Dr says to give DS special formula- I am SO, SO SAD!!!

[Elilly]

Graham has been seeing a ped gastroenterologist for weight loss. He is 5 months and weighed 15+ lbs in Dec and is now barely 14 lbs. Four weeks ago, I started a dairy and soy free diet (I was already egg, nut and shellfish free) hoping that it was an allergy issue (DD has an egg and shellfish allergy). But still no improvement in the weight or eczema departments. So, after his weight check yesterday, the GI doc wants to put him on neocate. I know that DS is not gaining weight and at this point I would do ANYTHING for him to be healthy, but it makes me so sad to not BF. I was, and still am, so determined to BF for at least a year. DH just doesn't "get it". I feel as if I will be losing a bond with Graham and that makes me so very sad and guilty - I feel as if I have failed him in some way. But I was just trying to do what I thought was best for him. Ugh... this is so frustrating. Thank goodness he is a happy baby. I just wish he was healthy too. Sorry, I guess I should have posted this in the bitching forum.

[Rachels]

Erica, I'm so sorry. I understand your sadness. You can and should keep nursing, though. Nurse first, then offer formula. You might also work to see if you can get your supply up. Call an IBCLC and get some help. It's worth the cost.

-Rachel
Mom to Abigail Rose
5/18/02


"When you know better, you do better."
Maya Angelou

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbo...pphire_24m.gif Two years and counting!

[KBecks]

Hi, I also dealt with weight loss issues, for me, it was right after my son's birth, and we put him on breast milk + formula. It made me sad, but the extra food helped him very much.

You should ask your doc if you haven't discussed already whether you can continue breastfeeding as much as possible, in addition to the formula. If the breastmilk is OK, then yes, nurse and offer a couple oz of formula after the feeding, and see if he is still hungry. You could also discuss pumping, or taking herbs (I forgot the name of it) or drugs to increase your supply with your doctor.

I just wanted to say that doing some nursing and some bottle feeding has not diminished my bond with my son, we still enjoy feeding times.
I hope that your son's weight improves quickly and that you feel better.

[jbowman]

Erica,

Hugs! Obviously you have been trying to do the best thing for your son--don't feel guilty at all. ITA with Rachel--keep nursing! You can supplement with the formula, which would be win/win: you'll maintain the BF relationship with your son and he'll gain weight as well!

[Elilly]

Our Dr says absolutely no BF. So I am pumping and storing my EBM in hopes of keeping my supply up should things change. It just makes me sick to think of feeding him a bottle of formula! Neocate is a synthetic formula that is used for protein sensitivities and severe food allergies. The Dr thinks that I am passing something to Graham in my BM that is causing his problems.

ETA: I ahve ruled out supply issues by taking reglan (which made me depressed and very tired) and now an herbal supplement. So unfortunately it's not a supply issue - or an intake one on his part. He's still eating every 3 1/2 hours around the clock.

[lilycat88]

I don't know you well but am so sorry for what you are going through. Our DD lost almost 25% of her body weight within the first few weeks of her birth due to her having a problem physically taking in enough BM. Despite working daily for weeks with a LC and seeing her ped a couple of times a week, we had to make the move to supplementing with formula (first regular, then on through LactoFree and Soy and finally Nutramigen) while still giving her EBM. I cried every time I had to give her a botttle of anything....EBM or formula. I was convinced that I was a horrible mother and the guilt was overwhelming. I felt like the entire reason she was sick was because of some failing on my part. I pumped around the clock for weeks and gave her what I could but finally, I had to back off. I had gone through the mourning process of losing the BF relationship with DD and was realizing that, although breastfeeding is best for MOST infants, it wasn't best for mine. I made the decision that even after she stabilized and had the strength try to nurse properly, we would stay the course we had gone down. I didn't feel any less bonded with DD and DH actually felt more, perhaps, since he gave her just as many bottles as I did. Perhaps if I had been able to stay home with her instead of going back to work when she was 10 weeks old, my decision would have been different and we could have spent more time trying to make it work. I'm sure that some here would criticize me for not trying again to make it work. I don't know. I just know that the guilt just about killed me until I saw her gaining weight and looking more alert and interacting more with us. Then, I realized it was the right decision for us.

[lilycat88]

As am I. Small world. Are you seeing a peds gastro at Riley?

[Elilly]

Thank you for sharing and empathising with me.

[Elilly]

I wish. We have a new guy on the North side up by St. V's Carmel.
If DS loses weight again on Thursday though, he'll be admitted to Riley.

[lilycat88]

I work for Clarian (Methodist, IU, Riley). I'm not a clinical person but if there is anything that I might be able to assist with, feel free to email me. Lilycat88@hotmail.com