Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

To use ds prescription

111 replies

strawberrycake · 06/08/2010 20:50

My 9 week old ds has been a nightmare to feed from day one, and it got worse and worse with hospital visit for dehydration and a crazy amount of diarrhea. Thankfully we seem to have stumbled on the magic bullet...soya milk. My GP prescribed it and he just started to eat again and he's no longer pooing/ screaming in pain all day. Obviously I'm very happy and told my friend today.

She seemed shocked I got it on prescription free and told me you can buy it off the shelf in the Tesco near her (she did as she's vegan). I didn't know this, it's not on the shelf anywhere near me and it's ordered in specially for me by boots. She said I should pay for it as I pay for formula already and it's cheeky to get it free. I see some logic in this, and I'd expect to pay for his food. On the other hand though if I were to not use the prescription I wouldn't know where to get it, I don't drive, nowhere within an hours walk sells it and the online supermarket I use don't do it. It would be a big trek to bulk buy it. I don't know if it costs the same/ more as I haven't seen it.

Would you use the prescription, or would you find it cheeky? I presumed until today it was a prescription only milk! I guess I could ask boots by me to order it, but they'd probably think I was a nutter. They are lovely down there and great me and know me and do all the repeats for me to pick up when I come in with no effort on my part. I'd have to tell them to stop this and look like a loon to them.

OP posts:

Jux · 07/08/2010 01:50

Strawberrycake, you asked if it was something he might grow out of. DD's bf was extremely lactose intolerant, everyone had to be sooo careful of what went into her mouth. Poor thing, by the time she was 7 she was totally used to bringing her own food to parties, managing herself. We took her into town one afternoon and though I thought I'd been really careful about what she was eating, I got a sweet wrong and she was in an awful state.

Nearly 4 years later and she's even drinking cow's milk, eating cheese, yoghurt etc. She's still quite careful - limits the amount she has at any one time, and has a sort of milkometer in her head measuring approx how much dairy she has each day - but the difference is amazing.

I have no idea if this is the same condition/allergy as your dc but thought you might like to know.

Oh and use the prescriptions. Your friend's being a twit.

Original poster

strawberrycake · 07/08/2010 08:35

I guess next steps for us is finding out why, but at least it seems to be something that can be done at leisure Jux.

And yes I did resist the urge to wake him which is bloody good as the little monster was up half the night after that! Pampers-at the moment I LOATHE you. MY son sleeps all night...unless disturbed then it goes haywire. NO noise or light can disturb him, only being wet through can...and it happened TWICE last night (yes I am using the right size). Maybe I'm just not used to a baby that can actually wee. HE seems to do loads now. And the lack of poo is strange! (well 14-16 nappies a day down to 2!)

OP posts:

hildathebuilder · 07/08/2010 09:09

strawberry hello again. Of course you are NBU. My nutraprem is on prescription (the one I haven't yet handed in as I am still just about bf) and I could possibly use another formula but DS was very prem and I have been advised not to so if I have formula I'll go with that. And fortunately if I didn't have a prem I wouln't think twice about the costs of anything as when I'm working I am well off. The way I see it is that I pay a lot of tax (probably should pay more but that's a whole other thread) and the NHS is the only thing DH, DS and I actually use and it is still free at the point of use. Children don't pay for prescriptions because they are not earning, and if they need drugs, or other things on prescriptions they should get them.

no suggestions on the pampers (I went to reusablea a couple of months ago as they were better for DS) you'll have to put him back in his magical mobile wing to let him catcj up

stripeyknickersspottysocks · 07/08/2010 09:16

She's been silly, I bet if her kid needed glasses she would take the £69 paid for prescription from the NHS/opticians even though she could decline to use it and pay full price.

Original poster

strawberrycake · 07/08/2010 09:19

Hilda-I've got reuseables and I was on them until the diarrhea madness really kicked off, I haven't been able to face them again yet just in case! Maybe I'll try one again tonight as it's only for wee (strange little boy doesn't poo in his cot or bouncy chair, if desperate he will squeal until he's removed then go, happily poo on me though!).

OP posts:

TitsalinaBumSquash · 07/08/2010 09:25

Sorry to hear your lad is suffering Strawberry.
DS1 was on Nutramagen and Neocate then later on Soya i did worry about the links with male infertility but he has CF so that 98% likely anyway.
Anyway your freind is an idiot prescriptions are given out to them that need it.
I just wish they did probiotic drinks on prescription ds needs them and they cost a fortune in the long run.

pigletmania · 07/08/2010 10:06

Ignore ignore ignore, what sort of a friend says things like that, its none of her business tbh. Carry on getting your ds formula on prescription so what, he needs it as he has feeding problems. Like others have said, she has chosen to be Vegan, your son has not chosen to have medical problems.

ArthurPewty · 07/08/2010 10:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

strawberrycake · 07/08/2010 16:21

It's depressing, we find the sudden magic solution they everyone runs at me with how soya is bad too :-(

It's been around 40 odd years here and has always been a stable of the asian diet, they still seem to breed. HOw reliable are these studies? Surely it would be withdrawn if there were real fears and doctors would avoid the stuff as we now have alternatives?

Sorry if I'm a little reluctant, but he's SO happy this week. I don't want to mess the little man around again unless there's good cause. I've NEVER cradled my baby in my arms calmly until this week, and he's 9 weeks now. That's a really big thing for us. We're catching up on cuddles like mad.

OP posts:

unfitmother · 07/08/2010 16:34

Some 'friend'

schroeder · 07/08/2010 16:39

Don't let them get you down; the main thing for you and your baby is to spend some time enjoying each other.
There are all sorts of studies about nearly everything we eat and you're right the medical profession will have weighed the evidence for and against.
To be honest all this "oh I would never give my baby soy" is all very well if you have the luxury of choice, which it does not sound like you have.

If I was you I would give your baby some time to grow and sleep and give yourself that time too. Then in a few months time you can consider looking at alternatives if you are convinced it's necessary.

terryble · 07/08/2010 16:43

In your place, I'd stick with the soya for a few weeks. Then you can try chopping and changing. I would want my boy to have a couple of weeks of being able to feed before risking messing it up again.

tabouleh · 07/08/2010 17:41

OP - some people on the thread are advising against soya milk - others are saying "the medical profession will have weighed the evidence" etc etc.

I don't know much about it - but have a look at this leaflet which was produced by UNICEF.

Page 7 in particular talks about soya milk.

^"The Chief Medical Officer has advised
(since 2004) that soya?based infant formulas should not be used as the first choice for the management of infants with proven cow?s milk sensitivity, lactose intolerance, galactokinase deficiency and galactosaemia (BNF 2009)."^

The BNF is the doctor's prescribing bible IIRC. It seems pretty clear that your doctor should not have prescribed soya without trying other things first.

I suggest that you go and speak to a younger doctor and complain about your usual doctor.

Original poster

strawberrycake · 07/08/2010 17:55

I think it's a little harsh to make a complaint about someone who has immensely improved my son's happiness and well-being! She's hardly harmed him, I can always change again. I'm GRATEFUL she saw us very soon after me calling her AGAIN, re-shuffled her other patients to do so and really LISTENED. It's so hard being a young-ish first time mum who looks younger than she is to get anyone to listen to you. I'd rather buy the woman a box of chocolates as a thank you than complain. I complain about people who intentionally try to harm or actually cause harm in some way. She hasn't.

OP posts:

terryble · 07/08/2010 18:04

I would be so upset by mumsnet today if I was strawberrycake...

terryble · 07/08/2010 18:21

To expand: guys and gals, let's get a little perspective here. Soya may apparently have a slight statistical link to whatever. Obviously that's undesirable. However, what are the long-term and short-term effects for a baby who is unable to eat, to the point of hospitalisation and is screaming in pain all day. And how the poor OP has been coping up to now I don't know...

If it was my child, I'd want the doctor to go straight to the soya formula, rather than potentially waste another day or week on a different cows' milk formula.

Once the poor thing has got his strength up, then they can try the other formula milks.

Original poster

strawberrycake · 07/08/2010 18:25

terryble...thanks, I DO appreciate the advice and heads up on soya, but complaining? I love my GP.

I have had visions for weeks of my son being DEAD in a few weeks, he's been hospitalised with dehydration, losing weight etc. I've been having visions of finding him dead in his cot or having a fit in my arms. That's how scared I was. I've rushed a floppy unresponsive baby to A&E only last week. He at other times screamed himself to the point where he actually choked and stopped breathing for a brief time on a few occasions.

Today he is lying on his play mat smiling.

OP posts:

CupcakesHay · 07/08/2010 18:35

Use it - and i'm pleased your son's better.

pigletmania · 07/08/2010 18:41

Yes use it, your son is obviously doing so well on it, and everything has risks. They say using formula over bm is detrimental to helath but hey some of us have to use it. If you are concerned go back to the doctor and talk to him who is a trained medical professional, who might have weighed up the risks before prescribing it to you.

RonansMummy · 07/08/2010 18:49

Like Colditz said its soya FORMULA not normal soya milk, which would not provide any of the nutrients a baby needs! You can get soya formula in shops but I think its more expensive, and anyway, its none of her business if you get a prescription!

ArthurPewty · 07/08/2010 21:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

misdee · 07/08/2010 21:17

ok, facts are soya formula is not ideal. BUT if its working and it obviosuly is working for your ds, then carry on.

to be perfectly frank mosts formualas have pro's and cons. the nutramigen which dd4 was perscribed was utterly rank,. it smelt like mouldy old potatoes rotting in the veg drawer coupled with soemthing else. it was gag-worthy. she refused cereal with it in. wysoy she will take 2oz in fortified cereal, and add more water to it. will be increasing the formula oz by oz till her cereal is amde completely with wysoy.

ArthurPewty · 07/08/2010 21:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

whoopstheregoesmymerkin · 07/08/2010 21:26

YANBU - use the prescription, that is why we have national health.
DS has prescription specs, which we could afford if we had to.
DH has chronic arthritis and psoriasis, for which we have prescriptions that we could buy over the counter.

I am appalled at some of the incredible insensitive comments on here.

misdee · 07/08/2010 21:28

you are doing the best you can for your ds.

there are other milks out there, but as i said, all have downsides.

you have to weigh up everything, and your ds being happy and pain free is a major plus.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5