Help with formula feeding newborn

[Arimeh]

I would say he has reflux - sounds pretty similar to what my DD2 was doing.

FWIW, i've read that lactose intolerance in babies shows as coming out the other end in great waves, not puking

We tried DD2 on a lactose free formula, made NO difference to her puking whatsoever. We tried EVERY formula to try and stop the vomiting, tried infant gaviscon for the reflux pain (cos she would scream during and after feeds) and that helped a little. When she was 3 months we took her off the gaviscon, and she is much better now. She doesn't scream, she still vomits - but its nothing compared to what it used to be.

I wouldn't personally try a different formula, because it probably won't make a difference. We have her on Heinz Nurture now, cos we figured if all of them have the same effect, then we aren't going to spend $30 on a tin, when we can spend $17 or something like that.. LOL

But yes, as she gets older she gets better. I was advised to try the normal things to help reflux babies - sleep them on an incline, sit them up for 20 minutes after a feed, feed them sorta sitting up instead of laying back in your arms etc. The only thing we didn't do was sleep on an incline, we have her on her belly, she sleeps better that way and we think it soothed her belly pains. However, she does vomit and then roll her head in it which is grosssss.

[Curly]

I have no experience with a reflux baby so I have no idea about spotting the signs for it. You've been given some wonderful advice above.

However I did have a "happy chucker" ie lots of spews but no pain or discomfort from it apart from not liking being in wet vomity clothes. It might be worth trying a different bottle or teat. My DD still spewed, but not so spectacurlarly, when I changed her bottles and teats. Maybe the Y cut is a bit fast for him still.

DD was a greedy guts but at 5 weeks she was on a teat with only one hole still, and I think I moved her up to a 2 hole teat around 8 weeks. (MAM Ultivent if you are interested, the bottles are a PITA because the bottom unscrews as well so a bit fiddly to clean, but they are quite cheap, available from Target and Big W, and BPA free if that is important to you. And for us at least, lived up to their claim of less wind).

Do you give him a rest and a burp halfway through the feed?

ETA: My DS hated Karicare. Have you tried it? It stinks and tastes awful LOL. He liked Bellamy's Organic which has a much sweeter flavour and smell and we found NAN very similar in smell and taste, just FWIW.

[maz]

another note...it takes a few days for a baby to get use to formula. dont go changing it just after one day.
I had a reflux baby (first one) OMG the projectiles that kid did ...I ended up oin Heinz and it helped a bit.

You could also try getting a slower flowing teat that will allow him not to get as much air in and by the sounds of the fussing he doesnt like the teat. I found tommee tippee bottles (the new ones shaped like a nipple) were fantastic

your doing a wonderful job

[nox]

Thanks all!

The Paed doesn't think there's anything really wrong with him -- and I do tend to agree in that he doesn't seem in pain during the vomitting, although there is a lot of it and it can be an hour after the feed ....
He is grunting and groaning a lot -- mostly wind -- again can be after an hour as well.
He is gaining weight well etc.

I have Avent bottles, tried their number 1 teats, Pidgeon number 1s and now I am on Happy Baby Y. the number 1 teats just seemed to constantly drizzle in his mouth ... that is why I changed. Do you think I should try to go back to them?

I kinda feed to schedule in that it is about 3 hourly. However, if he's really hungry, I don't hold off the bottle. There are times where he only takes half or less and sometimes the whole thing. The MCHN said that this was fine though ...

That is really interesting that the acids work after 12 hours ... DS does fuss at the bottle -- maybe doesn't like the taste?

Now that it is 9am, I will try calling the MCHN about it also.

[Pandora]

There was also a member on BB from country vic whos bub was continually vomiting all feed and it was something entirely different that was physically stopping her bub being able to keep milk down. I cant rememeber who it was though, but she went to RCH about it.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

Mayb me Pandora? I took DD to RCH. She was a huge chucker (90% of the bottle everytime and went through about 50 bibs a day). We took her to the RCH when she was about 5 months old as i was just over it all. Found out the tube in the throat area(i cant for the life of me remember the name of it) wasnt closing off at all, so it was like a 2 way.. it could go down but then straight back up again. Usually there is a flap that closes over in most people that stops the food from coming back up. We went through every formula known to man and none of them made a difference. It finally started to improve about 7 months old (seems like for ever away i know.. ) but remember, its only bad coz you are living in that right now. She was put on Losec for reflux.. but she threw it up aswell.

Its not good for them to change formula so much so quickly. Try and give it 1-2 weeks minimum on the same formula to change it agaain. I ended up settling on S26 GOLD, which she was on until 2 weeks ago (17 months).