Formula

[loopybear]

Went to clinic to talk to HV about changing formula, I should have known better and posted on here instead.

DD is having very firm poohs and screams when trying to pooh. (pooh everyday) We use SMA gold because when BF went pear shapped birth centre gave DH SMA gold, we were so unprepared for FF that I hadn't researched about FF. A friend suggested I swap to Aptimil. I spoke to HV and she said I shouldn't swap I should give DD cooled boiled water, I tried that on my Mum's advice but DD spits it back. Does anyone have any advice on this?

Oh and HV said I shouldn't make bottles up I should put the water in the bottles, heat it up when I need and then add formula is that right, I've been making up bottles morning and night have I been doing it wrong.

ok I found sma gold made ds very constipated too, and there is NO reason why you shouldn't switch formula.
It is possible for ff babies to get dehydrated though which can also cause constipation which is probably why the HV said to give water.

you can make botled up either way. I used to just put water in the bottles and then add formula and give them room temperature because it was easier. But there is no harm in making them all up in the morning and heating when you need them

bottles - Boil water last thing at night, leave to cool in kettle, pour water into bottles and add formula, shake and store in fridge for next day and heat when needed. Never heard of your hv way of doing bottles, my friends have done it the same as me!
You don't say how old lo is, I would try a few sips of cold boiled water in a bottle. Or what I did is to add a bit more water to the bottle of formula, not much say just under an ounce.(not adding anymore powder iykwim)
Sounds like constipation to me, try a different formula milk.

How old is DD loopybear?

I have had babies get firm motions when using SMA and personally i would swap to Aptamil or Cow&Gate.

Babies sometimes take water if it is warmed.

The current thinking is to only make up a bottle when it is needed tho a couple of yrs ago it was fine to make up a batch of milk/bottles and use them over 24hr period, new yr new thing , i tend to sterilise bottles and then add the correct amount of water and seal them, storing them away from heat and sunlight and then adding the powder as they are needed, i don't warm the water just give it at room temp, much easier when out and about that way.

Guidance on making up bottles is here which is the official, safe, way.

I don't understand your HV's way of making up the bottles - doesn't meet the safety rules.

The guidance says you have to make formula fresh each time, with water that has cooled from boiling. If you want to do stuff in advance, you can keep the water in a sealed flask (ah - maybe that's what your HV meant) and add formula afterwards.

She's 6 weeks old. She only cries when she's hungry but screams when trying to pooh. I usually make up the bottles I'll need for the night and then make ones up for day in the morning.

Loopybear, you have just described exactly what happens to my baby boy - we are also using SMA gold and also asked advise from HV about changing - our little one always seems preoccupied with pooing, even if he doesn't actually go on that particular day. The HV said don't change as constipation could get worse and give dilluted prune juice in between feeds - can't say this helped make him more regular or eased his effort.
The advise on making up bottles has changed in the last twelve months due to some scientists finding a bacteria developing in the milk in premade up bottles in the fridge. The up to date advise is to keep cooled boiled water in the fridge and make the feeds up as they go.
We actually keep sterile bottles in the fridge, and mix the powder with boiling water and then cool down under the cold tap - otherwise the SMA powder does not dissolve properly causing residue to block the teat and gives our baby a very bad tummy - since we have done it this way, his tummy is easier but he still makes a song and dance about going!

Ds was quite constipated after a couple of weeks on SMA gold, so we changed to Aptamil and started giving water before each feed. Don't know which one of these worked, but things changed fairly quickly. We also noticed that he was screaming and getting really distressed when he strained to do a poo and eventually decided that, rather than let him strain and get upset, we would lift him and soothe him so that he stopped straining and relaxed. We figured that it would come out eventually, and now he doesn't get upset, just grunts and turns red when he's doing one. Also, it only happens every couple of days, which must be normal for him.