fine. my first daughter ended up being allergic to milk/whey/etc. when she was a few weeks old. I had been breastfeeding her and so I ended up switching from breast feeding to giving her similic soy formula which got rid of her bloody stools but she spit up a lot. I had her wearing bibs constantly because she just kept spitting up her formula. I probably should have tried a different formula on her but she gained weight fine. You should probably talk to your babies doctor about the spitting up and the mucuous and stuff. There are so many different varieties of formula out there. I would stick with similac, enfamil or nestle good start in the beginning. different formulas seem to work for different babies (eventhough they all carry pretty much the same ingredients). It is amazing how different babies react to different formulas. that is just how it is. Maybe you should try to call the formula companies and get some free samples to try from them. I definitely would stop using the parents choice formula since she doesn't seem to be agreeing with it. Coughing up mucous isn't good. I know how frustrating it is when your precious baby is reacting harshly to food. you will find a formula that works. sometimes it just takes a little while.

S.. I had to respond to this. My son Johnny (and they do outgrow it) had a milk protein allergy and acid reflux. He was a premie. Long story short, he was on Elecare for 8 months (43 bucks a can). Try eliminating dairy out of your diet COMPLETELY while giving her breast milk. If that doesn't work give her a milk free formula - NUTRAMEGAN. My son is 13 months and is now JUST lactose sensitive and on lactose free formula. My research has shown that premies can't digest milk proteins.

She's allergic to the formula. Take her to the doctor. I had the same problem with my now 10 year old when she was an infant. The doctor put her on a special formula. It was expensive, but it worked. She did the same thing your baby is doing then got a rash all over her face, horribly. She cried all the time, she was miserable. I hope she feels better soon!

I know you are probably not going to like what I am going to say, but I had a daughter that was like that and it is a milk allergy. Mine actually would get pneumonia from it. I had to nurse till she was old enough to wean and then it is either goats milk or raw milk that worked. There is a way to make formula from bought goats milk, but I do not remember how right now. For her sake, keep nursing.

I would talk to your pediatrician about it. I also had 2 premies who wouldn't latch on. I pumped for 5 months, until milk was gone, and had the same problems as you. I ended up having to use Neutramigen. I think it is by Enfamil. It is a special formula meant for children with digestive issues. It's prety expensive if you have to buy it yourself. Our pediatrician gave us lots of free samples until my kids were older and could move to a different formula. You may want to check on that.

Just remember that any feeding issues that premies often have feeding issues that they tend to grow out of. Mine had grown out of their formula sensitivity by 8-10 months. Hope that helps!

S.,

Try Neutromigen(?). I had about the same problem wwith my son.

one formula he would just vomit streight up and the othe we tried he would get consipated. It was awful first 3 months of his life bu we swiched to Neut. and smooth sailing from there he is now 8yrs.

S.

I've been through the exact same thing. Stop giving her the milk based formula. Give her soy-based formula only! Her nose will clear up within the day. My nieces and nephews did the same thing too. Soy-based is so much more gentle on their stomachs as well. Good luck!

Sure sounds like an allergy to me. I nursed my youngest(now 37) for 10 mos. As soon as I put him on milk formula he was sick with bronchitus and pneumonia on a regular basis. I became convinced it was allergy related.

Is there any way to increase your milk production? I suggest you contact La Leche League and they may have a suggestion. Good Luck.

J.

My suggestion is to call your ped. Make sure your little one doesn't have a cold. You could try soy based formulas.

L.

Talk to your doctor. But, my doctor preferred Enfamil or Similac. I always used Similac. You could try a little Karo syrup (not honey) which is what our grandparents would use in the baby formulas. It will help aide in the digestion (like 1/2 tsp per bottle). and see if that helps. I wouldn't want it in the bottle all of the time, but it might help you figure out if it is a true allergy or just getting used to it. You could also water down the formula a tad (like an extra ounce of water). Formula is a lot harder to digest than breastmilk. Also, try giving her a little less per feeding and add 1 feeding if necessary. My daughter had reflux and it was not good for her to be "full". As to the stuffiness, you'll have to use the trial and error method, as right now is the season for stuffiness. Is she truly throwing up or just spitting up? There is a difference. True vomiting and I would immediately ask for your doctor's advice.

You might try a soy formula it is on the shelf next to the other one's also you might want to talk to the doctor about it if her milk allergy is bad enough you have to watch every bit of food you give her

about me mother of four 12-10-7-5 my youngest is allergic to milk and it was an ajustment at first but there are so many milk free products now it makes it easy

Good luck
J. Shymkiw

Nestles Good Start!!!
I have known many a Mom that has switched to this formula.
My own child has not had any problems with it.
Hope this helps!!!
Margaret:)

I would definitely talk to your doctor. We had the same problem with our son that just turned 1 and our daughter that is 8. Our daughter spit up all the time and was put on Enfamil Soy formula. Our son did not spit up so much, but had really stuffy noses and eczema. Found out that was due to his food allergies. We put him on the Parents Choice soy formula and he did great! I was glad it worked and was just as excited about the fact that it was it was half the price of the Good Start he had been on!!

My son did the same thing when we switched him and he is lactose intolorant so he is on soy. I'm not saying that is your daughters problem but try soy maybe you will get lucky and it won't be an actual allergy just an intolloranc. just a note though. Give the soy three days beforeyou give up because it took my son about 24 hours to adjust to the new formula where we could see a differenc. hope that helps.

I had the same problem with my son, who is now 3. He nursed exclusively until 7 months, at which time I tried to introduce formula. I started slowly, mixing in a tablespoon into his cereal, and everytime he would vomit within 30 minutes. We tried several formulas. My pedi recommended starting with Nestle' Good Start first. It is supposed to be easier to digest and is cheaper than the other options. That didn't work for us though. He then recommended Neutramigen or Allimentum and sent us home with some samples. He also recommended continuing to breastfeed, I only had 4 months at this point to make it to 1 yr. After I realized that those non-allergenic formulas cost literally twice as much as regular, I decided to keep nursing! At around 11 months I started introducing whole milk without any problems! I would say start with the Good Start, it is supposed to work for many in this situation. If it doesn't, switch to the non-allergenic or keep pumping! Good Luck!

My sister who is now 28 yrs old was severly allergic to milk. Nutramigen was what they put her on back then it was about 28.00 a can. It's much more reasonable now.
My 2 yr old niece is highly allergic my sister had her on the Lactose free stuff. Your baby should qualify for W.I.C., and whatever works for her will be covered.
My Grandmother had 12 kids all alergic to milk she used goat milk.

Do you eat a lot of dairy products? If she has a sensitivity or allergy, it may have shown up before. Does she have GERD?

I would talk to your doctor and see what they suggest. There is soy based formula and neocate, which you could try.

I have to say I was allergic to regular milk when I was young. My mother ended up feeding me goats milk of all things and she said that it worked... don't know if this is something your little one can handle though. Best of luck. -c.w.

hello well my name is R. and my kids both had a hard time with formula i finally had to use isomil advanced (i believe thats how its spelt) with my first son which was pretty expensive. i tried everything and it gave him projectile vomiting until i tried that formula and with my youngest he could only take enfamil nutramigen but i had to keep asking the doctor because after every kind of milk they would throw it up so finally they told me to try those and it worked.so ask your doctor about the nutramigen i dont think they make the isomil because that was like 4 years ago. good luck.

My son (now 3) couldn't handle regular formula - we tried tons of stuff out there but finally figured out he had acid reflux. We find got him onto some medicine for that & used Similiac Alimentum (sp?) & finally feeding time was no longer tramatic for everyone. My daughter couldn't handle regular formula either & it didn't take us long to try Similiac Organic (since we have gone more organic since my son's birth) & she had done wonderfully. I would say there is a good chance she has acid reflux &/ or can't handle milk based formulas. I will say that both of the above mentioned Similac brand are quite pricy (about $23 for a big can) but when you consider all the formula she is throwing up you will probably pay out the same.

Hope this helps.

S.

soy based formula is the only thing that worked for my kids. they would spit up milk formula and it would even come out through their noses sometimes.

Prosobee or just any soy formula could work for you!

My daughter had milk protein induced colitis. As a result she didn't throw up but had diarrhea. We used a soy based formula. Nonetheless and I think your question probably warrants a call to the pediatrician.

Good Luck.

J.

The throwing up might be because she drank too much formula at once. Some babies only drink 2 oz at a time, others need more. I doubt formula would cause a stuffy nose--she might just have a cold or seasonal allergies. You could try enfamil formula to see how well she tolerates it. If that doesn't work, nurse her for longer, it will be better for her in the long run anyway.

Have you tried soy formula?

Or Nutramigen?

http://www.enfamil.com/Nutramigensample/

I had alot of luck with Good Start Supreme. It did not make my little one gassy or snotty. Sometimes it does take a while for their little systems to adjust to formula from breast milk though. It is also not good for babies tummy to keep switching formulas on her. I would stick to which ever one you decide on for a week or so and if you are still concerned make her an app with her pediatrician.

Good Luck!

D. Mattern
The MOM Team
Raising your income and your rugrats at the same time!!
www.formyrugrats.com
"The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6

Both my boys had a hard time with the powder formula but as soon as I switched to concentrate they were fine, it seemed like their bellys couldn't take the powder. Hope this helps

I am a 39 yr old nurse. In response to your concerns with your child, I am assuming you took her to the doctor. Allergies to formula can be very serious. You should not take advise from other moms in this kind of case. Your doctor can have you try soy milk, for lactose problems, or even prescribe special formulas or additives. With all the different things that are put into our childrens formula now a days, taking advise from a mom would not be a good thing for your daughters health. I hope everything works out with you and your daughter. Usually when you do change formulas, spitting up, vomiting, and diarrhea are all part of the transformation. But should not last for more than a few days. One day at a time and be patient. Make sure to watch for signs of dehydration and weight changes. Again...Doctor is the most important one to make this decision for you. Good luck.......G.

I would pump as long as I possibly can. I had to pump exclusively with two of my children due to significant health problems (on their end, not mine). We eventually had to due formula as well what worked the best for us was the type that have the milk proteins broken down, the usually refer to them as "gentle" or "sensitive". If that doesn't work, then you may have to go with a hypoallergenic formula like Nitrogen. I don't personally recommend soy because most people that have issues with milk also have problems with soy.

there are formulas designed for babies like yours. My 2 1/2 year old son had the dame problem when he stopped breast feeding. We had to give him only soy formulas.

try carnation good start my granddaughter had trouble with formula because she was allergic to milk and this was the only thing that helped

Try Enfameal? Not sure if i spelt it correctly. It used to be in a pink or yellow can. My children were both allergic to similac so we had to use the more expensive enfameal. My son was allergic to everything and now he is fine after 6 years of allergy shots..He is now 9 yrs old

S.,

You may want to see if there is a mother's milk bank (a breastmilk bank) where you live and find out how to receive it for your daughter.

B.

very possible sensitive to milk. I had to try every formula out there for 3 days each until I found the magic one that made all the symptoms go away. Ask your Pedi. for samples to cut down on cost and only buy the small containers as well until you find the one that works.

Have you tried to see if she can latch on now? That would increase your supply and she may be mature enough to make everything work. Just a thought. Best wishes.

We have allergies at our house and dairy products do make them worse. Dairy is not good for congestion--so when you have a cold you should not be eating ice cream. ;-)

At that age, I would just start feeding her a bit of cereal and other mild baby foods to fill her up. That is what I did with my oldest when nursing was no longer enough.

YOu can also pump at night and in the middle of the day to build your production up. Sucking stimulates production. And you can be sure you drink plenty of water--8oz after every feeding unless you are a really good drinker anyway. And be sure you are eating plenty of good food. I craved fruit with one of mine and she would gain a lot every week when I was eating like that.

Hang in there. This may also just be one of those famous growth spurts where they eat all day long for a few days and then taper off. ;-)

I had the exact problem that you are having with mt first son. Ran out of milk due to pumping, runny nose, etc. on formula. Augmentin by Enfamil worked for us. It is the same thing as Alimentum by Similac. It is very expensive, but I tried to get a couple of sample cans everytime I went to the pediatrician.
Good luck!

S.,
My daughter was the same way from the time she was born. We found Prosobe I think its from Similac or maybe Enfamil.. It worked for her then when she turned 1 we went to 1% milk and has not had any problems.. She is still allergic to Org. juice and Strawberrys.. Good luck
J.

You might try Enfamil Lipil; it's as close to breast milk w/out actually being the real thing.

We had A LOT of spitting up with both Enfamil and Similac, by trial and error we figured out that our son does great on the Target brand, who would have thought?!? Formula is thicker than than breastmilk so its probably just an adjustment issue. I suggest talking to your doctor just to be safe.

Good luck!

Hi! I was told by my pediatrician when my son was an infant that if I switch from breast milk to formula, I should go to Isomil instead of Similac, because Isomil is soy based, therefore easier to digest like breast milk. She told me this AFTER the fact, unfortunately, so I had to deal with projectile vomiting when he was on Similac. Isomil is just easier for a baby who is used to digesting breast milk.

Hope this helps!
PS. once I switched to Isomil, the vomiting stopped.

Talk to your pedi, they should know. My son was like that and we had to put him on Carnation Can Cream and water with Karo syrup, light colored. Before you try anything talk with your doctor, he will know what to do. Keep up the good work on being such a good mom and don't forget prayer.

My daughter and a few of my friends children had the same reaction to formula. As soon as we switched to lactose free formula, they stopped having stuffy noses, and the mucus cleared up. They also stopped having ear infections. Hope this helps!

My nephew had the same problem. He threw up more than we managed to get down him. I would ask the pedi. about allergy testing. It may not be a "milk" allergy, it may be something in the formula. My sister put him on Goat's milk for a while and then just regular whole milk and he was fine. The Doctors will tell you they can't have whole milk until they are 1 but my nephew was on whole milk at the age of 6mo, he is 7yrs old now and has no problems.

This is something you should really talk to your dr. about. I have real apprehensions about those soy formulas. When I was pregnant with my 2nd I read a story about all the little girls that were having problems with their menstrual cycles. There were a few dr. trying to link it to the soy formulas and studies were being conducted. It really makes since for me b/c I was a big soy milk drinker and when I couldn't get pregnant my dr. asked me if I drank soy milk. She said that soy based milk contain natural estrogens and this was probably interfering with my cycles. I really didn't believer her, but I did it and was pregnant in 2 mths. after 2 yrs. of trying. So....I would start with the lactose free formulas first before going to the soy. When my oldest (now 10) stopped nursing at 1 year, she would threw up whole milk and regular formula so we used the lactose free. My second was a breast feeder also. She would throw up everything including breast milk. We would supplement on occasion, but kinda kept that to a last resort b/c she threw up any formula no matter what kind it was. My third could and would eat anything and not throw up anything. She is now almost 4 and still eats anything. Good luck!!!! FYI. the formula that worked best for my problem child was the HEB Baby lactose free formula. She would just spit up with this one not projectile vomit. :-)

First of all, I recommend you switch to an organic formula. Your baby could be allergic to the synthetic hormones, peticides or antibiotics present in non-organic milk, which are not listed on the label. Next, don't mix the full amount of formula just yet. Start with a thinner mixture and then work up to the full amount of scoops. My daughter did the same thing for the first week on formula... she's 8 months now and taking it just fine.

S.,

Of course breast milk is always the best but if you have to formula is good too. If She is allergic to the milk based formulas try one with soy in it. Isomil is made by similac but has a soy base. This was good for my babies. If she doesn't take to the isomil try different brands to see if there is a soy based formula that she will keep down.

I would definitely seek the advice of my peditrician. We use Isomil Advance because similac upset his tummy. He is five months as well and has done fine on that. Good luck.

We had to put our baby on Alementum (I'm not sure I spelled that right). I think it's made by Similac. It's been about 5 1/2 years. :) But she was born with a few problems at 37 weeks, not really premie, but a little small. She wouldn't breast feed, and mommy couldn't do it anyways. But she had problems with the formula that the hospital was trying to give her, then they tried Soy formula which just stunk and made her feel worse I think. Then they switched her to this Alementum stuff which is a formula that is easier to digest. So maybe your baby isn't allergic, maybe she just has a sensitive digestive tract?? Anywho, after our daughter was on this stuff for about 3 months, I wanted to just see if she could handle the regular stuff so I tried the Similac with iron and she did just fine.

So maybe just try a formula for easier digestion first? Or a Soy formula for babies who might be lactose intolerant (except for mommies milk).

Good luck!

I breast fed my daughter also, and when it came time to get on formula we tried lots of different ones. She had the same reaction your daughter has. Her pediatrician finally recommended Similac Alimentum and it worked wonders. It is also recommended for colicy babies, or those with food allergies.

I would suggest trying a Soy based formula and see if that works. She may be lactose intolerant.
J. - Mom of 2 boys

My daughter did the same thing. Her little stomach just couldn't handle regular formula. Her doctor recommended a soy based formula. I guess the regular formula was just too hard on her stomache. She did fine after we switched to soy. Hope that helps!

My little boy was the same way...he spit up every formula we tried (6 altogether), including soy based formula. I finally put him on Similac Sensitive, which is lacotose free. He has done great on it. Every once in a while he still spits up, but not much.

There are varying symptoms with dairy products for those little ones! There can be a lactose intolerance that causes crampy intestines, gas, and loose stools. That can also be paired w/ a very bad diaper rash. Then the dairy can cause allergies. Dairy flat out causes an increase in mucus production. That's why they say to stay away from those products when you have a cold or cough. So, the stuffy nose sounds normal for a baby that you are introducing dairy to. My children were so sensitive to dairy that even when I was nursing and had it on cereal...they would have the screaming and horrible diaper rash. My boys are now 4 & 5 and still have the intolerance. As does my husband/their father that still has it severely at 43!! My older son has gotten a lot better. I have heard several people 'grow out' of intolerance symptoms. My family now uses rice milk for cereal & drinking, soy milk for cooking/baking. It has to be introduced slowly!!! Mix in a little at a time and gradually work up the amts of rice milk. HOWEVER...rice milk cannot support the growth of an infant! I would go w/ soy, sensitive stomach formula if you are going the formula route. You can mix your own 'formula' w/ goat's milk and flax oil, etc. But my children couldn't even have goat products without having the same symptoms. Good luck! We used to call my son's formula the 'steak and shrimp dinner'. The cost per can of the stuff is crazy! If you find the formula is constipating your child...it's because of the iron. Either look for a low iron version of the formula, or introduce it very slowly. You may want to have a box of 'babylax' on hand for emergencies. If your child is used to going every couple of hrs from nursing...going 12 hrs can be excruciating! The babylax is only mineral oil...w/ a child that small I wouldn't use even 10% of the bulb syringe. And would NOT put hardly any of the tube (insert part) up the baby's rectum. Just enough to allow some relief from the blockage.

I have 3 boys who also had milk allergies it was horriable. I had to give them a prescribed formula until this last few years they came out with a formula called Nutramigen by Enfamil. It's pretty expensive but very much worth the cost. I found if you keep feeding your child the food they are alergic to it eats away their intestinal lining and it takes a long time to heal. If you can give them the formula that will help them grow their immune system usually by age 3 they will grow out of the allergy. Good luck

In my opinion I think you should try a soy based formula it contains the same nutrients as the other formulas. For example any prosobe like (enfamil prosobe) or (similac prosobe) or another kind like (gentlease)

Please let us know how it goes

S.,

You may want to try the Lactose Free Version of the Parent's Choice formula. It is still inexpensive at $13.88 per large container, so it really isn't a waste of money especially if it works. The formula is still milk based so you don't have to go to soy or anything else, it just takes the lactose out.

I have had to use this on both of my children who showed simliar signs you mentioned in your 5 month old and you can tell the different immediately.

Good Luck!
H.

Try a soy-based milk like Isomil.

Hi S.,
My little guy has been on formula since the get-go because he was adopted at two days old. However, he did not have a BM for 5 weeks w/o a suppository. Our pediatrician lead us through every formula there was on the market. Finally, we found Nutramigen, made by Lipil. Our doctor said he was allergic to milk protein and could not digest it and that's why he was unable to use the restroom. I would ask your doctor or talk to the nurse over the phone if they would advise this. Has she continued to vomit on the Parent Choice? Also, she might have a sinus infection on top of all these formula issues. However, I see your point on her being allergic and this reaction. Definately give her a decongestant, I don't remember the dose for ones the small. Best Wishes to you, H. S.

My last 2 children had a problem with their formula. I tried nursing, but my milk wasn't strong enough. My daughter I had to put on a sucrose/lactose free formula. She did ok.....my son didn't do the projectile throwup, but there would be a saucer size puddle on the floor. He had the reflux problem...the sphinxter (sp)...the valve at the top of the stomach would come back up after swallowing and his formula would come back up. I had to put him on reglan, then wait 45 min. to feed him and then set him up at a 45 degree angle and feed him. This helped. I think I put him on a lactose free or soy based milk also. When I put them on whole milk they had no problems at all. The only thing it did to my daughter was turn her tongue orange (I think it was due to the iron in the milk)...but after a while this went away. She was only 12 mo. when I did this due to not being able to afford the formula any more...it was $25 a can at that time. My daughter is now 6' and 22 yrs. old and my son is a 19 yr. 6'3" tall Marine. Both of them had no problem with whole milk.
I suggest you speak with your pediatrician....you don't know what could be the cause....be it an allergy or a physical problem. Good Luck!

S., my twins were premature also. My littlest baby, our son Brandan, was only 4 lbs when he was born. He had problems with regular formula too, and we had to put him on a Soy formula. You might ask your pediatrician if he/she thinks that a Soy formula might be a better choice. Our little girl, on the other hand, took formula and had no problems, but we chose the Carnation baby formula for her as it was supposed to be more like breast milk. Hope this helps!

Hi S., I have a 21 months old little Girl, I have been blessed with her. I never had problems with my daughter & formula. I stop breast feeding her @ 5 months. It is a formula by enfamil, its call Enfamil A.R. LIPIL is clinically proven to reduce frequent spit up by over 40 percent‡. You could try this one. Go online to www.enfamil.com to get a free sample & to register to get coupons & some other stuff they have for FREE. I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me. Take Care & God Bless. M.

We had to give our daughter a soy formula as she could not keep down the regular formula.

All babies show some kind of reaction to formula at first. Usually it is constipation or runny nose. You could try mixing a little breast milk into the formula. I always used Enfamil, but I think Parents Choice or Good Start are also fine. They have to have the same nutrients as the other more expensive formulas. Just remember each time you switch formulas, there will be a different reaction, but it is not all bad, it is just her little body adjusting to it and working on digesting it all.

Hello S.,
Personally I would suggest making every effort possible to breast feed. The hormones and chemicals in the milk now is bad for adults so imagine what effect it has on infants. I know from experience what it's like to have a baby that can't keep the formula down. My son still suffers with allergies to this day and I feel a lot of it has to do with the formula I tried to feed him as an infant.
A little about me:
I am a happily married mother of 3, ages 20, 17, and 13.

It is not uncommon at all for babies to be allergic to formula. There are all kinds of soy based formulas out there. They are very expensive and it stinks really bad when the babies spit it up. But... it is worth it for their little tummy to not be upset.

Good luck!

Is enfamil gentlease good

S.,

Try Similac Pro Sorbee. Its made for babies with delicate systems. You may have to eventually take her to be checked for alleries to milk, milk products and soy. My niece ended up drinking goats milk.

T.

Try Isomil it is soy based and much better on the digestive system. Doesent smell very good when it gets spit up but it is worth it. If that doesnt help, try Nutramigen. It is more expensive but it already broken in down. Hope this helps. BTW, I had to use it for both of my girls, that is all they tolorated.

Try a soy based formula.

NERY IMPORTSNT ADVISE!!! Keep on pumping,increase your fluid intake.Contact your local Lactation specicalist or one on -line,they will help you through this.Breast feeding is the best protection for your little one,especially is there is any question oe susprcion of allergy,GOOD JOB,HANG IN THERE,GOD WILL PREVAIL.GOD BLESS, K. P.

Hi!
My daughter had the same problem going from breast milk to formula!! A family friend who is a R.N. suggested we put her on Similac Organic (The Green one) or the Similac Sensetive (The Orange one)!! After she was on the organic she quit throwing up and her spit up decreased dramatically!! Hope this helps you out! I know how frustrating that is!! Let me know how it works for you!!

P.S.
The organic is kind of hard to find but HEB, Target, CVS - Walgreens, and Albertsons have been the ones I have had luck with!!

I have a 4 yr old and a 13 month old who were both allergic to milk based formula and cows milk. Try a soy based formula. They will usually outgrow the allergy. My oldest was 2 before he could tolerate cows milk and now thats all he wants. My youngest outgrew it before he was a year old and loves milk. I used the Parents Choice Soy formula with DHA. Hope this helps.

My 5 year old did the same thing, we switched him to soy and he was ok...your daughter could be sensitive or allergic, if its a true allergy you would also see other symptoms besides the throwing up...like redness and swelling on her face or even exzema on her skin...a true milk allergy is a very scary thing, I wouldnt play with the formula, just get her on soy.

I personally would get a doctor's opinion. He could also perscribe something for the stuffy nose.

Couldn't your milk supply increase by letting the infant nurse more often? Some women in other countries, nurse babies for other people- I'm just saying they don't even give birth, so they have to nurse a baby to begin making milk again. It sounds like natural is best for your child. I'm just trying to encourage you to explore the idea of not giving up the nursing. Your baby, as long as she's wetting enough diapers and gaining weight at the appropriate rate, is getting enough milk, even if your breast are alot smaller now and you don't have much luck with a pump. I've experienced some of those feelings myself, having nursed 5 babies of my own.

I would strongly suspect a milk intolerance, at least, if not a true "allergy." I am the mother of 5 children, 6 yrs to 22 yrs, and have been dealing with dairy issues for over 17 yrs. Look for a formula that has no milk or whey. It is possible that eventually she will able to tolerate the dairy, but it can take a very long time (10-12 years for 2 of mine.) There are some formulas that are dairy free on the shelf. Eventually, in a few years, you can switch to either soy or rice milk, but it is not to replace formula for infants. There are some soy formulas available. I suspect that she might have trouble with any of the dairy formulas, even if the proteins are broken down. You might be able to get some samples of formula from your pediatrician to try before you spend a lot of money for something that she can't drink. The extra mucus is a strong indicator of a milk allergy, and can lead to ear or sinus infections, as it provides a perfect area for germs to grow. Eliminating all dairy from her diet at this point might even save her from needing to have tubes placed in her ears if she starts to develop problems from repeat infections. Check all labels carefully to eliminate as much as possible. You will figure out by trial and error how much dairy she can tolerate later by carefully watching for the signs you are seeing now. Then just back-track on what she is eating. Feel free to contact me if you want more info!

there is a book called nourishing traditions that has a way to make your own formula. it's not hard. i can give you the recipe if you like. another option may be to try goatsmilk. it's very similar to breastmilk and many people who are allergic to cow's milk can do goat's. worth a try. if you can and are willing to do raw, i highly recommend it. there is a website www.realmilk.com that has raw cow's and goat's milk farms you can buy from in each state. i know raw sounds a little out there, but there are A LOT of problems with pastuerized milk, one of them being more allergies b/c the enzymes you need to digest the milk are killed during the process. after a lot of research on raw and pastuerized milk we made the switch and haven't looked back. it's so yummy! let me know if you have any questions.
good luck!
p.s. will she not latch on to nurse?

Talk to you doctor. A 'Soy' base or even GOATs Milk might be your solution.

Both my children were sensitive to formula. They even reacted to soy based formula. My doctor had me put them on a formula that has manufactured proteins and is neither milk nor soy based. Both Similac and Enfamil have a version of it. One is called Alimentum, I don't remember the other. It is pretty expensive, but you may have to try it if nothing else works. Do try the soy first though.

try nestle good start with natural cultures, it is very good for baby's with sensitive stomaches. My baby is 8 months old and has been on that formula since 5 months old and spitts up occassionally, but nothing that has worried me, plus I nurse him too, but my milk supply has dwindled, due to stress.

Have you spoken with your pediatrician? My son had issues with on name brand formula, and when we switched him to another, he did fine. I can tell you that I presonally experienced more spitting up with formula than from nursing. Call your pediatrician for advice-

Try Nutramigen. My daughter had a milk allergy and that formula worked for her. It is what our Pedi recommended.

S.
I second the soy formula suggestion. I hope that you figure out the cause of your dd's discomfort and find something that will work for you.
I just wanted to let you know something (that you may already know). Part of the reason your milk supply is dwindling is *because* your baby is on formula. The more you nurse, the more milk you will have. The less you nurse, the less milk you will have. If you are wanting to continue nursing, I would recommend contacting your local La Leche League leader. They will not push you to do more than you are comfortable doing. If you want to do a partial supplementation with milk, that'll be fine. However, if you want to get your daughter back to solely breastfeeding, they can help with that too. You don't have to wait for a meeting; you can call a leader and have a phone consult. Meetings are good for meeting other moms that are/were struggling and hearing how they made it work. Here's the site:
http://www.lllelpaso.org/

I am not trying to step on any toes, I just wanted to let you know of another option.

HTH and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

K. Hotz
mama to Catherine (4yrs) and Samuel (14mos)

My son was on Enfamil formula. He was having excessive spit up.
I switched his formula to LACTOSE FREE formula with DHA and he did not spit up anymore. Maybe your baby is lactose intolerant?
My son is now six and still drinks organic soymilk because regular milk will cause stomach cramps and vomiting.

Best of luck to you and enjoy every moment of being MOMMY!!!
I do!

My niece had the same problem with taking formula. My sister never nursed, so from the time she was a newborn, they were trying all sorts of different formulas to find the right one for her with the help of her pediatrician. I think they ended up with an iron-enriched soy-based Enfamil formula. I hate to say it, but I think you may just have to keep trying different ones until you find one that she can tolerate.

are you giving her half formula and have breast milk? That will also help her not get constipated

my friend tried the parents choice too and even though it says it has the same ingredients as leading brands, her baby would get an upset stomach. then she switched toi enfamil and he was fine. i would tried the formulas that are for babys that have upset tummys..i dont rememeber what they are called but..genltlease by enfamil..or something like that. if that doesnt work try switching to a soy based formula. good luck

She is probably allergic to this formula, or to milk products. She may not test as allergic, but just have a "sensitivity" to these products. Have you tried a soymilk formula, or the special formula formulated for children who are lactose intollerant? You could also check with your pediatrician. Good Luck. J. K. :)

as a mom with 2 of 6 kids alergic to milk, i just kept breast feeding , i brest fed all my kids for at least 18 months but 4 the last ones i feed longer, and their health has always been better than the first 2. infact my lst child is hardly ever ill. if you can keep on the breast , keep trying to get the baby to succle on you get in tough with la leache leauge to help you and remember the longer you breast feed the less chance you will have beast problems later in life.

I would try a soy based formula - the price is about the same as milk based formulas...and you can find it where you get the other formula (possibly the same brand, too.) I have had to do the same because of my son's sensitivity to dairy...which the dr. said he may out grow. I have noticed that I have to really shake the soy based formula a little more than milk based. He did spit up a bit after the change from breast milk to formula but that has decreased as he has gotten older.

I had the same problem with my now 11 month old daughter. The doctors told me I had to even quit breast feeding her because of her milk protein allergy/lactose intolerance. We tried her on a few different formulas, but nothing worked and all she did was throw up constantly. They finally put her on a hypo-allergenic lactose free formula-one of the most expensive there is-and what wonders it did for her. It's made by Enfamil and is called "Nutramigen". It has an orange label on it also. I don't know where your from, but I used to get her formula through WIC and have around 12 cans left and 1 more voucher for 8 more cans and I would be glad to pass it on to you because my daughter has already started on milk since she was totally refusing formula by 10 months old. Good luck to you and leave a message if you'd like some of it..

Unfortunately, I know nothing about formula, but I have heard of moms who buy or borrow other moms milk! Sounds strange, but I had a doctor once say something about it.

Go to a natural food store and ask for Mothers Milk Tea, fenugreek and blessed thistle, dosage varies but these will increase milk supply. Have you tried relaching the baby, try when she is sleepy in a quite dark room. As far as the formula ...alot of babies are alergic to dairy and you might need to try a non dairy formula. Good luck

She might need a soy base formula. The bad thing is those formulas STINK! They will still spit up but not as much as with the regular kind. Ask her pediatrician. My neighbor's little one had to take a hypoallergenic formula because she couldn't even take breast milk. She is fine now and takes regular milk. Good Luck.

She could be lactose intolerant....have you tried SILK

I had a similia situation when my daughter was born, My Dr. suggested using soy milk. I had no problems after that. check with your Dr first of course all Dr's are different. Good luck& best wishes.

C. s
www.themomteam.com/anewlife

Hi S.: I was wondering if you tried the carnation formula? My son was allergic to ALL formula but this one -- It was the only one that he could keep down also -- he is a strong and healthy 15yr football player - He still gets carsick EVERYWHERE he goes but he was able to keep the carnation down and gained his weight needed --I hope this helps >> Good luck

Yes, absolutely allergic to that formula. Cow's milk and soy are 2 of the 4 most common allergies. And yes, she can be allergic to it the 1st time she has it. Pay attention to what her body is telling you. You might try lactose-free formulas or a soy formula, if you want to experiment with different brands and formulations. OR, try the closest thing in composition to breast milk---goat's milk. There is even a brand of powdered goat's milk, which is much more convenient than milk in a carton. I get mine at Whole Foods---my son is allergic to both cow dairy and soy. It costs $9.99 for a 12 oz. can at WF. The brand is Meyenberg. You can purchase their products online at www.meyenberg.com, but I didn't see the 12oz. can when I checked a minute ago, but have seen it in the past. Their website says that Kroger and HEB carries it, too. I add a powdered whole-food-based multivitamin to it for iron and extra calcium and folic acid. My doctor also recommended using carrot juice instead of water to liquify it, for the extra vitamins, and my son absolutely loves it this way. (I don't do it when he wears, white, though! The carrot juice can stain.) She also had me add a tsp. of an omega-3 oil, such as flax oil or fish oil. Good luck!! I was in your position a year ago when I stopped breastfeeding, and was very frustrated. Personally, I recommend going the goat milk route 1st, since it is a very uncommon allergy, gentle on the stomach, and does not contribute to mucous production like cow dairy and soy can. But, I can understand the inconvenience since it is not readily available at all stores. Feel free to contact me personally if you want more info. on babies and allergies----unfortunately, I now have a wealth of knowledge on this subject!!

One last thing, use a nasal saline spray, such as Simply Saline, to flush out the mucous. It is the safest and most effective way to rid the body of mucous.

Talk to your doctor if you haven't already, also you could check at the healthfood store for different formulas that are perhaps more gentle. Since she was a preemie she may need somehing a little gentler for her system. There is also a tea at the health food store that is supposed to help increase your milk supply, eat well, drink lots of fluids and do not worry about getting your pre baby figure back. If you drink alcohol, this can dehydrate you, but I have been told that a glass of beer can also help, I nursed both of my children one who was 10 1/2 lbs at birth and was able to nurse them for at least 10 months. Try to relax, and be sure to talk to your doctor. The most important thing is to make sure you are both as relaxed as possible when nursing, get comfortable, and drink healthy liquids, avoid sodas(robs the body of calcium) coffee, black pecoe tea(herb teas are good) and alcohol, these have a tendency to be dehydrating. God bless you and your little family and may you find a quick solution to your dilemma. sincerely, M.

When my oldest daughter was a baby, she was allergic to the milk based formulas. I feed her breast milk for about 3 months while on maternity leave. She was premature as well(weighing 3lbs 12oz). We had to put her on the soy based formulas. Once she was a year old & able to drink regular whole milk, she was fine. I think there was something in the milk based formulas that didn't agree with her system. You might try the soy based formulas.

My son, now 8 months, had the same problem. He uses Elecare. It is made by Ross Laboratories, and it for children with digestive problems and/or milk allergies. You can also try Nutramigen by Enfamil. If the Nutramigen doesn't work then I'd definetly use the Elecare. Give each one at least a week before deciding if it works. Feel free to pick my brian for further advice. I feel like a pro now!!

hi! I had three preemies and the first was in the NICU 2 weeks and the second for 9 days- I couldn't ever get them to latch on either. After having the bottle for so long they just won't nurse! I wish that I had known what I know now and not allowed the bottle- they can feed with a tube or a spoon, the NICU nurses just don't want to. Good for you for pumping all this time!! I know from experience it is very difficult. I didn't last more then a few weeks!

A milk allergy is very possible. I know that when I'm drinking milk I have lots of mucous. I drink rice milk, but your baby needs a formula. There are some problems with soy and it is now being cautioned against. Often babies can tolerate goat milk when they can't tolerate the cow milk. You might also see if there's a lactose free formula, as the lactose COULD be the problem (but the congestions sounds more like a general allergy to cow milk and not lactose.)

another option to try is organic formula. Sometimes it is not the lactose or the cow milk that the allergy is to, but the additives in the milk. I have heard of children doing wonderfully on organic milk when they couldn't tolerate the regular!

S. ( mom to four girls)

S.,

I am feeding my son Nutramigen. It is made by Enfamil and for babies that are allergic to cows milk and that are colic. You can look on the enfamil website and they will tell you things about it but my son does great on it. Also you can talk to your doctor and they can give you some samples because the formula is expensive.

Hope this helps,
Sandee

I breast fed my son until he was 9 months old. At 6 months I tried to give him formula, but he trew it up and broke out in hives. When I talked to his doctor he said that it could be a number of things in the formula and to just wait. At 9 months I put him on soy and he didn't have a problem at all. I would talk to her doctor and ask about trying soy.

Hi S.,
We had to use an all soy based formula for our last two children. There are many out there to try. It has been 13 yrs since the last baby but I work for H.E.B. and know there are still several type out there. Try soy formula it really work for our two youngest. My oldest we had to put on staight cow milk, he could not tolorate any of the formulas. I understand a lot of doctors frown on that but it was all I could get our oldest to keep down. We also had to give him kero syrup to off set the constipation from cow milk but he is now 6'3" 21 years of age and has been very healthy all his life. We only had cows milk before formula and the population keep growing.
I hope I have helped.
Jewels

The ladies here are so great about responding, that I feel you don't need my two cents, but I'll give it anyway! My oldest daughter (now 7) was allergic to milk (and all things dairy), we ended up having to put her on Soy. She was good with that. Unfortunately, now, I can't get her to drink regular milk, at all. My youngest (now 2) was not allergic to milk, but could not tolerate the regular formula's, we tried everyone of the formulas listed in these responses. The only one we found she could take and not spit back at us was the Parent's Choice Organic (wal-mart). It doesn't cost that much more and it worked.

hi try using soy milk my granddaughter was the same way and she did real good on the soy milk

25 years ago my premie couldn't tolerate Similac either. I put him on Enfamil, and he did wonderfully. (The nasal symptoms you describe don't sound like a food allergy to me. Perhaps she has some other allergies. The pine trees are really bad right now.) You might also try soy formula. There are several different kinds out there if the milk-based products don't work. Hope this helps.