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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Dr told me to switch DS to neocate

22 replies

FlingonTheValiant · 03/05/2011 20:38

I saw the paediatrician today about DS and CMPI. He asked how long I planned to breastfeed for so I said 12m but longer if that's best for DS. He then examined DS.

After that he told me that the priority was to get DS started on a new milk source asap and would be writing to the GP to tell them to prescribe neocate.

Now I know I don't have to give it to DS but he's got me worried that there's a reason DS should be swapped to it. I'm guessing the fact that it's fortified etc. So should I think about giving it to him? Can BF not make up for him getting no dairy?

OP posts:
narmada · 03/05/2011 21:02

What strange advice. What was the reason for swapping him to a new milk source in preference to/ in addition to breastmilk????? If he is dairy intolerant, the best thing for him surely is breastmilk and you on a dairy- (and possibly also soy) free diet. If he's worried about the nutrient content, then vitamin drops could surely be used, although given BF is the normal and natural way to feed a baby I have never been convinced of that argument.....Hmm. Is he weaned yet? He can get vitamins and minerals from food as well if so.

My DS is dairy intolerant and formula fed. We had months of trying to wean him onto neocate and no matter what we tried , he just wouldn't drink it because it tastes like devil's spit as it's not very palatable, to say the least. It's redolent of the water used to boil potatoes in mixed with some cooking oil...

The only thing I can think is that your paed is being a bit heavy-handed because some GPs are very reluctant to prescribe neocate owing to the cost - one tub lasts about 2 days if it's used as a sole source of nutrition, and the over-the-counter cost in boots is £35. The NHS probably gets it a bit cheaper, but I don't know how much.

RitaMorgan · 03/05/2011 21:45

Did he tell you what was wrong with breastfeeding?

Original poster
FlingonTheValiant · 03/05/2011 21:48

Thank narmada, I thought it was strange too. I am on a dairy and soy free diet, so there's no reason to swap him really. He didn't give me a reason, just told me it should be done asap. I've had tried DS on fish formula neutramigen a couple of times before and couldn't get it down him, not really surprised.

I'm weaning him now, but he's still very irregular in what he eats. And I am very worried that he's missing a big food group with no dairy. I asked the consultant about that and he told me I could put neocate on cornflakes for him Hmm

I suppose if we do go down that route it'll be helpful if they will prescribe it. When I first tried to get some for DS the HVs said neocate or nutramigen and the GP gave me 3 other cheaper and unsuitable formulas first as it was too expensive. It would have been cheaper to just give me the nutramigen to start with!

OP posts:
Original poster
FlingonTheValiant · 03/05/2011 21:51

Sorry Rita I missed your post. No, he didn't even mention it after asking how long I planned to go on for. Although he harrumphed a bit when I said I'd keep going for after a year if it was better for DS. He just started looking up neocate in his BNF.

OP posts:
RitaMorgan · 03/05/2011 21:51

Dairy isn't a natural food group for anyone but cows though!

Your ds is getting milk.

Original poster
FlingonTheValiant · 03/05/2011 21:54

Yes, I agree, but it's listed in all the weaning guides as a food group that they need to eat from, on top of their milk feeds, and so I can't shift the concern.

I don't eat fish otherwise I'd just give him sardines and stop worrying about it.

OP posts:
narmada · 03/05/2011 22:03

If it's calcium you're worried about, then your DS will be getting it from your BM. There's less calcium in BM than cow's milk but it's got greater bioavailability.

see here

mrsgordonfreeman · 03/05/2011 22:03

Weaning guides recommend cows milk as, well, a replacement for the breast milk they assume the child is not getting.

The neocate might come in handy as he gets older and you want something to put on his cornflakes, but other than that...

I would go back if you're concerned and explain that you don't understand why neocate would be better than your milk - I'm genuinely interested to know myself as this isn't the first time I've heard of a paediatrician doing this and confusing the merry hell out of someone.

Cosmosis · 03/05/2011 22:06

what strange advice. He's getting milk, he doesn't really need any other dairy. I have a friend whos ds is dairy allergic, she's still bfing at 2 so he gets plenty of milk from her, and he's totally healthy and happy. Why on earth replace something free and on tap and the best food for your child, with something else?

If I were you I would do as MrsGF says and question why, because I can't really think of any reasons!

Original poster
FlingonTheValiant · 03/05/2011 22:09

Thanks narmada, that link is brilliant.

mrsgordon - I would go back and ask, but it was a referral that took over a month to get and I'm not booked in again for 9 months. I think I'll just ignore the advice, based on what you're all saying and narmada's link.

Thanks all!

OP posts:
simpson · 03/05/2011 22:12

I guess the advice might be because neocate tastes so vile so the younger they start on it the more likely they are to accept it (in theory!!)

It smells like wet dog mixed with chlorine Hmm

But if I were in your shoes I would definately carry on BFing instead.

(My DD now 3 is on neocate BTW)

ilovemydogandMrObama · 03/05/2011 22:17

wow. My DS was diagnosed at 13 months, but it was after him being tested at Children's Hospital. Had to stop b/fing him initially as he was nil by mouth, but the dietician did say it was fine to b/f him as long as I eliminated dairy. In the end, it turned out he had several allergies, and he went onto Neocate.

Am surprised the paediatrician didn't order tests and/or wait until the results of those came back before putting him onto Neocate.

simpson · 03/05/2011 22:23

especially as neocate is so pricey.

I had a real battle to get it for my DD Hmm

Original poster
FlingonTheValiant · 04/05/2011 11:36

ilove the paediatrician said that at DS's age the tests aren't much use. So as he seems to have it (based on doing a dairy challenge) they just accept that is the case for now. They want me to do another dairy challenge in 9 months, and then they'll do tests.

OP posts:
lizzytee · 05/05/2011 13:33

This might also be of interest - note the care pathway on p14 which makes specifies, dietary advice to the mother of the breastfed baby NOT prescription of specialist formula.

I agree that this is strange advice

harverina · 05/05/2011 16:08

Hi op,

My dd was diagnosed as being allergic to milk and eggs at 6 months and was prescribed neocate too. The consultant did not tell me to stop bf but was trying to encourage me to use neocate. My dd is now 13 months old and the neocate had never been opened!

I continued to bf (and still am) and used calcium enriched oatly for sauces, cooking, porridge etc.

My consultant told me not to cut out dairy which I was a bit confused about but told me to avoid it in large quantities - I had been doing this anyway as I had spotted a link between my dairy intake and my dd's sickness when she was 8 weeks. We were advised not to give my dd soya milk up until age 1 but that it was ok to give her soya yogurts etc which we did. I was prescribed calcium supplements.

We make sure my dd gets lots of calcium through veg too.

Now that my dd is 13 months its a little easier as she drinks soya milk from a cup, but is still bf morning and night.

Hth...I'm on my phone so sorry if its a hit jumbled. The allergy section is great for tips too. I posted a similar thread on there too when my dd was first seen by the consultant and everyone advised me to just keep bf'ing.

Original poster
FlingonTheValiant · 05/05/2011 21:59

Thanks lizzy, that is interesting. Apparently my consultant has never seen it Hmm

harverina - thanks for the advice. Glad to hear you've got it sorted for your DD :) I've recently swapped to oatly after I read that I shouldn't use rice milk for DS as there's an arsenic concern Confused

I was told not to give DS any soya for now, because they're not sure he won't have an issue with soya as well.

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 05/05/2011 22:03

I guess he was thinking that if you'd like to stop at 12 months then you would need to get your son used to taking neocate before then

However, I'd have thought that he would recommend breastfeeding instead for as long as possible,

thisisyesterday · 05/05/2011 22:04

they won't order tests generally if it's an intolerance as it can't be tested for. if they suspected an allergy then he'd have had allergy testing i imagine

mamacheeks · 06/05/2011 15:21

We're in a very similar position. DS 12 months this week and we diagnosed cmpi ourselves at 9 wks through elimination diet. Thankfully have access to brilliant paed due to DS being in NICU. He has supported us and sent us to paed dietician but now that I am back at work full-time both are encouraging us to give neocate. I would rather breasted and i don't really understand the push for neocate. At the moment he gets one scoop on porridge and we've had some success adding a couple of scoops to some ebm. DS also reacts to soya, egg and some nuts through my breastmilk so we were sent for Rast tests last week to see if anything shows up.

I did ask why it was necessary to give neocate as i'm willing to bresdtfeed for as long as necessary. The concern was around me returning to work and whether I would be able to express enough. Also, that neocate is a more rounded source of nutrients than oatmilk, so we should try to introduce it young. My personal thoughts are around getting pregnant again. Although i'm happy to keep feeding, my milk supply is likely to diminish and DS might need another source if calcium. This is a really reassuring thread for us though as I would much rather breasted so thank you everyone!

narmada · 06/05/2011 16:51

I don't think my milk supply diminished straight away when I got pregnant mama - it was more like about 4-5 months in, and by then I was trying to wean DD off as my nips were really sore!

mamacheeks · 07/05/2011 11:11

Thanks narmada. DS eats like a horse, so if he keeps that up I should be able to squeeze some calcium into him from other sources! Good luck Flingon!

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