Formula for weight gain and reflux

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DS is breatfed, 18 weeks but loosing weight due to reflux (I think). Health visitor has said I can try supplementing with formula. Can anyone recommend one?

I tried asking health visitor, they aren't allowed to recommend, so I tried asking the formula companies direct but they aren't allowed to recommend one either!! It's driving me crazy!

Firstly I recommend seeing a breastfeeding councillor. Secondly, I can recommend NannyCare goats milk formula available from Waitrose and Sainsbury's

Thank you - do you mind me asking why you would recommend it?

All cows milk formulas are fundamentally the same by law.
Pick whichever one your local shop has in stock.
If baby is not then gaining weight on standard formula, you need to see a GP. Please don't use goats milk without medical indication.

Formulas are so tightly regulated that there is very little difference between them.

Is your lo on medication for reflux?

Thank you. He is on medication which stops the pain but he still brings up sick. Have added gaviscon in. He's seen GP and all they can do is make paediatric referral but that's in 10 weeks time (!) and I'd like to do as much as I can while we are waiting.

He is hapoy, alert and developing well otherwise

My DD is 18 weeks and has silent reflux. Doctor prescribed gaviscon infant. For Ebf babies you mix into a paste and give it to them and formula fed babies it goes into the milk. Sorted her out completely but makes her poos really firm

I can't see how adding in formula will help to be honest. She'll still have reflux so will still be bringing up milk it will just smell worse.
I'd definitely see a breast feeding counsellor to advise you on what you can add to your diet or exclude to help the reflux.

Thank you

Am guessing the anti reflux formula isn't brilliant then?

It's harder to digest and causes constipation.

Have you seen a doctor about the reflux? It could be due to milk allergy?

Thanks will keep on with breast feeding for now then and see how we go

GP prescribed reflux meds

If you do decide to supplement with formula, Hipp organic is good for refluxy babies. It's really gentle.

The NannyCare is an approved infant formula. I'm not advocating raw unpasteurised goats milk although I know some people swear by it. All cows milk formula is essentially the same as pp has said but personally I think the NannyCare is closer to human milk, it certainly smells and tastes more like it.

www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Nanny-Care-First-Infant-Milk-Goat-Milk-Based/21900011?from=search&tags=%7C20000&param=nanny+care&parentContainer=SEARCHnanny+care

Thank you, will look into nannycare and hipp next week after breastfeed clinic

Take a look at the reviews on that link too!

I did good to know

What meds is your lo on? Are they actually losing weight or dropping down the %?

Actually loosing weight (not loads but from 13 to 16 weeks lost a couple of ounces rather than gained or maintained and last week lost 4 ounces)?

He's on rantitadine (and gaviscon as of a few days ago)

You need to go back to your GP and tell them he is loosing weight. 10weeks is too long to wait for paeds in these circumstances.
Consider cutting dairy and soy out of your diet as cmpi often links with severe reflux.

Goats milk is too similar to cows milk in terms of the protein so won't help IF cows milk protein allergy is the problem

10 weeks seems like a long referral for a baby who is losing weight? When you get a copy of the referral letter you can ring and try and badger then for a early date. Maybe even try PALS to see if they can help.

Have you tried just going to bed and with your baby and feeding, feeding and feeding?

If gaviscon is not helping then I don't see how formula would help. Reflux milk is just a thicker version of normal formula but Gaviscon makes everything much thicker anyway.

The GP knows, the paediatric department know, the health visitor knows. To be honest neither GP nor 3 health visitors I've spoken to are overly concerned and say this is common with reflux babies (and he is on 45th centile so not tiny I guess) it's just he's my boy and I want to help him

I've just found several high calorie formulas online. Going to see if GP will prescribe one