I'm breast and formula feeding my 6 week old son. We switched last week from Similac advance to Similac Sensitive due to gas. Now he is in pain when passing gas and is constipated. Should I switch back or give it some more time?
I never had luck with Similac - either formula. DS just didn't do well on it.
So we switched to Enfamil and had no problems at all. I saw an immediate change in him.
I just wanted to add that constipation and gassiness could also be signs of food allergies or food intolerance.
Updated
i would advise you to switch to organic formula or just breastfeed at least the first 5 months. Here's why: 1) Recent studies published in Washington Post showed a definite link between chemical and pesticides in food ingredients to ADHD. and 2) I just watched a PBS documentary on food and there was a story of a woman who had a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to a taco shell. Turns out the taco shell used corn - but corn from genetically-altered seeds. News got out and it was learned that companies were using these ingredients but by law did not have to label them. I 'm a relatively new mom and I've seen my friends, family, neices, etc. deal with this - their babies rejecting the formula - yet still givign it to them and in time, they reason, the baby gets "used" to it. But after seeing this show, I immediately thought of my neice's baby who is reacting similar way to your child to a formula. My thinking is that signs of spitting up, constipation and gassiness could be signs of food allergies or food intolerance. After all, if the babies body's are rejecting the formula - by having these symptoms - then why push it?? The PBS show pointed out that most large food companies in the US use these gentically-engineered ingredients in their products - including formulas. Get this: Europe actually won't allow them and stated that they are watching to see how these ingredients affect our children! I say go organic and listen to your child's body -- it is telling you there is a food intolerance or allergy. Organic may have an allergic reaction to (although to a REAL food product vs. genetically-engineered one) I say give it a shot.
I had the same problems with Similac too. The sensitive didn't do any better, I think it just caused the problem to be worse. Enfamil also caused my little ones constipation too. We finally had luck with Goodstart. You might want to also try some Little Tummies gas drops in his formula. I also have a friend that had constipation and gas problems with her daughter which her pediatrician advised her to give an 1 oz of 1/2 pear juice and 1/2 water.
I found that the mixed liquid formulas caused less gas for my son. Are you using the powder?
breastfed babies have a hard time digesting formula. talk to a lactation consultant to get more advice. if you have to do formula - carnation is really the best and easiest protien to digest and the protien is closest to proteins in breast milk.
I agree that if you can exclusively breastfeed, your son may do better digestively. Also, I used to switch back and forth between nursing and formula feeding my daughter and she would get very gassy. I learned that babies develop good bacteria in their gastrointestinal tract but when you keep switching back and forth when they are that little, it can disrupt the process, given that their systems are very sensitive.
If you're able to, keep nursing - and if you think you are not producing enough milk because he still seems hungry, keep switching sides. That's his way of increasing your milk supply for his future growth spurts. I didn't understand that phenomenon which is why I supplemented my daughter w/ formula. I didn't make the same mistake with my son and I admit, it seemed as if he lived on my boobs for the first 8 weeks! It finally evened out after that and then he had more regular feedings. No gas issues with him at all! Good luck!
Go as close to 100% breastfeeding as you can. If you have issues with pumping or something, there is tons of help out there. Laleche league, lactation consultants. Formula is yucky.
its most likely the formula in general that is giving him the gas and constipation. I am assuming that you are supplementing due to a perceived supply issue. Start to build back up your supply by eliminating one feeding a day of formula and getting baby to your breast, the more he stimulates your breast the more milk you will produce. Call a La Leche League leader to help out or a Lactation Consultant at the hospital you delivered at. also there are some hospitals that have breast feeding groups where other moms can give you the tips that worked for them. good luck!
You might check the iron content and compare it to the other formulas you find on the shelf at the grocery store. Then check to see what iron content your doctor or the American Pediatric Assoc. recommends. All babies are different, it could be that yours just needs less.
