DD had a bad reaction to Nutramigen. Now what?

[Mypunkin]

My MSPI and refluxing dd is 4.5 mos and ebf until I discovered she was losing weight last week      Last week I had to start pumping and bottle feeding her and used a bit of Nutramigen (5 oz total) to supplement what I couldn't pump. The next day she started getting very fussy, wouldn't let me put her down, and then had what we call the "liquid goo" diaper (runny poopy) just like when she accidentally gets dairy from me. What should I do?  Should I immediately go to Neocate or should I give the Nutramigen another try? Will her system get used to it if I just giver her a little bit at a time?  I'm having to pump and bottle feed her b/c her reflux got so bad she can't nurse, but I would like to have some formula on hand just in case I don't pump enough.  It seems like its just one thing after another with this girl.  My other thought was to maybe start solids a bit earlier than I had intended just so I can get more food into her.  I know she needs about 30 ounces of bm/day but I'm having a hard time pumping that much and she ends up eating 2 or 3x's/night. 

[We Three]

No advice...just some HUGS and a bump-up for you!  Someone will be here soon to help.

[spanna]

Hi,
Don't think I'll be much help re: the reflux/nutramigen, (is that a formula for reflux babies?), but just to say Eva did'nt have diagnosed reflux, but constanty spat up until I started her on Solids, I did so at 5 months, (reason being so I could get her established on a solids routine before we go to the UK)HTH
Not the way for all I know but worked for us, (just to give some perspective on the timing of starting solids!)
GL

[spanna]

meant to say our LO stopped spitting up as  soon as started Solids!, (don't know if that helps)
((HUGS))

[Spectra]

Hi, I know with Nutramigen and Neocate it is best to slowly add it to their bottles.  I know when I first started giving it to my son, Neocate, the first day or two he had really liquid diapers.  I freaked, thinking he was having a bad reaction.  His body got use to it and after a week his bowel movements were back to normal.  Nutramigen is the same as Neocate, both amino-acid based hypoallergenic formula. 

This is from the Enfamil website::

"stool consistency and color will likely be different when your baby begins using Nutramigen AA LIPIL, and this is normal. Anytime you change formula you may notice a change to the number, color and/or consistency of stools. If your baby is doing well on the formula, this probably is not a reason for concern."

Hope this helps.  I'd just give it some more time for your baby to get use to the new formula.

[Jimbob]

I thought nutramigen was a hypoallergenic formula and neocate is an elemental formula. I could be wrong though.

Kelly

[mommyoflogan]

Kelly, you are right.  I don't want to sound like a "know it all" but I've done a lot of research on this.  There is a difference between Nutramigen and Nutramigen AA.  Our dietitian said that for babies with severe MSPI Nutramigen AA or some other elemental formula like Neocate is the way to go.  It is possible that there are still milk proteins in regular Nutramigen that your lo is reacting to.  So I would think about switching to Nutramigen AA or Neaocate or Elecare.  FYI  Nutramigen AA is the most expensive of the 3!  We found that out the hard way.  We were using Nutramigen AA and our lo was getting very gassy and constipated.  We are now switching formulas and have found that Neocate and Elecare are much less expensive!  Let me know how it goes for you.  I know how frustrating this can all be.  We are still in the middle of sorting everything out!

[Spectra]

Did you mean hydrolyzed Kelly as they are all hypoallergenic aren't they?  I know Neocate and Elecare are Elemental, and I didn't realize there are two Nutramigens.  I must have been looking at the the AA one if that is the Elemental one.  We don't get Nutramigen here so I was just going on what their website says.  :/  My memory is fading from when I did all this research a year ago when I was going through the same thing with my son.  He couldn't handle the Alimentum, partially hydrolyzed?, but could the Neocate.

If you are using the other Nutramigen there is a possibility that your lo is reacting, however it's hard to say since your lo just started it.  I would talk to your doctor first though and see what they have to say and perhaps bring up the Nutramigen AA.

[Jimbob]

I guess they are all hypoallergenic. I did mean hydrolyzed. It is dificult to remember things correctly as like yourself it is sometime since I did a lot of research.

Kelly

[Mashi]

Nutramigen AA stands for Nutramigen Amino Acid. It is very new to the market (within the past six to eight months-ish - at least here in the UK, and from the Mead Johnson website I am pretty sure it is that new in the US as well, but possibly it was released sooner).  

So, yes, Nutramigen AA is an elemental formula , the same as Neocate and Elecare.  Nutramigen (with no AA) is hydrolysed, the same as Alimentum for instance.  

HTH!

[Mashi]

P.S.  The "liquid goo" as the original message refers to:  I am pretty sure this is normal with switching to a hydrolysed formula.  The tin says that it will give frequent, loose, green stools.  We took about 4 weeks to get DS adjusted to the Nutramigen (mixing it with his soy formula until he accepted the taste) and then after about 2 weeks on Nutramigen we took him back to the paed because his poops were still as described, and he was still having tummy spasms during and shortly after his feeds. The paed said that his "rule of thumb" is that it can take half as long as he's had the milk for to clear it out of his system and get the intestine to heal. So, for instance, my DS was on milk or soy formula for about 5 months before he got onto full bottles of Nutramigen, so he told us to give it at least 2 months before ALL symptoms FULLY disappeared.  I wasn't too thrilled with this, but he was right. Within about 4 to 6 weeks his poops "calmed down" a bit. The tummy spasms only took about 5 or 6 days to go away.  His poops are still very watery and green (although that changes with whatever solids he has eaten!) The reason for this is because there is so little work for the body to do in digesting the milk that it remains very loose and it goes through him quickly, hence it's green.  Nothing to worry about.    I would give it some time - a week or two - before thinking of moving on to an elemental formula.

HTH

[Spectra]

Thanks mashimaro on the info about Nutramigen!

[Mypunkin]

I spoke with my Dr about this and she recommended to stop giving dd Nutramigen and go to Neocate (she gave me 5 sample containers!).  It wasn't just the liquid poo, but fussiness too w/ Nutramigen and my dd is severely sensitive to dairy still.  I'm trying to introduce the Neocate still, but dd is NOT enjoying the taste.  I'm going to take your suggestions to mix it slowly, tho.  The hard part is is that I'm only ahead a few ounces for feedings of pumped bm, so I hate to waste any at this point. 
Also, I'm still trying to bf every day but so far the Axid is not reducing the reflux enough to make a difference.  I don't know if I should discontinue using it (she's been on it about 10 days) or keep trying it a little while longer.  I have dreams (literally) about bfing again because at this point it would be such a huge relief.  Pumping, trying to bf, and bottle feeding is taking up my every waking moment.

I just read my post, boy I sound like a whiner! (;

[Spectra]

I hope the Neocate works out for you.  Did great with my son.  I had to do it slowly too.  It can get frustrating!