I'm nearly 38 weeks pregnant with DC2 and want to formula feed as I had real problems breastfeeding DS (now 2.6) who we discovered has a milk and dairy allergy (it came to light when we started him on solids). I really disliked breastfeeding but couldn't get him onto a bottle, although I realise now that wouldn't have helped because of the allergy...
I've been advised by my GP and Health Visitor that this baby is more likely to have a milk allergy because DS has one and I'm worried how we will know this so early on and what might be done about it. The HV said the doctor would probably prescribe one of the hypoallergenic formulas as they did for DS from 7.5 months when he finally took a bottle, but I know cost is an issue with this. Has anyone fed the soya infant formula in the first few months? And how did you know that your baby had an allergy?
DS's reaction to milk has become steadily stronger and more obvious (and more worrying) but at first it was actually hard to tell and no one really believed me when I said I thought cow's milk was bothering him.
I'm really concerned that either an allergy won't be obvious and I might end up doing this baby some harm/causing them pain or that if it's spotted very early on I will be told to breastfeed or left with no option but to breastfeed, and I really don't want to do that.
Any advice appreciated... Thanks