Perfect Prep causing projectile vomiting

[AM88]

Hi all,
My LO (nearly 12 weeks) is breastfed, but has one bottle of formula a day and had been having this for about 3 weeks. She has it at the same time each day (evening). She's happily taken Cow & Gate it Aptamil, both premixed bottles of formula. We bought a Perfect Prep as we figured it would make it easy for us to use powder formula instead as the bottles of premixed were getting expensive and we plan on increasing the formula feeds once weaning in the future.
BUT, we gave her a bottle from the machine yesterday and today, and both times she's been horrifically, violently sick. Last night she vomited up the entire feed about 10 minutes after finishing it. It was absolutely horrendous, pouring out of her, wretching and spluttering like I've never seen before. I thought it might've just been the weather and that she guzzled too much/too quick. But she did the same this evening halfway through her bottle. She's never done this with a bottle of premixed formula or from a breastfeed.
Has anyone else had the same problem? No idea if it's the machine or the powder formula or something else? The formula seems thicker than premix.. is this normal?
Her sick was pure liquid milk pouring out of her, but then when a bit more came up a few minutes later it was really thick and sticky.
Thanks in advance

Have you tried making up a bottle without the machine, to check whether it is the powder, which causes the issue?
Which formula are you using? As far as I know, you aren't really meant to switch formulas too quickly.
We used to use Hipp Organic until DS was 15 weeks and decided from one day to the other that bottles aren't good enough anymore. He's still breastfed now at 18 months (in addition to other food, obviously).

I literally only thought about that this evening- don't think we've made a powder bottle without the machine. Going to try that tomorrow to see if it's the powder or the machine causing the problem. We've been using Cow & Gate, though she's had Aptamil a few times (when we were out and desperate and that was the only option!)
I'm just totally baffled as to why ready mixed goes down fine but powdered doesn't.. I presumed they had the same ingredients in them, so was assuming the machine was the problem. But maybe they're not exactly the same?!

Yes this happened to us with pfb we used HIPP HUNGRY INFANT MILK we found less powder was the key eg 4oz is supposed to be four scoops we used three but tbh until he was about 7 months we found the ready made ones were better for him to tolerate.

Oh and I'm sure you are but make sure you time the bottles ie don't use it after two hours.

The readymade ones are much smoother. The ones you make up yourself are more rustic, if that makes sense. Even if you shake the hell out of it, it won't be as mixed as the premade. I agree with reducing the amount of powder and building it back up to the recommended levels. I doubt if it's the machine.

I read that Readymade formula is a lot kinder on their stomachs than the powdered stuff. I switched my daughter over slowly with a mixture of both. She never had any issues when we started using the perfect prep machine fully instead of the readymade stuff.

I wondered if the machine was dispensing the wrong amount of water or something, but maybe it is just as simple as the powder bottles not being as smooth. Think I was wanting to blame the machine as I was feeling guilty in case I'd done something wrong, IYKWIM? Interesting to know others have made up their bottles using less powder. I'll definitely give that a try too. I'm hoping I can work out what the problem is and there will hopefully be a simply remedy as the cost of the ready mixed bottles soon stacks up!
Thank you for your suggestions and advice... fingers crossed it goes better tomorrow. For LO's sake, and for the sake of our poor vomit-covered sofa!

Did you buy the machine new or second hand? I used perfect prep and had no problems but I have heard that if the machine hasn't been used in a while some mould can grow in the pipes. If you have owned it from new and used it regularly then it's probably not that.

Also, how long have you had the powder open? I'm guessing if you are just making one bottle a day it's taking a while to get through a box of powder. I think they are only supposed to kept open for 28 days.

My DS was mixed fed cow and gate reflux powder and ready made aptamil and never had an issue adjusting between them but the change in formula could have upset her stomach maybe.

It's a nee machine, only bought this week. And the formula is new too as we've been giving her ready mixed up until this week too! It seems like it'll be a case of trying different methods (less powder in the bottle; making one up the 'old fashioned way' etc) and then possibly trying other brands. Process of elimination should hopefully help me work out what the problem is. I think you're right that it's unlikely to be the machine that's causing the problem... think I just wanted something to vent my confusion and upset at!

I would check the dispensing is working right. My first was ff (but we made bottles by hand - it’s super easy if you just want to do that btw, no need for a machine). But in my experience the bottles from powder definitely aren’t as thick as the premade stuff. So if you found the milk to be really thick that might mean the proportions are somehow off.

My DS is 3 weeks old and I had been giving him a couple of bottles a day of HiPP Organic, we started on the premade bottles and switched over to the powder in a few days with the kettle - wasn’t a problem.

Then we got the perfect prep and he seemed to have the most awful stomach ache, crying and straining for days on end. When he finally managed to poo, it seemed painful and explosive! I had reintroduced more breastfeeding (my milk hadn’t come in properly after c section early on) and at the time thought it could be that too... but now I’ve switched him back to premade for a few days and powder with kettle and he’s going regularly again. So the perfect prep made bottles really didn’t seem to sit well with him...

You should read the instructions to make sure you’ve set it up properly. It needs to dispense the right amount of water - too thick a formula milk causes consipation and tummy problems.

When I was mixed feeding my son used to only be able to take ready made, powdered sat too heavy on him and he would bring it up. I have found a lot of it is to do with the temperature of the milk, he likes it virtually stone cold! He's now just formula fed and after a lot of feeding issues with powdered and a few weeks on comfort I have found the only powdered ordinary one he will keep down is hipp organic. It may be trial and error to see what she likes, as I do believe the ready mixed is completely different despite what some say. I also found when i was mixed feeding that he will guzzle formula the same as breastmilk but it's a lot heavier so doesn't sit right on them. I dont know about the perfect prep, I didn't invest in one because I have read so much bad stuff about them which outweighs the good. I have also noticed a lot of them being sold on Facebook that have 'only been used a few times' or for a couple of weeks but don't know if that means anything. Hope you find a solution soon.

Probably not related, but my DD had a CMPA - cows milk allergy, that I didnt realise for months.

As free says, it’s definitely worth being aware of CMPA, even if it’s only to rule it out.

And as a PP said, you defintely need to throw any remaining formula away 28 days after opening. There are some pretty nasty bacteria that can grow in the powder.

I’ve seen a couple of threads about Cow & Gate and stomach issues this week. It might be worth trying a different brand, but not Aptamil as they’re made in the same factory

My HV said she had a few babies who were having perfect prep milk and we're getting really ill, so she suggested their parents go back to making formula the proper way and that resolved the issue for whatever reason 🤷‍♀️ you might be adding too much powder if the perfect prep dispenses in ounces but the formula is one scoop per 30ml. Ultimately it doesn't make formula up according to the instructions so there's scope for things to go wrong.

Not sure if you've seen this:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-hampshire-44772252/aptamil-investigating-baby-milk-formula-complaints

It seems like aptamil have changed their formula and it is causing babies to be sick. They also own cow and gate so not sure if their formula has been affected too.

I did see that and changed my LO onto Aldi Mamia formula and she's been fine since being on that. I did make another bottle of the C&G powder after the projectile vomiting incidents and she actually seemed ok, but I had the Aldi powder recommended so decided to change to be on the safe aide. She's actually had some other tummy issues the last couple of days and saw the doctor for some tests today. So there's a chance it was all coincidence and actually she's had a bug, and the powder/machine might not have had anything to do with it. Either that or the powder caused the problems, but not sure if that's the case or not given she had a few days of being ok before being poorly again. So hard to know!
Thank you all for your tips, advice and comments though