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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Will I be reported if I refused to put Callum on formula??

321 replies

sparklygothkat · 22/11/2007 16:31

The SCBU nurse just phoned me and said that if Callum hasn't gained weight in 2 weeks, I have to put him onto formula. Apparently the consultant has said this.
I have 30 bottles of high engery formula here which I still haven't given to him (am supposed to topup with 30ml once a day via the feeding tube) but I really really don't want him to have formula...
If we refuse, will be reported to SS for not doing the right thing??

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 22/11/2007 16:33

I don't know, SGK. Have you spoken to the HCPs who were supportive of you bfing? I thought Callum had gained weight with the tube in place?

Buda · 22/11/2007 16:34

Can I just ask why you are so against giving him formula?

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 22/11/2007 16:35

he does, but scbu nurse said its not enough (gains 5oz, has to be 6oz!!!!) I am so stressed!!

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 22/11/2007 16:35

Because she wants to breastfeed, Buda.

meemar · 22/11/2007 16:35

So sorry for you and your awful dilemma. I don't have an answer, but can I ask - what have they said is the likely outcome of him not having the formula? Is his life likely to be in danger from the lack of weight gain?

Could you give it until he has sufficient weight gain then stop?

hunkermunker · 22/11/2007 16:36

Can you ask why it has to be 6oz and where the research is to back that up? Ask to see a copy of the protocol that states that.

Make them do the legwork here.

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 22/11/2007 16:36

because I want to bf, have bfed all my other children, and he does gain with the tube and EBM but apparently its not enough

OP posts:
Original poster
sparklygothkat · 22/11/2007 16:38

also because he was prem. breastmilk is the best thing, he was given formula in SCBU until my milk came in, and he was so sick on it

OP posts:
hippipotami · 22/11/2007 16:39

What are the longterm implications if you don't top up with formula? Will his development suffer?

If not, then of course carry on as you are, but I have to say that if it was my baby I would be more concerned about his failure to gain weight then about weather he had bm or fm.

hippipotami · 22/11/2007 16:40

Ah, crossposted, the formula made him sick? All types of formula?
Will you be able to bf and just top up with formula, or do they want you to completely stop the bf?

Buda · 22/11/2007 16:41

I did sort of guess it was because you wanted to bf - just curious as to why you are so against formula.

You have done really well so far.

Are top-ups poss?

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 22/11/2007 16:41

they want me to stop BF fully, and go onto formula if he hasn't gain enough weight (by their standards)

OP posts:
Buda · 22/11/2007 16:42

Ah - OK - didn't realise he was sick on it.

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 22/11/2007 16:43

he is still having topsup of EBM down the tube, and he does gain weight when we do that, when the tube is removed he doesn't gain weight.

OP posts:
Judy1234 · 22/11/2007 16:44

Legally? If you refuse I suppose like any child protection measure they can get a court order requiring him to be fed just as a jehovah's witness parent once the child is born I think can be forced to allow the child to have blood. In other words adults get the right to damage or kill themselves but we're not allowed to do it to our children.

Now will they really go as far as that? I doubt it. Call their bluff. May be find or hire your own pro breastfeeding neo natal doctor or even better find someone to give you some more breastmilk if you can't increase your own supply.

Is it that you don't have enough milk for him to put on weight or is it that even if you had double what he needed it isn't working for him to thrive because he is very very little or something like that.

Also worth calling LLL, ABM and NCT who may have research material on this stuff and experts they can put you in touch with to help you.

hippipotami · 22/11/2007 16:45

oh sparkly, what a nightmare. I don't know what to suggest. Can you seek another opinion from another consultant?

crokky · 22/11/2007 16:45

Is the high energy formula different to normal formula? ie are the doctors thinking of it as a medicine rather than a "food"? I sympathise with you as I know that plenty of people with term babies who gain fairly slowly are advised to top up with formula when this is probably not the "right" thing to do. However, in your case, it might be worth considering medicinally as it were.

NAB3littlemonkeys · 22/11/2007 16:45

Go with what you feel is best for your baby. He is your child, you have done this before and I am sure you will do what is best for him.

Original poster
sparklygothkat · 22/11/2007 16:47

my milk supply is fine, he doesn't take enough, which is why we topup.

OP posts:
Lazycow · 22/11/2007 16:50

Surely if you top him up via the tube with EBM and he gains weight then the weight gain vs not weight gain has nothing to do with formula vs breast milk and more to do with the way he is being fed.

I thibnk to argue that 5oz is not enough and he needs to gain 6oz in a particular week is pretty odd - as hunker says where is the evidence that it has to be 6oz not 5oz

How is he feeding at the moment, does he feed at the breast or is it just via a bottle as well as by tube?

NineUnlikelyTales · 22/11/2007 16:51

Get support from your local BF organisation. They will support you in this and will have seen your situation before I'm sure.

As to 6oz being acceptable but not 5oz, in my personal opinion (no medical knowledge whatsoever) your consultant is wanting to be in charge. I agree with hunker re asking to see the research on this.

Columbia · 22/11/2007 16:52

Sparkly, would they be able to give him EBM more in hospital? It just seems so wrong to give him formula when you have enough BM>

Is the high energy stuff more concentrated then? I guess if it makes him sick, it will be more damaging than him being 1oz under their arbitrary limit

big hugs girl

Pollyanna · 22/11/2007 17:07

I would take advice from someone else I think, other than the scbu nurse and the consultant. If it is only 1oz then I can't see why they are putting so much pressure on you, but I am not a doctor.

I am extremely pro-breastfeeding - have bf all of mine for over a year each time, but I think that in these circumstances, and if another specialist (whether a bfc or a doctor)said that I ought to, unless I was really confident that the weight gain (albeit slow) was sufficient and the baby was healthy, I would top up with formula and continue to bf the rest of the time. Presumably once he has gained weight you could revert to bfg the whole time?

yomellamoHelly · 22/11/2007 17:20

I got told this over my ds1's failure to weight-bear and my unwillingness to subject him to lots of tests. They never followed through and ds1 did it in his own time a year and a bit later.

CarGirl · 22/11/2007 17:24

the fact that he was so sick on formula I would also ask them to test for dairy & lactose intolerance before you agree to him having it again (will waste their time if anything!) If it makes him throw up how is it going to help him gain weight!