Neocate for a newborn baby?

[greenbananas]

A question about Neocate sachets: is it possible to buy small sachets of Neocate which are suitable for a newborn?

I'm 35 weeks pregnant, and DS1 has food allergies. Although I'm planning to breastfeed the new baby, I can't help worrying about what would happen if for some reason I couldn't... DS1 was given SMA formula in hospital and I'll always wonder if that triggered his allergies. I'd like to have a couple of Neocate feeds ready for the new baby just in case, but don't know where to get hold of the stuff.

(I know that I could buy a whole tin of Neocate over the counter in Boots, but it costs about £40, which seems a lot for something I'm hooping not to have to use!)

[Athendof]

I think the question should be, is Neocate safe for such a young child?

Considering the amount if time it takes to have a child diagnosed with an allergy, i would say there is not much research done in the effects of neocate on newborns.

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

I don't think it's a good idea to start a baby on Neocate without evidence that it is needed TBH. It should be prescribed by a pediatrician. Any milk allergy reaction should be quite soon to manifest unless it's an intolerance I believe. One you start in Neocate your baby will be stuck on it as you may end up to apprehensive to swap to normal formula. I wouldn't wish it on a newborn. Tastes vile.

[greenbananas]

Well, yes, I did wonder about the advisability of giving Neocate to a newborn. But there is plenty of evidence that giving ordiinary cows milk formula to newborns can trigger allergies, and this baby will have a much higher than usual risk of having allergies.

I'm thinking in terms of worst case scenarios (and it's probably just pregnancy hormones!) Am planning to express colostrum before the baby is born so that at least DH/midwives have that to give him if anything happens to me.

[eragon]

I had the same concerns, but really what your baby may inherit is the ability to be allergic, and might not have the same allergies as your first child.

you wont know that until baby arrives.
I put breastmilk only on the front of my notes when i had my youngest, and that formula of any sort only to be given in consultation with me or babies father.

if its any comfort, from a ige food allergy point of view of my four children only one has that, the others have mild enviromental allergies, and one has developed food intolerences as a teen.

if your baby has any food allergies the learning curve wont be as steep, and you will know what to do for the best part iyswim.

good luck. hope everything goes smoothly.

[Athendof]

Don't express colostrum, there would be hardly any anyway so it is better not to waste it, if you can't breastfeed on day one it wilk still be there when you start BF

[beancurd]

Antenatal harvesting of colostrum doesn't waste your milk, you will keep producing it. Do this if if makes you feel more confident but really there is no reason to expect probs.

Might be worth finding your local bfcs, baby cafes etc and making contact now so you have aCcess to early days bf support IF you have a problem.

[whatinthewhatnow]

athendof expressing colostrum is a great idea. if the OP starts at 36 weeks she will have plenty frozen, certainly enough for the first few feeds!

I could express 5mls colostrum easily by the end of pregnancy. had I done it 4 times a day for 4 weeks I would have had . Over 500mls by the time I gave birth.

op you'll need lots of little syringes to collect it in.

[greenbananas]

Thanks eragon it's so great that you understand where I am coming from, and I do know that you're right about this baby not necessarily having the same allergies. How very interesting (and reassuring for me!) that only one of your four has ige allergies. And you're also totally right about the learning curve not being so steep this time. We had a dreadful struggle trying to get DS1 diagnosed, and he was really poorly, but this time I will know what to look out for and how to get the right support if necessary.

I'm definitely planning to put 'breastmilk only' on my notes, along with the reasons, and I know that DH will be making sure this happens even if for any reason I am in no fit state to argue the case for myself.

beancurd - what you say about finding breastfeeding support is absolutely spot on!! I wish I had known about this support when DS1 was tiny. I am now a trained breastfeeding supporter myself, which makes my worries all the more ridiculous really. There are loads of local groups, mostly run by personal friends of mine, and both of my tutors live less than a 5 minute walk away, so I already have very easy access to some of the best support in the county!

I can't believe I'm worrying about this really... it's so silly to worry! I'm even planning for a home birth so that no midwife can give formula in hospital without me or DH agreeing to it first (DS1 was given formula in hospital without my consent, and nobody told me about the risk of allergies even though hospital policy says I should have been told).

Athendof colostrum doesn't run out, and I know that I already have plenty because I am still breastfeeding my four year old (he says it tastes weird and is looking forward to sharing 'proper' milk with the new baby). whatinthewhat I will be getting hold of some lots of those little syringes at my next midwife appointment

Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond to my ridiculous concerns. You are all so kind and lovely!

[beancurd]

Doing what you do explains your worries...knowing more can make things more complicated! What I find anyway:)

[greenbananas]

yes, *beancurd you are right. Before I had DS1 I knew nothing about breastfeeding and was quite blase about it - I was sure it would be okay and not expecting any problems. Now that I have supported so many mums who have been struggling in lots of different ways, I am aware of loads of things that might go wrong and even though I know how to deal with most of them I can't stop myself worrying. It's ridiculous, because unless I am actually unconscious, in intensive care or something, I know I will find a way to breastfeed this baby!

[Lucky13]

Neocate was prescribed for my DD when she was only a few weeks old - however I didn't use it until she was a lot older. The doctors for some reason were really against my feeding her - although I was quite happy to go on a dairy free diet!

However, I'm sure you will be able to feed ok - as you know, there are so many people out there who can help you if you have problems. My friend is a midwife and and like you worried the whole time before having her last baby.
Mumsnet got me through my toughest time. I went from counting the number of days that I would breastfeed to feeding for a whole year.
Good luck