Some questions so I can get a better idea on where things are at.
- Is your LO still medicated for her reflux? NO, we tried both zantac and prevacid and both made her symptoms unbearable. She was horrible on the medications, she wouldn't eat, she curled her legs up in pain, screamed when she was eating, etc. The doctors didn't believe me but the symptoms went away as soon as I took her off the medication. And they even suggested trying it again and the symptoms came back and went away when we took her off the second time. She was only on each medicine for under a week.
- What was the reason you went with a lactose free formula? it was one of my last options. The soy made her extremely constipated and her cheeks were always red after eating. I also forgot to mention that we tried nutramigen but she wouldn't drink it at all. I can't even explain how much better she is doing. We have finally been able to get all her naps in her crib, laying down without the pacifier. Previously, she only napped in the swing because she was either fussy or would spit up when I did pat shush. Other symptons that have gone away include enjoying car rides. She would screem every second we were in the car, she has not done that since we switched, unless she is hungry, as would be expected. I've seen her ped. since and a GI dr. Both tell me that it is highly unlikely that she is lactose intollerant but that if she is doing well on this formula to not change it. The baby's only brand is very different than other formulas (ie rice based vs corn based, no added dha made by chemical processes, etc). I'm not sure if that is why she is doing better but I never tried the baby's only dairy formula. I asked the dr's about trying it but they don't think I should switch.
- How much does LO take in total during the day? She has been on the formula for about 4 weeks. She is doing much better with her eating over the last couple of days but it isn't completely consistent. She takes about 28 oz's per day, including a 6 oz bottle at night. She takes 4oz bottles during the day, a 6-8 oz bottle at bedtime and 6 oz's at night.
- What is it that makes you feel that she doesn't have reflux? her symptoms and daily schedules change completely every time I change her formula. The reflux was diagnosed by a pediatric speech therapist over the phone (we were speaking to her because she was tongue tied at birth and stopped nursing the next day and seemed to have some trouble eating). Plus, the medicine made her worse, not better. and she doesn't spit up. And since we switched to this formula, she no longer has any symptoms of reflux.
Hope this answers everything. The doctor also recommended putting rice cereal in her nighttime bottle but that didn't make a difference so we stopped. Is that the only way to thicken a bottle? Can I add extra formula scoops to get extra calories in the same amount of volume that I know she will take?
JJshappymum: yes, she wakes at the same time every night (1:00am) except last night which was 4 am!! So we'll see how tonight goes. She is just learning how to fall asleep on her own, I still have to pat shush and sometimes pu/pd but she is doing really great with it, especially at night. I thought about the wake to sleep but her night feed bottle is 6oz out of about 28 each day, that seems like such a large portion to cut out cold turkey. We have tried to pat shush her after she wakes but she is starving.
