BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Food Allergies => Topic started by: ~Emma~ on June 13, 2011, 08:17:39 am
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DD been on neocate now for well over a week. The last 3 nights we have had horrendous NW (last night 1-5am). Sha has a skin flare on her tum and is so itchy. There has been no dairy in her diet whatsoever.
I am feeling so low. I dont even know if dairy is the issue here but something is for sure.
I just thought that things might not get any better for a while on the neocate but I wasn't expecting them to get worse. Could she be uncomfortable because of the formula?
Something is bothering this girl and I need to find out what it is.
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*hugs* Emma!
DS gets a flare when teething or unwell, so it may not be her diet. Sometimes it can be made worse by clothing, nappy, or wriggling around on his tummy, or if he gets too hot.
Eczema is a pain to deal with :(
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Sorry things haven't settled down yet. It can take up to a month for the dairy to completely leave and things to start to heal so hang in there. xxx
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It can take a while. We did not see any improvement until James had been on neocate for just over 2 weeks. That was not including the time it took to wean James onto the neocate. I hope things improve soon.
Kelly x
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The amount of neocate she is taking has drastically reduced. At first she was taking ok feeds of about 5-6 oz and over the last few days I can get 2oz on no problem then maybe another oz if i fight her on it. Yesterday her intake of formula was 11oz :o
This morning after going without a feed for 12 hours she only had 2oz on waking.
I have succumbed to using hydrocortisone for the last 3 days as her skin is that bad atm. No new patches but incredibly itchy for her, this tends to be the precursor to the patches of eczema showing up. I have to bathe her with socks on her hands. :'(
On the upside we have had 2 good nights in a row, she has woken but self settled. It never lasts though.
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It might be worth having a word with the person who prescribed the neocate to ask their advice on it. When James gets a bad eczema flare his food intake does go down dramatically and did as a baby so your dd's eczema could be related to it. I know a lot of people on www.kidswithfoodalergies.org sweetened their lo's neocate with a bit of sugar until the amount they drank increased then they slowly weaned it. It could be an option, I know its not great but if its only short term then it will not be too bad. It may give you the chance to complete the dairy free trial so that you will know if dairy is a problem or not.
Kelly x
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I spoke to the dietician yesterday and she said I should just up her solids if she wants it. It just doesn't sit right with me though that she is taking so little milk. She said that she's heading towards that year mark anyways where milk becomes less important. Thats all well and good but she is only 8 months old and milk should surely be her main source if nutrition at this point?
I was thinking of sweetening it it tbh but I worry about the end of the dairy trial and if it comes back not a dairy intolerance then I can get any milk into her as she's used to the sweet taste kwim?
Ugh, I just dont know what to do. I feel like I have no support irl. The dietician said she'd call me and she never so I called her with an update. I'm finding it all pretty hard going especially as she's barely eating atm. She only had 2 small spoonfulls of porridge for breakfast this morning. So unlike her to not love her solids. I guess I worry more as its my job!
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Would your dd take a dream feed? I know when my ds was flared and not taking in a lot of neocate or solids this was a way to get extra in. James would always take more neocate this way as a baby than if he was awake. I know this is not ideal either but it might be worth a go. I can completely understand why you don't want to sweeten the neocate. Does your dd like bananas? If so you could flavour the neocate with banana and that could be another way to get extra fruit in if she is not eating solids well at the minute either.
Kelly x
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OK, so I fed her this morning and she only took an oz. I added half a teaspoon of sugar and she then drank 5 more!!! It just feels wrong adding sugar to her milk. What do you think?
How do I go about flavouring it with banana? She loves banana!
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I puree fruit in with the neocate - melon, pear, banana, etc - just mix up the neocate, add the fruit and blend it. Sorry things aren't going smoothly. You WILL get there and we are all here to hold your hand. I would just keep phoning the dietician with any questions - yes, she may be busy, but her job is to support you and your family!
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I puree fruit in with the neocate - melon, pear, banana, etc - just mix up the neocate, add the fruit and blend it.
DO you give it as a dessert thingy after a meal then?
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I am so glad yoiur dd drank an extra 5oz, but I know what you mean about the sugar. I would blend it into the neocate just like you would do if making a smoothie or milkshake.
Kelly
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It does not need to be given as a desert, but you could if wanted. It should be fine in a bottle as log as you don't put to much banana in otherwise it may go too thick.
Kelly
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Not a dessert, just like a watery smoothie. Was thinking, adding sugar probably isn't that bad as adding fruit is still adding sugar, albeit fruit sugars (but suppose without the fruit goodness). You can also freeze the smothie and make it into an ice lolly, or use the neocate in baking (Murray loved the pancakes I made with them but the smell made me ill!!)
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Can't you get flavourings for milks these days? I am sure Liz got some when Megan started on formula.
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PS Have you posted in the bottle feeding board? I am not sure how much formula they should be taking at that age. FWIW my 10 month old nephew is only taking bottles at night at the mo!
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I think the amount of Formula should be between 18 and 24 ounces per day. You can also add a couple of punches to her Slids when she will actually start eating them again. Have you been to see the GP about an antihistamine ton help her with the itching?
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Well as quick as the skin flared it has gone back down again I'm pleased to say. Tonight I lathered her in emollient and it looks so much better than it has been the last few days. Her sleep has improved too. For now anyways....
Its about 20oz thats the recommended amount at this age which is why I am so anxious about how little she's taking. Today however she took 19oz but I did sweeten it. I'll do the banana thing tomorrow.
Neocate do flavouring for the formula but y'know what? I know this sounds awful but I dont have the battle in me to get it kwim? My HV and GP are total PITA, the dietician is great so I suppose I should speak to her and get her to request the HV write a script for it?
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Emma, I think that the dietician would have to prescribe it through the GP anyway. Even Olly's bread had to come through her first!
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Murray's dietician wrote to his doctor and asked him for the neocate prescription
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If the banana works the that would be great. To be honest from everything I have read the flavour packets are not that great. e did not try them so can't comment personally. When they tried to move James from neocate advance to neocate active they gave us the one that was blackcurrant flavoured and he hated it. I don't blame him to be honest as it smelt like blackcurrant dioralyte (sp?). I hope your dd drinks plenty of neocate tomorrow.
Hugs Kelly x
PS if your dd takes the neocate sweetened with a little sugar and not the banana I would not worry about it to much as you can always gradually wean the sugar. This way at least she is getting the nutrients she needs.
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I'm going to try the banana first. Do you think I'll need to put a bigger teat on the bottle?
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I would definitely try the banana first. I am not sure if you will need to put a bigger teat on the bottle or not. I guess it will depend how much thicker the banana makes the neocate. If you have bigger eats then you could try the normal one but have the bigger teat to hand just in case you need it.
Kelly x
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would she manage to drink through a straw? it may be a bit thick to drink through a bottle but you could always sieve it first
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I guess it depends how much banana you use. As long as its blitzed well it should have no lumps.
Have you tried it yet Emma?
Kelly x
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Or use a sippy cup??
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The banana milk was a disaster. I made it up and it wont go through a no 2 teat. The no 3 and the variflow are just too fast (bearing in mind she os used to the breast it must feel REALLY fast!) She's not even the sort of bub I can get used to a fast flow, she just refuses to drink it. Absolutely refuses. I sieved it but still no dice. Tried it in a sippy but nope, she only likes water from a sippy. Wondering if I should invest in a straw cup....
I had to resort back to the sugar. Ugh, it feels so wrong but today she took 2 full bottles, the first full bottles in 2 weeks.
Upside! ;D I was popping her emollient on tonight and OMG all her patches have just cleared up super quick. 2 days ago she was getting new patches (i have a feeling that was either strawberries or blueberries that did that though...tried blueberries again today so we'll see...). Its just gone. For the first time sice she was a teeny tiny bub she has almost clear skin. I cant believe it. ;D
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Strawberries are a really common problem food. Great to hear her skin is improving though :) I think adding a bit of sugar is fine as she is getting all the nutrients from the formula - so many kids her age get lots of sugar in cakes, etc and the jars of desserts often have sugar added to them!
I would try a straw or straw cup or doidy cup - just see what she prefers ....
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At the ed of the day Emma at least she is drinking the neocate and getting the nutrients she needs, you can always wean the sugar slowly over time.
It might be worth trying a straw cup to see if she will take the banana milk that way.
I am so glad glad your dd's skin is so much better, that is fantastic news ;)
Kelly x