Usually babies get constipation from too much iron in the formula. My kids couldn't have the gold stuff cos it gave them horrible constipation - DD1 was the WORST of all the kids though, and she was on goats milk formula - much gentler on their tummies and easier for them to digest. So DD2 is on that now too.
Anyhoo - I'd try the Step 2 - just because apparently it doesn't have as much iron in it as the Step 1 cos they are eating solids after 6 months and getting iron from other sources.
Absolutely not.
DS1 was the same we tried nan ha gold 2 for a week, and he got soo constipated, I spoke to the MCHN and paed and both said that there was no need to change to a follow on formula, esp if they are having some solids and iron fortified cereal etc.
Last edited by Pandora; January 17th, 2010 at 01:24 PM.
My DD1 was on EBM until 11 months when I stopped expressing. When I was unable to express anymore the hospital program she is on (she is fed via naso-gastric tube) provide formula under their program anyway, her dietican put her on Karicare 'from birth' formula, even though there is a follow on formula for older babies, she was on the 'from birth' from 11 months and we swapped her over to a premade 1-6yo child formula at 16 months, now she is back on EBM since DD2 came along .
So long story short, my DD was on 'from birth' formula from 11 months to 16 months of age and she had always been in the normal weight range etc.
No absolutely not, she can stay on Step 1 and indeed she should if she is having these kind of problems.
My MCHN always said that if babies are still being satisfied hunger-wise on the Step 1 there was no need to change up at all and to stay on Step 1 until you changed them to cows milk at 12 months. Step 2 is really only needed for hungrier babies, it is more filling because it is casein-based rather than whey-based like Step 1.
Further, she always recommended that you wait until closer to 8 months before moving up to Step 2 because constipation problems were very common at 6 months when changing, especially when you consider that you are starting solids around the same time.
My DS couldn't cope with Step 2 constipation-wise until he was closer to 9 months - but he was only ever supplemented with formula, I was also bfing him. DD was fully FF'd by 3 months of age and I kept her on Step 1 (Nan Pro Gold) all the way through to 13 months when I got her drinking cows milk and she has always thrived (97th percentile for height, weight and head circumference). I actually think it said on the Nan can that babies who are FF'd from an early age should stay on Step 1 until 12 months.
thanks girls, she even got constipated on step one (guessing cause its gold) but i cant go thru the stress of trying tonnes of different formulas, went thru that when she was 1st switched from BF to FF.
Donna: no she flat out refuses water even with a bit of flavoring in it e.g. ribena, will only stop crying when formula is given...
DD is 1 now and she has only just stopped formula and she was on S26 Gold step one from birth to 11 1/2 months - now she is on cows milk. Both my MCHN & Paed said that they can sure stay on step one infact my MCHN recomended staying on step 1 till 12 months as she said step 2 was just a gimick!
update: went to chemist and she said not to put DD back onto step one after being on step two, couldnt really work out why but she suggested novolac especially for constipated babies so am trying that, along with her coloxyl drops. her haemmorhoid is really big so im worried she will have to get surgery or something cause the anti imflammatory cream the GP gave me did nothing and it gets bigger every time she poops
Awww Emma, its not fun is it? We went through the same thing with DS a week or so ago. I switched him to Step 2 and within days he was screaming the house down he was in so much pain. He was already having constipation issues on the Step 1 anyway but we had it under control by adding lactulose syrup to his morning bottle daily. Its a syrup that helps retain water in the bowel and helps to keep their poo runny. You can buy it from the chemist. Our GP recommended it.
So after that experience and doing my own research, we'll be keeping DS on Step 1 until 12 months then going to cows milk. If it ain't broke as they say. According to the tins the main difference I noted was in the levels of minerals and as far as I'm concerned if he's getting a good diet of solids, that will be taken care of. Plus as Curly said the Step 2 are a casien based formula which is harder for them to process again.
If I were you I would ignore what the chemist said (particularly if they couldn't give you a good reason) and stick to the original Step 1 you've been using to try and help get the haemmoroid under control. If your GP is not much help do you have a MCHN near you that might be of more assistance? Most of the major women's & childrens hossy's in each state usually have a phone line you can ring for anything related to babies too?
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