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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Nan-ha Nestle baby Formula??

31 replies

carbooty · 13/06/2009 08:49

Hi everyone,

Reposting on here as suggested some of you may have some info.

I went to the allergy show today and managed to speak to a lady (Dietician) from the BDA (British Dieticians Association) about what formula to feed my baby due in 4 weeks.

Just to recap, my first DD had a cows milk allergy until she was one, but I BF until then. This baby will have to have a formula sadly from the get go (due to preventative mastectomy), and I was not sure it is correct or the right thing to expose the baby right away.

So anyway the Dietician lady recommended I use Nan-ha, which I have never heard of, and haven't found any posts about it either. Have any of you had any experience of it??

I am due to see a local Dietician at 38 wks, Just hope baby doesn't come early

We don't know if baby #2 will have milk allergy until exposed, it is not a given.

It has been suggested that baby #2 will have a high chance of being allergic, due to DD1's cows milk allergy, and me being atopic?

The Nan-ha milk is partially hydrolysed and sounds like a good half way house, as it is affordable too. If baby still reacts then I can have Nutramagen on prescription. But have never heard of this milk, or partially hydrolysed??

I would like to get something sorted as time is running out, and I need to have something to feed my baby. Hopefully I will get past 38 weeks, and have seen the dietician and will have an answer before I give birth.

Allergies are such a mine field, and still so little is understood it is very frustrating. My DD1 although doesn't react to much these days (thank god), she reacts to really obscure things, with a rash round her mouth crying her throat hurts, so I give her Piriton. She has never seen anyone about it, but I may pursue this soon as she starts nursery in Sept.

Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 13/06/2009 09:09

If the formula isn't easily available in the UK, then it's not much use to you, surely?

MadamAnt · 13/06/2009 09:12

Is their any possibility you can obtain donor breastmilk?

CantSleepWontSleep · 13/06/2009 09:14

I didn't think Nestle did formula in the UK.

Sorry to hear about the need for a mastectomy straight away. Is it a double mastectomy, or would you still be able to feed from the other breast?

If not possible, then I would just go straight for nutramigen, which is also a partially hydrolysed formula I believe. Or normal formula if she isn't intolerant of course.

Original poster
carbooty · 13/06/2009 09:34

I can buy Nan-ha over the counter, it costs £10 for a full size tin. The cheapest Nutramigen is £28 for the same quantity. At the moment I have no clue how much a baby drinks, I am assuming a tin a week?? Which will make it very expensive to buy Nutramigen. I believe Nutramigen is fully hydrolysed? Which would make it a safer bet.

I did look into milk banking, but would feel wrong taking it away from very sick or prem babies, so haven't persued it. Also trying to be practical, I would need quite a lot of milk on a regular basis. So didn't think this was a realistic option either.

It was a double mastectomy, so defo not an option. I really hope people don't judge me not BF a tiny baby, not everyone can. Already when I talk about bottle feeding, I always get asked why I won't be BF!! It isn't always easy explaining to a complete stranger why I can't

OP posts:
foxytocin · 13/06/2009 09:39

sorry but where was this allergy show?

tiktok · 13/06/2009 09:42

carbooty - google Nan Ha before you make a decision. There have been concerns about its claims in the UK and in the US. Then you can share this with the local dietitian.

I hope you get some good info and that things work out.

Original poster
carbooty · 13/06/2009 09:43

It was in London, Kensington Olympia. I think it may still be on over the weekend?

It is the Allergy & Gluten free show. Some usefull stands!

OP posts:
Original poster
carbooty · 13/06/2009 09:47

Thanks Tiktok,

I did google last night, but found very little info other than questioning the legality of using the word HA Hypo allergenic in the title. I understand it is not allergy risk free. Surprised that there isn't already a thread on here about Nan-ha!!

OP posts:
NoTart · 13/06/2009 09:54

Carbooty, just wanted to wish you luck with finind the right formula. My DD1 used it for a while with no problems, I´m also interested to know what TikTok has heard about it..

NanHa is availaable for sale routinely in many European countries, I had presumed it just has another name in the UK, I´m a bit concerned now that it´s not so readily available..

foxytocin · 13/06/2009 09:56

my disclaimer: IM limited E, dietitians are not always the well informed about the risks associated with formula feeding. 2 of them who I have met mother to mother remarked to me that formula these days were so much closer to BM which made me go and think .

I also met one professionally as my dd1 is egg and cow's milk allergic and she didn't seem clued up about breastfeeding either. these are all in the UK.

is your mastectomy so urgently needed that it cannot wait for, possibly, 26 weeks after you give birth so that your baby can receive your bm? you said it was 'preventative' mastectomy?

my family also has a strong predisposition for breast cancer and one of the known effects of breast feeding is that it the longer a mother breastfeeds the lower her risk of developing the disease and that it also protects her child from developing breast cancer when she or he grows up (men can develop it too).

here is my real scepticism. I am wondering whose agenda it is serving for promoting a formula in the UK which is not even available on the market here as far as I am aware.

Original poster
carbooty · 13/06/2009 10:07

Hi Foxy,

I already have had my mastectomy, I had it done a year after the age my sister was diagnosed.

There is also alot of evidence showing if you have a predisposition (faulty gene) you are at an increased risk for the first couple of years after giving birth. My sister found hers whilst BF. There are some good websites you can have a look at if you want any more info. Anyway we decided that even though we wanted more children, it would be better to choose to remove my risk first. Stupidly Thought I would have more help with the milk issue, if needed.

I don't believe you can just pick it of the shelves as it is partially hydrolysed, like Nutramigen.

OP posts:
Babieseverywhere · 13/06/2009 10:12

OP, Glad you found this board

Where abouts are you in the country ? You might find a local mother willing to supply you with donor milk, if you were interested in this route. I have heard of people asking in the local papers etc ?

foxytocin, I was talking to the OP on another thread she has already had her double mastectomy last year, so breastfeeding is definately not an option for the new baby.

foxytocin · 13/06/2009 10:13

oh you had it already. sorry to hear that.

i am shocked to hear a dietitian is promoting a formula which is not even available in the UK. i am also saddened but not shocked to hear you are not getting support on your concerns about feeding your baby. do you know if the hospital where you are receiving antenatal care has an infant feeding advisor?

Babieseverywhere · 13/06/2009 10:13

Sorry x-post with you carbooty.

NoTart · 13/06/2009 10:16

CArbooty, what is significant about being "partially hydrolysed"? I´m a little concerned as my DH did just pick this formula of the shelf quite a few years ago now, randomly, as he just remembered allergies run in my family.. So it´s what me dd had..

Original poster
carbooty · 13/06/2009 10:24

I am no expert but believe extensively hydrolysed has most of the things babies can react to removed, and partially means some of them.

I wouldn't worry about using it, if it worked for your family and your dd thrived it was fine. I do think what formula you use is mostly choice.

OP posts:
mears · 13/06/2009 10:25

Carbooty - my sister has one allergic child but 3 others who are not.

Would it not be best to try baby with 'normal' formula and see what happens? I would speak to an infacnt feeding advisor at your hospital first (it will have one). There are downsides to hypoallergenic formulas but it is necessary if baby is allergic, but I would have thought best to only use if needed.

tiktok · 13/06/2009 10:27

carbooty - there are new international guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cows milk protein allergy. If you or your HV or someone else can get hold of a copy of the Journal of Family Health Care, Vol 18, issue 1 (it's just last year) to find the article called
"New guidelines for managing cow's milk allergy in infants" I think it wd help. It discusses hypoallergenic formula.

I don't know if Nan-HA is available in the UK or not - it's certainly not visible on shelves, but speciality formulas never are. It might be something your doc can prescribe for you.

It might also be possible to get donor milk as suggested here.

tiktok · 13/06/2009 10:30

'hydrolysed' means the proteins in the milk are processed and broken down, which supposedly makes them easier for an allergic baby to cope with them - at least that's what I understand. I don't think anything is removed or added, but I could be wrong.

tiktok · 13/06/2009 10:31

Here's a link that explains hydrolised:

www.whey-protein.com/faqs.htm

NoTart · 13/06/2009 11:15

Thank you TikTok and CarBooty!

primigravida · 13/06/2009 11:27

Personally, I would try an organic formula like Hipp Organic which is readily available and one of the cheapest on the market and would supplement it with donor breast-milk if available and then see if there is an allergy problem. Anecdotally, I have known organic products to help with allergies, and these formulas don't have the controversial additives that other formulas have added to them. Also I would avoid Nestle products if at all possible due to their dodgy ethics.
Good luck, sorry you are in a difficult position of wanting to breastfeed but being physically unable it must be a very frustrating situation with a DD1 having a cow milk allergy.

AcademicMum · 14/06/2009 00:30

Hi Carbooty. Personally, I'd try Pepti which is extensively hydrolysed and (I think) the cheapest of the extensively hydrolysed ones. Your GP maybe reticent about prescribing due to cost, but a bit of foot-stamping and acting the hormonal pregnant woman can help in this respect. You have a good case for getting a prescripton as your new baby has a 1st degree relative with an allery, but unfortunately the medical profession in general don't take allergies seriously . (At the risk of sounding like a hyserical mother, iirc I got prescribed hypoallergenic formula after mentioning the works "negligence" and "complaint" to my HV. Its amazing how fast they can move sometimes )

AcademicMum · 14/06/2009 00:31

'Scuse all the spelling mistakes.

elkiedee · 14/06/2009 10:58

Your feeding dilemma sounds like a really hard one and I know nothing about hypoallergenic formula. I can't comment on the suitability of this one but I am a bit concerned about the reliability of the woman at the allergy show you went to. As a qualified dietitian she's presumably a member of the BDA, a professional association, but was she there as an employee/rep of that organisation, as a freelance dietitian (I nearly put "independent" but perhaps she could be freelance/self-employed and receive payment from one or more companies for recommending their products, so I chose another word) or she could be employed by Nestle....

I hope the local dietitian you're seeing is NHS or genuinely independent if private and that baby doesn't arrive before you get to see her/him.