To think hospitals should give baby of atopic parents hypoallergenic formula instead of normal formula

[ShineSmile]

... if baby is not taking to breastfeeding for whatever reason, and needs formula milk (normally for a day or two to build up strength etc), the hospital should give baby of atopic parents hypoallergenic formula instead of normal cows milk formula?

(babies of both atopic parents have a 80% chance of allergies, which includes food allergies)

Why do hospitals give free formula to people though? I found it bizarre. Must cost the nhs £££££! If you choose to formula feed surely you should pay for it.

I don't think it's fair to downplay the severity of allergic reactions and imply a lot of it is blown out of proportion by caregivers. Not many people can afford to go private and all they have to rely on is their instinct and very often an ignorant, misinformed GP.

I also think it's very dangerous to advise that once a reaction has occured to 'just keep at it, it might go away'. Perhaps, but another outcome could be death, so I think I'll not be giving my baby egg, soya or dairy until she stops swelling up from ingesting them rather than hoping she'll just get over it.

This.

There are rather too many ignorant and patronising posts in this thread. There is a huge difference between what is being suggested here, that people are self diagnosing food allergies, and the many posters on here with genuine, medically confirmed allergies. I have been under the care of Dr Pamela Ewan since I was a child and she was based at St Mary's, Paddington, and she has since become the consultant for my children, at Addenbrookes. As far as I'm concerned, there is no one better than her, she is a world re known expert and top of her field.

The cost of formula to the NHS keeps popping up in this thread ( which I think may move anyway to allergies ...)
For ' normal' formula that is available in hospital - is this not provided free by the companies as a marketing tool ? I always assumed it was .

I too am getting annoyed about some of the ignorant comments regarding allergies, especially about food allergies and eczema.

We paid to see one of the top paediatric dermatologists when DS was 4 months, after being totally fobbed off by the GP. Luckily also got an allergy referral and DS was diagnosed, by specialists. He's allergic to milk protein and is very symptomatic. Even now aged 2, although he's improved he cannot tolerate large amount of dairy without flaring up.

It was a very stressful time and I do think mw, HV and GPs need to be educated further on allergies and treatment.

I'm expecting DC.2, and would not expect them to automatically be given dairy free formula, just because of DS. Infact one specialist told me that dc2's risk is less, we'll see.

I

I self diagnosed my DD's salmon allergy.

Because she ate some and her lips swelled like balloons.

OP you did an AIBU without answering the questions people have asked of you. Rightly others have come on with their experiences of allergy and issues with their care but you haven't explained your story or responded to others.

Diagnosing allergies is clearly a real problem. I would never put down how terrifying it must be for parents to see that and for children to experience that. However, I don't think it is a good idea to prescribe special milk to babies just in case they have an allergy, even if the risk is high. That said, given the high stats (which I did not know), I think babies should be monitored and awareness of allergies should be raised. I see the special milk as a medicine and we don't prescribe medicine even if someone has a high chance of x condition. Obviously if they immediately display concerning symptoms, then of course action should quickly be taken.

Parent-diagnosis is how allergies are generally spotted anyway. You give the baby/child something and there's a reaction - swelling, itching, vomiting. You give it again and you get the same reaction. You go to the GP and hopefully get referred to an allergist (and given a plan for managing the reaction in case of accidental ingestion). Which on the NHS can take many months, so you have to go on the information you have.

DD has allergies to CMP, banana and mustard seed. The latter 2 were 'diagnosed' by me in between her allergist appointments. In both cases we were told we were absolutely correct in keeping DD well away from both foods until her appointment. Skin prick and blood test confirmed both allergies.

With an allergic child it may be appropriate to introduce the offending food, either as actual desensitisation or, more usually, to see if the child has outgrown it. But this should be done under an allergist's instruction. DD (3.8) is still allergic to all 3 foods. I get fed up with people (including doctors) telling me to 'just try it' or 'she must have outgrown it, don;t be so daft'. She hasn't.

Back to the op, the baby may have an 80% chance of an allergy but it does not have an 80% of a food allergy or more specifically a cows milk protein allergy. I don't know what the number is but the number in the op is misleading.

The 'try harder' breastfeeding arguments are hilarious! [Most] of them clearly have no idea what they're commenting on

OP I don't have direct experience, but have a friend whose son has galactocemia (not sure about the spelling) and if they have another child there's a v high chance that child might be affected as it's a genetic condition rather than an allergy, but breast milk nearly killed him at less than two weeks old and he has to have a special formula milk (he's 2 now). I'm not sure what would happen to another baby if they had one. Presumably they'd have s/he monitored v closely in the early days. I doubt they'd go straight for giving the child special formula.

I don't think giving a special formula should be the go-to option at birth, but perhaps these babies need to be monitored and parental concerns taken seriously. There's a 20% chance everything will be fine after all!

bodicea your post is dangerously incorrect. I hope people read subsequent posts and don't take your advice. To suggest if a child reacts to a food you should just keep giving them it could have terrible consequences

We see one of the countries leading allergy specialists as my son has multiple severe allergies, eczema and asthma. They seem quite clear that food allergies can cause eczema, as well as the immediate life threatening reactions. I have seen this in my son when we tried to reintroduce foods (under supervision). However he has now outgrown some allergies and can have the food with no ill effect.

As others have said, I would do anything for him not to need 'free' hypoallergenic formula. I am very grateful it is provided but on a practical level it is really tough. Things like going away etc require careful planning. He still needs it at age 3. It should be seen as a medicine, not a food, he absolutely needs it to make up for what is missing in his diet. (We see a dietitian regularly)

I asked about allergies before my daughter was born and was told to just wait and see as there was no guarantee she would be similarly allergic. I was pretty nervous as my sons reaction was so severe, but accepted their reasoning. She did react to dairy in my breastmilk but not as severely, so now I am having to introduce a special formula (but a different one to ds)

So op I do sort of understand where you are coming from, but each baby is different and the hypoallergenic formulas are not as good nutrionally so should only be a last resort. I can't understand why they didn't get you expressing? That's what I was encouraged to do when dd had a feeding issue at the start

Tiredfeet - who told you that hypoallergenic formulas are not as good nutritionally? Specifically, what are they lacking? DD has been on Neocate LCP since she was 7 weeks (now 3.8 years and still uses it as a drink and for cereal). There has never been any indication from any of her doctors that what she is getting is nutritionally substandard. I would very much like to now what the proof is for your claim.

I certainly agree that better and quicker recognition of allergies/intolerences is vital.

I knew really early on. I just knew. And trying to convince a dr is impossible! I was told "premies have swollen tummies"

She wasn't a premie (well only in the technical sense she was, not something that needed consideration) her stomach was huge. She was five and a half pounds barely an oz of fat on her and this massive tummy was apparently normal. I lost count of how many different drs and nurses I told only to be completely ignored.

If she had been my first, I dread to think how things could have turned out, I really do. Because I'd have had no clue and I'd have taken what they said as truth. She'd have possibly ended up on medication she didn't need and still been miserable. The milk made such a difference and I'd have gladly paid prescription charge or regular formula prices.

And I was told the same by the dr- regular formula is better for them.

Which makes no sense as they are all supposed to be balanced aren't they?

cardamom I can't link on my phone but google dr sears and hypoallergenic formula for a good explanation of why

The drs made this clear to me at the time but also that ultimately neocate was and still is the safest option for my son

His dietitian prescribes vitamin and calcium supplements as neocate is not enough on its own

I don't understand the defensive tone in your post, it was clear from my post that both my children are drinking the special formulas too. My son is also 3.8 and still drinking neocate active

cardamom I can't link on my phone but google dr sears and hypoallergenic formula for a good explanation of why

The drs made this clear to me at the time but also that ultimately neocate was and still is the safest option for my son

His dietitian prescribes vitamin and calcium supplements as neocate is not enough on its own

I don't understand the defensive tone in your post, it was clear from my post that both my children are drinking the special formulas too. My son is also 3.8 and still drinking neocate active

This is the link that TiredFeet was looking for

www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-eating/bottle-feeding/hypoallergenic-formula

yanbu. DD was given top-up formula in hospital, against my will (that's another story). She was fully breastfed thereafter. This is a combination shown as far back as the 70s to increase the risk of dairy allergy, esp with atopic parents (which we both are).Sure enough, dd is now allergic to dairy. Now age 6, not growing out of it. The cost to the nhs of special formula compared to a lifetime of dairy allergy? Total no-brainer. Our hospital were effectively writing invitations to the allergy clinic through their practices. They are currently going for unicef bf-friendly status .

I feel that severely atopic parents or parents with with severely atopic children should have a meeting with a paediatrian prior to the birth of the baby so that the decision whether to prescribe neonate can be carefully considered.

The problem with allergies is that some professionals think (UNFAIRLY AND WRONG!!) that mum is making it up. If Dr Bloggs says that baby must have neonate then there will be no arguement.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12642834 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23506844

studies on this subject

I think it's something that should be discussed prior to the birth if there is a family history of allergies, particularly food allergies.
My DS2 was severely MSPI (milk and soya protein intolerant) which I blame at least partially on a formula feed given when I was unconscious after surgery required post birth, combined with 2nd hand antibiotics via breastmilk which probably affected both of our gut flora. zoemaguire's perfect storm which in our case resulted in multiple visits to GPs, paediatricians, dieticians, 18m of medication and a complete nightmare for us, costing the NHS a fortune. In his case it was just unfortunate, but I was damn sure that wasn't happening to DC3! Our consultant said we had a 50% chance of having another affected child given our first (exBF) was ok. I had in my birth plan no formula to be given under any circumstances without our express written consent, had not anticipated BF problems as I BF my 2 other children, but came under a lot of pressure to give formula as DD was low birthweight and struggling to maintain blood sugar levels on the colostrum I was producing. The staff were woefully ignorant of allergy/intolerance issues, and I had to come up with alternative suggestions of dextrose drip, top ups with donor milk or Neocate/Nutramigen AA. In the end DD was admitted to SCBU and tubed with donor milk, it was just for 24 hours until I was expressing enough to top her up myself.
Cost to NHS of 200ml donor milk ??? Not sure, but considerably less than was spent on DS's treatment. Touch wood and cross everything, a month in and she is showing no signs of CMPI, at least not of a severity that reacts to traces in breastmilk.

"Cost to NHS of 200ml donor milk ??? Not sure, but considerably less than was spent on DS's treatment. Touch wood and cross everything, a month in and she is showing no signs of CMPI, at least not of a severity that reacts to traces in breastmilk."

Donor milk is unbelivably expensive. The cost of producing it by weight is more than gold! I am glad that you were able to get hold of some as hospitals tend to reserve it for the most sick babies.

Bakingtin and zoie, your experience mirrors mine. Not only would it have saved the NHS bob, but saved my sanity. I don't know what your experience is like, but from what I have read, and quite rightly, allergic babies are very demanding and unsettled.