NEOCATE MUMS - AIBU to worry about daughter's feeding with Neocate formula?

[user666555]

Hello,

I did initially post in the Infant Feeding section but didn't get much of a response I've posted here - desperate FTM here.

My daughter (14 weeks) was prescribed Neocate formula after still experiencing CMPA symptoms with Aptamil Pepti 1. She was on the Pepti 1 since the 13 of January and although it helped with her eczema all her other symptoms were still the same. After many trips back and forth finally we were given Neocate.

My daughter has been drinking it since yesterday, however, the amount of milk she consumes has decreased quite a bit. She used to have 4.5-5oz per feed (sometimes she'd refuse some feeds but would later then have another 2-3oz to compensate (probably to soothe her aching tummy?). I'm quite concerned as to why my daughter is only drinking 3oz max on Neocate?

Also, she's still crying a lot. Not as much as when she was on Pepti 1 but still quite a lot. She's very windy too. I believe this may be due to the new formula as it does state on the Neocate leaflet online that babies can initially be quite windy. How can I help with this? Will it pass?

How long until you saw a difference?

Thanks

Which Neocate are you on? My daughter finally ended up on Neocate Syneo.

When she was on breat milk and other persciption formulas she was guzzling the milk, I think she saw it as comfort from the pain. When we finally got her on Neocate Syneo she then regulated with her feeding which I think was less that what she was downing quickly before. She was definitely windy, but that is because it takes time for her tummy to heal. Worth giving it some time. Plus the Neocate made her wind and poos stink, way worse that my first.

Feel for you, getting support with an allergy baby is really hard. And being a first time mum you might come across people that think you are overworking. Photograph everything (including poos), keep a diary of everything, and go with your gut because you know your little one better than anyone.

I'd also look at the ingredients of Pepti 1 and see what could be an issue moving forward when starting to introduce food. Just a thought as it definitely helped my little one!

Hi, I went from breastfeeding to neocate when my DD was 6 months old. It smelt and tasted revolting and I was advised to add some vanilla essence or some chocolate nesquik to it (contains soya though so not sure if your baby tolerates it) . Maybe it's just the change in taste? She did get used to it and we stayed on it til transitioning to oat milk at one ish
I can't actually remember whether the volumes decreased as we started weaning then too or what happened with symptoms as I'd already eliminated dairy when BFing.

Have you joined the CMPA Facebook group? You'll likely get much more advice on there, there's over 50k members. It's called Main Group CMPA support.

Good luck, hope your little one settles on it!

Hi Neocate LCP. Sorry I forgot to mention. What's the difference between the different Neocates - do you know?

I forgot to also mention that she's also on Omeperazole for reflux. I feel as though so far she is spitting up more milk on the Neocate.

Oh yes, I changed her poop nappy earlier and was almost sick! It was green and smelt horrific 🙈

I'm just worried what I'll do if the Neocate doesn't work - because Pepti 1 is a hydrolysed formula and Neocate is an Amino Acid one. What would the next step be? 😩 I suppose my hopes aren't high because it's been a battle for what feels like forever. I expected miracles from the Pepti 1 and then the added Omeperazole. But sadly they both didn't really help. Will of course give it more of a chance but I'm just anxious x

@Nuglife123 thank you for your response! She took to it straight away. She didn't really refuse it. She just decreased the quantity she started to drink weirdly. I did wonder if it's because Neocate might be more filling but I'm not sure that's the case as it's VERY runny.

I've not used my Facebook account since around 2015! I'd have to reactivate it maybe to join the CMPA group x

Give it time, it’s been one day.

I had to wean my DS onto Neocate because of the taste. I was also told to add some vanilla essence, although this didn’t work so ended up mixing the formulas until he was entirely on Neocate.

I can’t remember how long it took to work. DS had awful eczema and reflux so we were under the allergy and dermatology teams for that. As pp have said maybe keep a diary?

Neocate vomit stinks! I still remember when DS had a vomiting bug and trying to get the smell out the carpet…

My dd was on Neocate and Omeprazole too. We thickened her formula with Carobel and she was fine after that.

She's probably drinking less because it's so thin and flow is quicker and fills up faster. With the thickener it's more like regular formula consistency

My DD was on neocate and breast fed up until 8 months, combi fed as I returned to work at 6 months. When she switched fully to neocate at 8 months she would never have more than 4oz per feed, and stayed that way until we switched her to oat milk after her first birthday. Always little and often, I assumed it was the milk flavour, she was fine though and gained weight, but not as quicky as my first DD, healthy 18 month old now

Mine all ended up on neocate Lcp for cmpa. It does taste and smell gross so takes them a while to get used to it. We also used a sachet of infant gaviscon to thicken it as it is very runny and mine had bad reflux too so needed the thickener to help plus Omeprazole! I'd ask for infant gaviscon sachets to add to the neocate alongside the omeprazole. Hopefully you will start to see improvements soon :)

Neocate should work @user666555 just give it time and in about a week or so you should start to see a difference.

@VladimirVsVolodymyr thank you. I think I can see a slight difference today. She hasn't been crying constantly all day which is a change! Only when she wants her nappy changed, milk or needs a nap - this is all expected though!

But not really crying in pain which is AMAZING! I'm skeptical of becoming too happy as we saw a difference for a day or two when we first started her on Omeperazole. Let's see how she gets on over the next few days!

@Aria20 I'd definitely say that her reflux is worse with Neocate so far. I guess it's because it's SO runny. I've got Gaviscon sachets from when she was on the Aptamil Pepti 1. Should I use these? Di they actually help 'thicken' the milk? Didn't see a difference when on Pepti 1

Yes they definitely help thicken it. I think it's one sachet per 4oz milk. My dds reflux was worse initially on neocate without gaviscon too. But as soon as we started putting gaviscon in it and got the right dose of Omeprazole she was like a different baby! No more constant wriggling and thrashing during feeds, no more screaming, rashes, explosive nappies or projectile vomit!

The reflux improved a bit more once she could reliably sit up herself after feeds and once she was eating more solids too. And she actually loved the neocate in the end and I had a job trying to wean her onto oat milk haha! But yes it does stink when they are sick on neocate!!

Thank you @Aria20 I'm going to try adding the Gaviscon sachet in her next feed and see how she gets on. Do you add it in every feed or just a few?

I don't want to wish time away but for the sake of her reflux improving I can't wait until she can sit up - but I then feel like I'm wishing time away 🙈 x

I added it to every bottle and it made a big difference. It's hard when you have such a sickly baby and people who haven't experienced it just don't get it! The constant worry about if they are keeping enough down and having to take multiple outfit changes for baby and yourself if you go out! You will get through it though x

You shouldn't mix gaviscon with omeprazole. If you need a thickener use Carobel as suggested by another poster.
The CMPA support Facebook group is also super helpful.

Neonate lcp my daughter was allergic to. We then went to neocate syneo which saved us.

Taste-add vanilla essence
Thickness- put a smaller teet on, makes it flow slower. We never used thickener but heard it is good.