Babble

I am a 21 year old new mommy of a beautiful baby girl who is now 6 and 1/2 weeks old, my husband and I are pulling are hair out trying to find a formula that works for our baby girl. I tryed breastfeeding but I unfortunatley developed a infection in my c-section and the antibiotics they put me on dryed up my milk, so now were in a formula nightmare. We first put her on Similac milk based but that gave her diarrhea, next was enfamil prosobee which didnt agree with her and wic doesnt cover so they changed her to Similac Isomil but she crys and screams as if she were in pain and that made her vomit projectile every time we gave it to her. So once again were on a new formula Similac Lactose free but she still is very fussy Crys all the time I just dont know what to do. The doctors say she has colic and to buy Mylicon so we have since we brought her home from the hospital but it doesnt seem to work HELP US SOMEONE we just want her to feel better and we dont know what to do Sincerely Concerned 1st time Parents

Awwww, poor baby!  If it's colic, there might not be anything you can really do for her until it passes, and that sucks, but that's colic.

From what you say, it seems like milk-based formulas are messing with her, so maybe try a soy formula?  My Jillian is dairy-sensitive so we have her on Nestle Good Start Soy and that is working extremely well.  In fact, we have had very little problem with gas and projectile vomiting since we started using it.

 I would also talk to someone at the hospital or the La Leche League who can talk to you about maybe re-starting your milk and trying to breastfeed again.  It's possible to do this, and might be the solution you're looking for.  Plus, breastfeeding is way cheaper than formula!!

 I'm sorry your little girl is all fussy.  Just remember that it will pass eventually and that she can't help it!   If you find yourself reaching the end of your rope, reach out to someone for help!

I also planned to breastfeed and then needed to take meds that prevented me from doing so.  I had lots of luck with the enfamil gentlease.  Like the previous poster said, if it's colic, it's colic, but I did not notice that Mylicon drops helped my son very much and the gentlease did the trick.  It is partially broken down so it is easier to digest.  I think Target has a generic version that is less costly as well. 

Good luck and hang in there- my son is almost seven months now and it seems like the sleepless nights and fussiness were soo long ago- it will end!!

 

Kat

My son was colicky for his first 3 months even though during that time he was exclusively breastfed (he actually weaned himself... weird, huh?) during that time. I am a first time mom and let me tell you how horrible I felt... so I know your pain. Definitely try the suggestions above, but if nothing is working and you are just looking to sooth your baby, I would try the happiest baby on the block book. The 5 S's really helped us. The other thing that seemed to quiet my son was a swing that swung sideways. I know it sounds silly, but apparently it feels like being in the womb when we're walking. Who knew? Regardless, best of luck and remember... this too shall pass!

My DD had bad reactions to Soy and milk based so we switched her to Similac Allimentum. It made her feel better in less than 24 hours. But it is super expensive. HTH =)

 Amen to the expense of Alimentum, but my son has to have it, too. I bf and supplement with formula, so I've removed all dairy from my diet, but even when I have a little dairy, the Alimentum helps clear up his problems more quickly than if I just bf. But I think the doctor really needs to prescribe it. And WIC will cover it, if you have that prescription (you have to have a 6-month time-frame on the prescription, too, just an FYI).

 And watch out for the poop - the proteins are so small, it affects the size of the particles coming out - makes it kind of runny. There will be no blockages with this poo.
 

    When my now 7 month old was born we had the same problem.  I was unable to breastfeed due to the medication I am on.  We tried Similac, nestle good start, and various others.  Finally we tried Nutramigen.  Which is a hypoallergenic formula much like Similac Alimentum.  However for 5 months she would SCREAM everytime you would try to feed her.  We still to this day don't know what caused it...because she would be fine at any other time of the day.  She technically doesn't even have a milk allergy.  Honestly what I found out and helped was to be patient.  I was so tense trying to feed her and making sure she ate "enough" that she could sense it and react to it.  I decided to settle down and take things slow.  she would and still takes about 45 minutes to finish 7-8 ounces of formula.  She will let you know when she is full.  And if she only takes in a couple of ounces that is all she needs.  As long as she is gaining weight she will be ok.  She just might need to feed more often which is what happened with my baby.  But now she eats like a pig and has recently started on eating all kinds of solids.  All because I took a time out, settled down and let her take charge.

   In regards to WIC.  I use WIC to get my Nutramigen (which is extremely expensive and no way I could afford on my own).  WIC normally only provides for Similac Your Pediatrician can write up a prescription for WIC so you can receive specialized formula if she has milk allergy so you can get the specialized formula that you need.  Tell your Ped what you need and call WIC with any questions that you might have.  But my daughter's Pediatrician was more than happy to do that for my husband and I and said that he does it all the time.

   I hope this helps

Jessie

1st time mommy to 7 month old Jordan

Didn't read all the posts. I'm also formula feeding, since I have extensive pervasive eczema and my topical meds were not recommended with bf. We started on Enfamil Lipil, and that caused our DS a lot of gas. We switched to Enfamil Lipil Gentlease and he's had no problems ever since. It's been at least 4 months since we made the switch. Good luck! Hope you figure out the solution soon.

Have you thought about changing bottles?  We had all kinds of problems with formulas and horrible gas with our son when he was a newborn.  My bestfriend told me about Dr. Brown's Natural Flow bottles made by Handicraft http://www.handi-craft.com/  (found them at Target and many online resources). 

Within a day of using the new bottles he was a happy camper and downright pig.  They take a little more time to clean because they have a special design that doesn't allow them to suck in any air.  I swear by them.

 The bottles can definitely make a difference- I am breastfeeding now but when we brought our daughter home from the hospital we had been giving her formula and she was miserable, screaming all night, etc. It made a big difference when we poured the formula out of the unvented hospital bottles into bottles by Born Free and also Adiri Nursers. Then my milk came in and I ended up breastfeeding so that's the extent of my formula experience, but I can tell you the wrong bottle or nipple can be everything- if the baby is getting too much air it can give them terrible gas. Good luck!!

It sounds very similar to the symptoms our baby was having. Ours turned out to be acid reflux. A switch to similac soy based and a prescription for infant zantac did the trick.

 hi new mom this is baby number 2 for me and the first one was super easy i read what you wrote and i am having the same problems with my son who is now 12 weeks and we are on formula number 6 try and stay away from anything with the added omega 3 6 and 9. i found enfamil lactose free is working the best i also give him water i know the health nurses say not too my doctor said if its working keep it up. If he is very gassy or constipated i add half a teaspoon  of brown sugar to 3 or 4 ounces of water seems to do yhe trick. Good luck and i promise it will get better. Faye