An Update on Formula Feeding

Remember last weekend? We started Sam on a strictly formula diet trying to figure out if that was going to help with her puke and fussiness.

I am completely amazed at how this week went. I cannot believe the difference in my child's temperament. She smiles- ALL THE TIME. She pukes almost never. There are days where she can wear the same bib for three feedings. It used to be three bibs to one feeding, plus at least two outfits.

I think she has gained half a pound in the last six days. Her cheeks are chubbing up and so are the rolls in her diaper. She had some chubs before but it is just so much more noticeable. In just six days.

I have mixed feelings. I am so happy that we have unlocked the key to finding our real baby. I am saddened that breastfeeding is over. I wish I had known much earlier how upset her tummy really was because breastfeeding was sometimes hard and maybe we both could have been spared some of the rough spots. My sister said that to think of all the benefits Sam did get from breastfeeding, for example she never once got sick during the first four months. (Of course, she has been on formula for a week and she is getting sick- has been up all night with volumes of snot).

I know that breastfeeding was the right thing for Sam. She was a preemie. She needed the extra protection that I could give her but still, I am sad that she is apparently lactose intolerant and I continued to put her through that.

That's not to say that formula has been without it's challenges either though. When she is hungry she wants it NOW. Not in the two minutes that it takes you to pour water in a bottle and mix up the formula. We had to give up warming it up for her within the first day because literally she could not wait the extra two or three minutes for it to get warm. And it's ok that she doesn't have to take it warm because if we ever have to feed her on the go I don't have to worry about heating it.

She has also gone from eating 4.5 ounces of breastmilk every three hours to eating 6.6 ounces of formula every three hours. That change happened within the first 24 hours as well. I kept fearing that if we gave her more than the 4.5 ounces she would puke it all up but it seems that not only was she lactose intolerant but we were likely starving her because we thought giving her more than 4.5 ounces of breastmilk was too much and was the cause of the puke. Like I said, I am feeling pretty bad about having put Sam through all of that.

One thing I don't understand is that she has actually added a feeding back into the night. We used to nurse at 7 or 7:30 and then she could sleep (albeit restlessly) until 5am. Not anymore. She eats a full 6.6 ounces with a scoop of rice cereal in the bottle at 7 or 7:30 and then wakes (numerous times) and eats somewhere between 1-3am. It's been rough. But she eats another 6.6 ounces in the middle of the night and still eats her first feeding of the morning so I have to assume that she really does need the food.

We have a follow up appointment with our pediatrician on Monday and I look forward to talking with him about all of these things. I'll post what he says in case you have a burning desire to know.

Comments

[Megan]

I too had a similar ezperience with Abbie - when I fianlly gave up nursing because she just wasn't getting it - I pumped and mixed half and half in a bottle. She stated sleeping through the night for me. Then - we I ran out of breast milk - and she went to 100% formula - she started getting up again! We too were feeding at 7. Here was my trick that worked:

Feed bottle at 7 - let her play or sleep - what ever she prefers. But - they wake her at 10 or 10:30 for another bottle. Get as much as you can down her and she would then go till 7! We then did the same schedule for Brady and it worked amazing! I would even go to bed after the 7 feeding - say around 8 or 8:30 and then Tim would do the 10 feeding so I could get a tad bit of extra sleep!

Just a thought - worth a try!!!! Hang in there!!

[Mrs M]

Jenn - Sam was probably sleping through due top exhaustion from puking, but also if she is intollerant to the breastmilk, she was getting some relief in her tummy and was probably most comfortable. I think they call the 10pm feed the 'ghost' feed as you can ofetn lift them from their cot, give the feed and put them back without them truly waking up.
Hang in there and I am so happy that Sam and Mummy are happy. Despite the problems Sam has had, breastfeeding if the best start you could have given her - imagine her having to deal with lots of new formulas until you stumbled upon the right one. Also you have not only lined her digestive tract, you have given her antibodies which will take her right through until her immunisations are complete at 12 months - priceless!

[Kami]

Poor mommy and baby girl. Now you know what it is and that is wonderful! I'm sorry you had to go through that! Hopefully this is the thing she needs and stars to feel better. Good luck honey!