Ups and downs
Babyice has a problem where he spits up. Very often. I chatted to the pediatrician’s assistant about it on Skype and she spoke to the doctor. After answering a few questions, they suggested we try and limit Babyice’s formula intake to 750ml per day and feed him more solids. I thought this was going to be very hard since he is used to having a bottle whenever he pleases. It went better than I thought it would, but we’re still having some issues.
He still spits up, but only his milk. He doesn’t vomit or spit up solids at all. Perhaps the milk is disagreeing with him? Discussing this with the pediatrician as well since they requested feedback. Also, we’ve now changed him over to Lactogen 2 (he was previously on Lactogen 1) and this milk is horrible. I pre-make his bottles and keep them in the fridge. At night when we go to bed we put a bottle in the bottle warmer for his night feed and should he require a feed in the middle of the night, his bottle is ready and waiting. We never had any problem doing this with the Lactogen 1. We have found now with the Lactogen 2 that his bottle has completely curdled by the time he needs his next feed. It smells sour and has gone lumpy. WTF?! The bottle warmer keeps the formula at a constant temperature of 40 degrees. Why does it go “off”? Granted it does stay in the bottle warmer for quite some time…but we never ever had a problem with the previous formula. I understand that the formula is different as it is stage 2 formula, but surely stage 2 formula doesn’t mean it must be impractical? It just doesn’t make sense for me to have to make a bottle (potentially in the middle of the night)…leaving him crying, waiting for it. I also can’t put a bottle from the fridge into the warmer as it will take 20 minutes to get warm…this will take longer than making the bottle from scratch and Babyice will be screaming his lungs out and be fully awake by then. I’ve mentioned this to the pediatrician. They’re considering another type of formula and will get back to me later today.
The other thing that is bothering me is that he is urinating considerably less. We bath him and put him to bed around 7/8pm and the next morning at 6/7am it looks as if he has only urinated once or twice. Before it used to be very full and would probably leak if not changed immediately. I realize he will urinate less now that he is drinking less, but surely one or two during 12 hours is a little? He seems happy, isn’t crying more than usual, cries tears and is still drooling (all signs to look out for in “What to expect the first year”). I’m trying to get him to drink purity juice/rooibos tea to up his liquid intake, but that isn’t going very well at the moment. I have raised this issue with the pediatrician also.
There is good news though! Babyice seems to be sleeping through! For the last 3 days he has slept till 6/7am. The night before that till 4am. I might have been too hasty to give him a feed that night. Sometimes he does get restless and wake up, but after being given his dummy he goes back to sleep without even being picked up. I, on the other hand, wake up regardless of whether or not he is sleeping. I’m so used to getting up for him that I can’t help but wake up. Hopefully we’ll both adjust now so that I also get some decent, unbroken sleep.
Any moms out there have some advice for the other problems?
P.S. My pediatrician is a lot of awesome. His receptionist is available on Skype all day during office hours and I can chat with her from home, free of charge. She asks the doctor should she not be able to answer your questions. She’s going to print out my discussion with her this morning to show to the doctor so he knows exactly what we spoke about. She mentioned something about Losec formula, but is going to discuss it with him first. Anyone know if it’s expensive?
Thinking of you. Truth is, I went through four types of formula in the first couple of months, before Cam settled down into something that didn’t upset her tummy or suchlike. Thinking of you and stay strong xxx
try a non-dairy formula – like a soy-based one. Isomil is excellent – never once did it curdle on me, even if left out of the fridge, in summer, in durban.
Losec is a pill you “crush” sort of, mix with water and give to them – it’s like Gaviscon for babas. And yes, it’s expensive. We had Bear on it. He was also on Pelargon [Nan] – it’s for lactose intolerance, relfux etc. It’s already broken down, so they burp easier, and puke less. It’s vile, and bitter, but worked a charm. We then moved him to Isomil – WHAT a difference. Much less puking. Much happier baba. And, as it turns out, one of the cheaper formulas
It is soy based – some moms don’t like giving soya to their babas. I was at the “whatever is going to work” stage…..it worked. So when on the Isomil, we didn’t need the Losec – TG.
I do wish I had an answer for you – I’m sure someone will!!!!
Big hugs
Hello darling, you mustn’t leave the bottle in the bottle warmer! It is not good at all. In fact, they say that the milk should be thrown away after an hour of being out of the fridge, never mind warmed up. What you should do is buy those containers especially for formula. Make up the formula into the appropriate amount and then put the dry formula into the container. If you like, you can put the cool boiled water into the bottle in the bottle warmer so that the water is warm (not hot) and then you must pop the already measured formula into the warm water, shake and serve.
The spitting up could be a bit of reflux. There are things you can buy to thicken the milk up a bit, but hopefully as he matures he will spit up less. The new thinking is that paeds are moving away from soy due to the high GM content of soy.
You could try another formula, but perhaps ask the chemist or well baby nurse for the thickening agent that you can add to his formula.
The lack of weeing thing is a little worrying, but i am not sure what is normal. Have you asked the paed? Please don’t be scared to ask a million questions, that is what they are paid for. If you are worried, take him to the doctor or well baby nurse. I have a really good well baby nurse in Durbanville if you need a recommendation
xx
A tip for what we did with Boobah:
Instead of actually making the formula in the bottles before you go to bed, just boil the water as per normal and put that in the bottles. Get one of those formula dispensing units (http://www.sp-africa.com/pigeon_baby_products/index.php?itemID=39&itemTitle=Powder_Milk_Containers_-_Crystal) and measure out the required amount of formula powder for each bottle. Now you can still keep the bottle of water in the bottle warmer, and when it comes to feeding time, just add the pre-measured powder to the water, shake it up and serve
This will help with the time saving and prevent the milk from curdling…
I was also going to suggest Isomil, like ExMi did. When Jack initially went off the boob because of the new pregnancy, I started feeding him Isomil. Is good, high-protein stuff and good for lactose intolerant babies – has your paed ruled out lactose intolerance?
strongs my friend – regarding the milk curdling not too sure of the answer but then again when i did bottles i would measure the amt of formula out into those formula container things (not sure what they called but i know u get the snookums one and avent one) then always had the water already measured in the bottles so just had to throw the formula in. otherwise maybe try a soya milk formula or maybe its a bit of reflux.
CONGRATS on the sleeping through i remember when caitlyn started sleeping through i would still wake up just to make sure she was still asleep holding thumbs that it continues!
oh and you are very lucky u have such an awesome paed
@ExMi & MeeA: He has not ruled out lactose intolerance. He doesn’t vomit ALL his food out and it doesn’t seem to be affecting his growth at all. Mentioned Isomil to the assistant and she said it is only to be used in a very specific case, but she’ll ask him.
@Tertia: Thanks for the comment. Might take you up on the offer for the well nurse. Will follow the advice from you and boobahsmom about the dispenser!
@boobahsmom: I cannot believe I didn’t think of this. Already have the dispenser!
@cath: Might just have to do the same thing…trial and error. My pediatrician doesn’t seem to be a fan of changing milks…but we’ll see what he says.
What I usually have done (not having a bottle warmer), is to warm my child’s bottle which I pre-made it and placed in the fridge, in the microwave for 30-40 seconds, testing it then on my wrists. This way my baby did not wait for his/her bottle for longer than 40 seconds. Maybe you can try this with the Lactogen 2.
One last thing, like ExMi says, the soy-based formula’s I also used on my second child and those does not curdle.
We were told by the nurse at the clinic not to heat up formula in the microwave (or make it with boiling water) as it breaks down the proteins in the milk.
I do not have much advice on formulas, but I do love the allergy testing clinic – maybe have a look if it is not lactose.
I also want to warn against soya for boys – apparently a natural estrogen and should not be give to boys .
Just curious, since its been such a long time since I did anything remotely linked to babyfeeding… does he drink anything else when he’s awake?
I’m trying to get him to drink rooibos tea/purity juice. He isn’t taking it at the moment. It’s an uphill battle.
You have had most of the advice already. I concur with putting water in the bottle in the bottle warmer and just adding the formula when he wakes. It’s not a good idea to keep formula in a bottle or to warm it in the micro.
It sounds to me like he has reflux. My friends kid had this. It subsides with Soy milk (I used Infasoy) and with the thickening agent. But it will disappear completely when he is older and no longer needing to be bottle fed.
This is all very daunting but ask your paed any questions you have – that is what they are paid for.
xxx
[...] would like to thank all the moms that replied to my post “Ups and downs“. I have followed their advice and now only put the bottle with the water into the bottle [...]