To put my 6 week old on Soya Formula?

[lifesjoys]

I'm dairy free as I can't quite cope with it, it gives me a bad stomach.

My son is on cow & gate comfort as he struggles with constipation but it hasn't helped.

I come from a family with dairy intolerance, I have a brother with a protein allergy from cows milk.

I also do not believe that as humans, we should be using another species milk, it's weird (but that's my opinion).

So I've been looking at SMA Soya to put my son on, wibu to make that decision myself without consulting a gp?

OP I'm sorry you've had a bit of a rubbish time. Ignore the people pushing you back to breastfeeding, people don't understand unless they've been through the trauma of having a child in NICU (mine was tube fed at first) When you've tried and tried to breastfeed an infant who's lost all the instinct from being tube fed, is covered in cannulas and wires and is increasingly upset, well anyway, let the judgers fuck off as they haven't experienced how hard it can be if things don't go according to plan.

My only advice is that we had some success with Nannycare, a goats milk formula available in Waitrose. Apparently goat is closer to human milk than cow.

I came on here to ask about Soya, I had NO intention on giving my baby Soya formula until I had sought complete advice and felt it would benefit my son & not hinder his development.

I would NOT give my son something that could cause him discomfort or pain, which is actually quite ironic given that if he has CMPI then every time I give him a bottle, it's doing more harm than good!

I do not appreciate being told in so many words by USER that I am a bad mother, especially when I haven't actually done anything as yet, user read above!

My reasoning for taking my son off of cows milk formula is solely to do with HEALTH ISSUES within my family, it does not agree with us.

Because I care and love my son, I want to ensure he is on the RIGHT formula, I will admit I had no clue about Soya formula being a bad choice, hence I asked on here.

I also didn't know CMPI means they will have a Soya intolerance too given that my brother is fine with Soya & his CMPI is pretty damn severe.

36 years ago my son had constant diahorrea.
It just ran out of him and would even run down my leg and onto the floor it was so bad.

After 5 months of switching him to different milks the h although visitor suggested wysoy
Tha constant diahorrea stopped in less than a day.

That was a very extreme case I think. At 6 months old he then strarted to thrive.

Does your baby have diahorrea. My son was taken into hospital for a week, hen let out still having diahorrea

Health visitor

Look for a local source of breast milk while you re-establish breast feeding and stop worrying about what other people think of that.

Things can vary from one area to another but round here GPs will not prescribe baby milks until the child has got a diagnosis and been seen by the paediatric dietitian

My son had cleft lip and palate as well.
So getting the milk in was a huge challenge.

Poor little soul. He was so good as well. He was practically living on fresh air.

He's nearly 6 foot now and still drinks milk , though I don't think he should as he has sinus problems.

My only advice is that we had some success with Nannycare, a goats milk formula available in Waitrose. Apparently goat is closer to human milk than cow.

Thanks mistress, that's really helpful!
My DS was tube fed in NICU, once off that, they then formula fed as I couldn't physically breastfeed as I couldn't be with him given that I was in intensive care too.

I did however express colostrum but it wasn't much.
I asked for a breast pump to try to express so he didn't need formula however, it took them 5 hours to bring it to me, I was told they were too busy. I get it's the NHS & they are stretched but ffs my son needed feeding! I wanted to give him my milk.

I'd happily give him donor breast milk but I've no idea where to start looking.

My DS has been referred to a dietitian, I'm just waiting for the referral to come through.

It sounds like you had a similar experience to me! It's rubbish but it does get easier I promise

OP, it sounds like this entire thread is looking for justification for a choice you're going to do anyway.

People are saying that a baby going onto soy shouldn't be done unless you've got medical advice.

You clearly think that you and your family not having milk is enough to a reason to make you a medical expert and are delighting in telling us all how bad cows milk is etc.

It's not about making somebody feel bad for their feeding preferences. It's as simple as this. Seek medical advice before doing something (though I have a feeling you're going to whatever anyway because you know best).

Because I care and love my son, I want to ensure he is on the RIGHT formula, I will admit I had no clue about Soya formula being a bad choice, hence I asked on here.*

Did you NOT bother reading this??

If your baby is latching well now you could consider giving him his formula using a supplemental nursing system. www.medela.co.uk/breastfeeding-professionals/products/feeding/supplemental-nursing-system

Then he will be getting what breast milk you have as well as stimulating your supply. You can get them on Amazon too. Your GP may also agree to prescribe you domperidone, if its a choice between breastfeeding and prescription formula. Good luck with it all, breast milk/ special formula

lifesjoys
I was typing my reply when you said that. So it wasn't on my open thread.

Fair do.

From the thread I read when I was replying you were just very adamant in pointing out "my family have issues with milk it doesn't work for us so I'll do whatever".

My advice still stands, don't do any kind of swap until you have medical advice. (Otherwise it's like people deciding that because the get a bit bloated they must have a gluten intolerance despite having no medical qualifications).

I'm very much on the fence over breastfeeding normally, and not subscribe to the 'Breast is brsg' message. I think formula is a perfectly fine choice.

BUT, if you believe that humans shouldn't drink the milk of another species, and babies really do need milk, then you are left with donor milk or breastfeeding really. I think re-laxtating sounds worth a try given the circumstances.

I hope you have read the links I provided about B12 deficiency OP. This could well be the cause of his feeding problems.
Your child could already be deficient because of your diet and breast feeding will not improve this if you don't have enough B12 to give him.

Please get him tested for B12 deficiency.

If there is a breastfeeding clinic at your local hospital, you could try going there and get them to help you getting him back on the breast if you are interested. If there isn't a clinic, then try to see if there is a LaLeche League breastfeeding counselour who could help you. It would mean a lot of work for you, but it is possible.

Op have you tried adding colief to his milk if he has colic?

*I hope you have read the links I provided about B12 deficiency OP. This could well be the cause of his feeding problems.
Your child could already be deficient because of your diet and breast feeding will not improve this if you don't have enough B12 to give him.

Please get him tested for B12 deficiency.*

There is no need to get him tested, he is & has been since around 2 weeks been on cow & gate comfort, he has consistently put on weight since birth.

He was 6lbs 6 weeks ago, he is now 9lbs (he was born at 37 weeks).

My diet is not affecting him in the slightest, I started attempting to breastfeed last night but of course it won't happen overnight so I then gave him a bottle of formula.

He is not deficient in anything.

Seen that you want to try to breastfeed again, the medela support system is meant to be great for that. You top up with formula using it.

If you're interested in donor milk, take a look at 'human milk for human babies'.

In relation to low supply, expressing is not a good indicator of supply-babies are far more effective at getting milk than a pump.
So many women are told by HCPs that they do not have adequate supply when this is not the case. Often milk transfer issues are mistaken for low supply.
kellymom.com/hot-topics/low-supply/

OP, I just wanted to say "well done!" for trying to BF again... milky chops and swallowing are great signs that he is getting milk and you still have some supply! Definitely get him checked for tongue-tie as soon as you can, and get local support from LLL. I mixed-fed until 3wks and then took the plunge and went EBF... it takes skin-to-skin at all hours, LOTS of practice for your LO...but honestly BM is brilliant for clearing up constipation! My boy is now 2.8years and still looooves his mummy-milk. Best of luck to you... Hopefully you can get him back to the breast; by the sound of it you're doing great. Now you just need all the support and technical help you should have gotten a month ago... check all possible medical issues but have faith in yourself, too! (And if you do re-establish BF, beware using the pump until your body calibrates to LO's needs; pumping can reduce your supply because it's hard to pump as often as a LO needs to eat). And YY to drinking lots of fluids... Good luck!!!

OP

Call La Leche League and get the right local suppper, from experts, in relactation. You mentioned your baby would latch but not suck, so get someone suitably qualified to check for tongue tie. Do NOT rely on just your HV or GP for these things. They typically have far less training in breast feeding than a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant.

Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) can cause the reflux and constipation symptoms you described. Up to 50% of babies with CMPA also react to soya. Over 90% will also react to any other animal milk available, apart from human milk, such as goats milk. So a goat's milk formula is not suitable either.

CMPA is the term used now, not an intolerance. It is now know that the reactions to CMP are an immune system ones and there are two types of reactions. The type typically thought of as an allergy - causing hives, breathing problems, etc and also digestive problems - happens within 2 hours of consuming dairy. The type that used to be thought of as an intolerance tends to cause eczema, digestive problems, etc and reactions can take anything from a few hours to a few days.

An intolerance, such as a lactose intolerance, is related to a lack of enzymes to break down and digest something.

If your HV agrees that CMPA is likely, she can refer you, or ask your GP to refer you, to a paediatrician or dietician. Your GP can prescribe suitable formula in the mean time (even if they protest and say they can't, they can!) to help you while you try to establish breastfeeding and until you see a paediatrician or dietician.

Good luck.