Do I need to give nutramigen?

[CinnamonSwirl31]

First of all, I know I should have asked the gp when I was there, but I didn't, so hoping someone here can help me out. My dd is 6 months and was EBF until I stated weaning her a week or so ago. I discovered she had a cows milk allergy so have cut out anything with cows milk from her diet. As the reaction was bad, I went to the gp for advice.

However, after confirming it was a cows milk allergy, he merely said it would probably go and then gave me a prescription for nutramigen. I didn't know what it was and just sort of took it without asking. I've now discovered its formula and am a bit confused about why he gave it to me. He didn't ask if I intended to continue breastfeeding (I do, at least for the time being) so I'm not sure whether he intends it to replace breast milk, or whether I need to give it to my daughter as well as breast milk, as a substitute for cows milk. Does anyone have an idea about this? Would she be ok without cows milk in her diet for the moment? I'm not against formula I just hadn't planned to stop breastfeeding.

Thanks.

No need for it whilst you bf, tastes horrid so if you plan to stop before 12 months the earlier you intro the better accepted but easiest way forward is bf to 12 months( or more).

Carry on BFing as much as you want alongside introducing food. Breast milk is by far the best thing she can have. She certainly doesn't need formula or other milk if you are still predominantly breastfeeding.

Some HCPs will suggest using Nutramigen in cooking but it tastes absolutely foul! If you can express I'd use EMB to mix with porridge etc.

If your DD does need formula, SMA HA is also for the management of cow's milk allergy. It tastes and smells like regular formula and is so much more pleasant for everyone. It's not on prescription (you have to buy it) but the pharmacy can order it in for you.

Cross post with Vacc! Yep, it's pretty foul...

I discovered DS was allergic to cows milk when he was 6 months old. I breastfed him until he was 2 rather than give formula. I used oat milk to cook with and in cereal.

Thanks vacillating so presumably if I stop breastfeeding at 12 months I'll have to find a cows milk substitute rather than use nutramigen?

As long as you remove all traces of dairy from your diet (even biscuits) then you should be more than fine to carry on breastfeeding your LO.

Personally however I would recommend you introduce one bottle a day and see how he gets on. This is so that when you stop breastfeeding or need to go to work, you'll have the best alternative available to give him and he will take it.

Cinnamon, yes, at 12 months you'll probably have to the option to give koko milk or oat milk, but nutritiously nutramigen would be ALOT better. This is why I would recommend you introduce just one bottle a day, so that when you want to switch over, it'll be possibly and a much smoother ride.

Milk substitutes such as oat milk etc aren't nutritionally adequate enough for under 2s as a main drink so if you stop breastfeeding at 12 months they will recommend hypoallergenic formula as a main drink which is why vacillating is recommending you start getting your DC used to formula now. It's also the reason I breastfed until DS was 2, as he wouldn't take formula.

It's easier post twelve months, alternatives include flavoured and sweetened milks... Not as horrendous nutritionally as they sound:) certainly more palatable.

You could just keep bf, prob feels odd from where you are now but might seem fine when you get there...

Thanks, I want to stop when I'm back at work when she's 1 though. Oh well I'm sure I'll work something out

Cinnamon I went back to work when DS was 1. I just bf in the morning, after picking him up and before bedtime. He drank some oat milk during the day at nursery. It worked out fine.

My DS has the same issue with cows milk and has been on nutramigen for a year. Our dietician has advised us to switch to a combination of Alpro 1+ soya milk and a liquid multivitamin. Other milks (oat, rice, regular soya) don't have enough nutirituon. However a lot of CMPI kids have issues with soya too so introduce very carefully if you think this may be possible. We have been swapping nutramigen for alpro literally a tablespoon at a time.

Good luck OP

'Enough value nutritionally' I should have written!

If your LO has not reacted to CMP via breast milk and only when you introduced dairy directly there is no need to alter your own diet. My DS would not entertain hypoallergenic formula and when I tried it I could see why, it is vile. I BF until he was 2, used calcium supplemented oat milk for cereal etc. Between 1 and 2 he had liquid calcium and vitamin supplements as he was only bf morning and night. Oat, almond,coconut milks don't have enough fat or protein to be a cows milk substitute but if they get enough elsewhere in the diet may be ok. As mentioned up thread you can get soya follow on formula but 50% of cmpi children also react to soya? I'd introduce soya,peas and legumes with caution. It's worth asking for referral to a paed dietician, we saw ours every 6 months until he outgrew his intolerances at 2.5-3.

I just noticed the last responses, thanks everyone. I'm hoping she'll grow out of the allergy but in the meantime I'll keep breastfeeding and sounds like there are a few options longer term.