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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

SMA gold, Actimal or Cow and Gate?

21 replies

Taffi · 31/05/2007 22:05

I am currently trying to re-establish my milk supply by nursing and pumping as I wish to breastfeed more than once a day. I exclusively breastfed for 3 months but then decided to formula feed for some of the day. I chose to feed my babs SMA gold but I was browsing the internet today and various articles have put me off SMA. They do not put pre-biotics in their milk (these are present in breastmilk)and they were also fined for advertising incorrectly on their products and also targeting 3rd world countries. I am tempted to move onto Actimal or Cow and Gate, has anyone heard this before?

OP posts:
NikkiBFG · 31/05/2007 22:07

I used SMA and it gave DS really bad wind and constipation. Aptamil is brilliant imo and has prebiotics etc - have heard similar stories from other friends with lo's re SMA also.

Personal choice at end of day though

lyrabelacqua · 31/05/2007 22:13

I supplemented with Aptamil too. Great stuff.
I think you'll find Actimel is an adult yoghurt drink

teafortwoandtwofortea · 31/05/2007 22:13

Basically, they're all much the same. We used Farleys, it's generally the cheapest and doesn't have a reputation for causing digestive problems like sma and C&G. The 'pre-biotics' thing is a gimmick, ignore it - your breast milk is providing the best things possible and your baby is receiving at least one dose a day more than a wholly FF baby - better than nothing IMO!

Good luck with your supply!

nally · 31/05/2007 22:15

used farleys for dd1 and ds. both loved it. no probs. changed to aptamil for dd2 on advice from hv. no probs as well. only ever heard bad things about sma.

hotchocscot · 31/05/2007 22:30

we started with sma but ds had terrible wind (an hour screaming after every feed), changed to cow & gate comfort and he was like a different baby within about three days, hardly any wind at all. Just wish i'd known earlier - hv said they are all the same and it wouldn't make any difference and the wind was just something to put up with

QueenofBleach · 31/05/2007 22:40

Same as hotchocscot, DD really constipated on SMA moved to Cow and Gate and was a different baby.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 31/05/2007 22:44

Taffi - if you are concerned with ethics - they are all as bad as each other!

WRT to other stuff - some add in prebiotics, but, there is no real evidence that these make any difference. If your DD is happy with SMA then you may as well stick with it. None have more benefit over the other, they simply have some variation in ingredient derivatives that cause constipation (casein for eg)

Re-establishing your milk supply is tough going but it CAN be done. B/feed as often as you can - the more you feed the more milk is produced. Good luck

Twinklemegan · 31/05/2007 22:46

Aptamil is very pricey and pretty much the same as (or identical to?) Cow and Gate. But I think the most important thing with formula is NOT to chop and change but find one and stick with it.

Original poster
Taffi · 31/05/2007 23:26

Oops, Aptamil!!!!!!!! not Actimel!!!
She does suffer from constipation so providing the Aptamil suits her I will stick to it.
One other thing, using my breast pump for long periods is meant to help with lactation, does this work even if only a little milk is coming out? I just sat for an hour and only got a drop out but I am hoping that by continuing for a week I will be able to produce more.
Cheers for all the advice gals!

OP posts:
mears · 31/05/2007 23:34

Taffi - if you want tore-eastablich mil supply encourage you baby to suck at the braest and express at least 8 times a day to stimulate supply.

What SMA has in ethri milk product, other companies do not and vice-versa. This is th eproblem that they all claim to contain nutrients that others do not. One is not better than the other. None is close to breast milk at the end of the day, but they will all suffice.

mears · 31/05/2007 23:35

Sorry about typos

VeniVidiVickiQV · 31/05/2007 23:35

Mears - i didnt realise you spoke German

mears · 31/05/2007 23:37
Grin
tiktok · 31/05/2007 23:39

No reason to stick to one brand - why not chop and change if you want to? If the baby is happy, of course, too.

If there are minute differences between brands then this way you increase the chances of the baby getting more of whatever benefits tey claim

Twinklemegan · 31/05/2007 23:40

I thought it was because the baby's gut gets used to a particular formulation and it can get "out of balance" otherwise (or something). Or is that another marketing myth I've fallen for?

mears · 31/05/2007 23:40

I would say so

Twinklemegan · 31/05/2007 23:43
Blush
VeniVidiVickiQV · 31/05/2007 23:51

Sucker

Twinklemegan · 31/05/2007 23:52

Believe anything me (except that formula is the same as breastmilk).

VeniVidiVickiQV · 31/05/2007 23:53

Dont tell me you think it is better ??

Twinklemegan · 31/05/2007 23:54

God yes, all those lurvely scientific sounding ingredients. The scientists must know better what human babies need, don't you think?

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