My DD was prescribed soya milk for a suspected lactose intolerance/milk allergy at 5 weeks old.
I was not told of any risks involved just to keep her on it a few months.
Since then I have become aware of the health risks associated with the large levels of plant oestrogens in soya formula and did my own digging oround.
I came accross a guide written by the Department of Health for health professionals (GPs/ hHVs etc) for feeding 0-5 year olds.
You can look up their website on www.bhnft.nh (sorry, can't link it) but it basically says this:-
Soya formula should not be prescribed to babies under 6 months because of the potential damage the ostrogens can do to maturing organs (reproductive ones).
Soya formula should only be prescribed when hydrolised formulas have been tried but refused (Pepti, Nutramigin etc).
When prescribing Soya formula, parents should be warned of the health risks associated with this.
Soya is an allergen and young exposure to it can cause other allergies including peanut.
There is also loads of other stuff on the web- quite a horrifying read actually.
When DD was prescribed this she was 5 weeks old. I feel terrible that her health has been jeopardised in this way. If I knew what I know now I would never have put her on the horrid stuff (she's now on Pepti Junior).
Please be aware that doctors are not supposed to be prescribing this to babies under 6 months and then only as a very last resort afer going through the full health implications with you.
Hopefully your GPs haven't been as incompetent as mine.
I am going to see him in the morning and have printed all this off for him to see.
Wish me luck!