FF advice. Got the Docs at 4 so need a speedy reply please guys

[Louboo2245]

Bit of background first. DD has always been formula fed (due meds that I take) and we have always had problems with her digestive system from day one (Makes me feel guilty no end) it started with constipation at week 1 for which she was given lactulose, and no advice of how to use it. Used it for 4 days and it worked but then the HV said to stop using it and go back to the doctors, so I did.

The doctor has then said it is colic not constipation and to start using infacol to help reduce it. Anyways a week later she is still grumpy and still having problems pooing. Roughly once every 48 hours, and is very uncomfortable up to 6 hours before a poo and won't be put down etc, so on HV advice we switch to comfort milk.
The comfort milk had and effect on her bowels as in it no longer caused her discomfort but has turned her poo dark green. She is still grumpy but I put this down to natural demeanour.

Anyway at her weigh in at 10 weeks (last Weds) I mention all this to the HV and she says she will talk to the dietician who is only on a Friday and ring me to let me know.

So she rang on Friday and says the Dietician said to go to the doctors and ask them to prescribe Aptilmil Pepti 1 and see if that makes a difference. So I do so, unfortunately DD was with her nana at the time and the Docs refused to prescribe it without seeing DD and told me to come back today.

I have the feeling that the Docs don't want to prescribe it, and I'm feeling antsy about what I should say to them and also what to do if they refuse to prescribe it.

DD is healthy in every other way other than this

All advice is welcome.

Call the Aptamil helpline?

I think it's fair enough for the docs to want to see your dd - Pepti 1 is a specialist formula, meant primarily for babies with clear cows milk allergy, and it's part of professional care to be sure something prescribed is suitable. The dietitian should be writing to the doctor with the reasons for this recommendation and the reasons for the diagnosis.

She hasn't been long on the comfort milk - the doc may want to suggest trying this a bit longer.

Hope things get sorted and your dd starts to be more comfortable.

Sorry to hear that you are having a bad time - and please don't feel guilty about anything. Your a feeding your baby a perfectly safe milk.

Not sure what the Pepti is - is it dairy free? If it is then her symptoms don't sound like a dairy intollerence (DS2 had it and had runny nappies and was sick). However, unless you have a really sympathetic doc, I have found most GP's to be utterly unsupportive and tend to put everything down to 'colic'. With DS2, I went a bought a tin of Nutramigen (partly dairy free) and it made no difference. So I then bought a tin of Neocate (synthetically made, so no traces of dairy) and his symptoms stopped in the first 24 hrs. I then went to the doc and he prescribed it as he couldn't argue with what I was saying! A lot of doctors don't like to pescribe as it is expensive - Neocate is £30 a tin and lasted only 3 days...

Out of interest, how does she take the bottle? Is she easy to feed?

I can understand GP not wanting to prescribe if child not present, GP may want to examine child . So I don't think any issue there.

Explain fully to GP what you have said in your post. If he refuses ask GP to speak with HV or vice versa.

I am sure if GP wan't going to prescribe it at all he would have mentioned it initally without wasting another appointment to tell you whist baby on knee.

Hope all goes well.

I can understand not wanting to prescribe while babe is not present. I'm not holding that against them.

DD has been on comfort milk for 5 weeks, as I said it made some difference, but then introduced the problem of having dark green runny poo. The cow and gate comfort milk it low in lactose so just don't know if that's the problem.

Anyway we shall go to the Docs and see. Thanks peeps :)

Hi Louboo, a maternity nurse recommended I try DS2 on pepti - I was also concerned that the doc would not want to prescribe it. DS2 was not fading away, no rashes etc, but was super unsettled, and really constipated. He'd also been diagnosed as colic - even though he just screamed constantly, not at specific times of day.

I presented a very straightforward case to the doc - calmly saying that I just needed to try pepti to eliminate the possibility that there was some reaction to lactose / protein strains in formula. I was well aware that my son was not showing signs of a major allergy, but he was showing signs of major discomfort - and I as his mum was best placed to recognise this and I was not content to let it run its course.

They agreed to prescribe pepti and it's made a huge difference - constipation went within 24 hours, and my grumpy baby was transformed! Really hope you get a good outcome at the doctors.

Louboo, what were the later problems pooing?

If it was 'unsettled and wanting to be held' but poo was soft, could it just be normal behaviour for your DD?

The Comfort milk makes poo green cos it's got potato starch in.

From what you've said, it doesn't seem appropriate to give your DD specialist milk (which tastes foul) because she's grumpy - especially if you think that's just her personality.

ps it's normal for formula fed babies to be a bit constipated at 7 days old it usually passes. Perhaps try First stage milk again?

hi The Doctor has referred me to the paediatrician, as he didn't think the HV or dieticians opinion was worth much.
He also said he COULDN"T prescribe Aptimil Pepti??? I found that strange but anyway.
She is going to see the paediatrician for tests. We'll just have to hang on in there.

At the end of the day, I have told the HV all this and I am following advice. I don't want my daughter to have a lactose intolerance but neither do I want to leave it just in case there is a problem and she is in discomfort.

I think thats a good result .

Good luck.