When we were trying to figure out what the heck was wrong with my son, Fearless Child (FC), we encountered an absolute arsehole of a physician, a pediatric GI who refused to examine FC or listen to his history, immediately brushing us off as neurotic parents and him as “colicky” (he also gave me crap for stopping breastfeeding, but that’s a whole other tirade in and of itself).
Flash forward two years, to the present. Fearlette began her life as the easiest baby ever, as I told you guys in a previous post. We had made an informed choice to put her on a specific formula recommended by my awesome pediatrician, because recent research had hinted that this particular formula might do the same thing as the more expensive hydrosylates in preventing dairy allergies, at a fraction of the cost (and none of the smell). She seemed to be doing great, until around 3 weeks old we when she started getting really refluxy and colicky (like actual colic – sweet all day but turning into a total monster for about 3-4 hours at the same time every night, which is the definition of colic, as opposed to having bloody, mucousy stools, horrible rashes, never sleeping, and screaming constantly all day long, which were FC’s symptoms when we went to visit that craptastic GI). At this point, we switched her to a hypoallergenic formula; we figured why not go with the gold standard, especially considering her brother’s problems. The formula companies market these as “colic” cures, so we hoped that while she didn’t have a dairy problem, the gentle nature of the formula would soothe whatever was ailing her little belly, if that’s what colic actually was. (There are a lot of theories, but most suspect that colic is related to an immature digestive tract.)
We learned pretty quickly that when a baby doesn’t have a severe protein intolerance, a hypoallergenic is not a miracle cure. And even though she was seriously refluxy (she was aspirating her formula, projectile vomiting, and the whole shebang), her symptoms were nothing compared to what FC dealt with. This goes to show, in my opinion, how little is understood about protein intolerance. Protein intolerant kids are miserable not for 3-5 hours a day, but ALL. DAY. LONG. Alimentum worked for my son because he had a legit problem with dairy which was causing his misery; once we found a formula that was modified to deal with this problem, the symptoms cleared up. Colic does not equal protein intolerance, and vice versa.
It makes me wonder if there are more kids out there who are having trouble with milk-based formulas, who are written off as “colicky”, when going on a hypoallergenic formula like Alimentum or Nutramigen would help them immensely. I would also hypothesize that some of the “formula fed babies are sicker” rumors are due to this same problem. FC was rashy and had major bowel issues until we figured out his MSPI; I don’t doubt that if it had gone undiagnosed, his immune system would have been shot trying to handle the milk proteins. We were lucky enough to figure it out, and instead, he has one of the best immune systems out of his group of friends.
I worry that this illustrates an inherent danger in today’s formula-phobic environment. If the only folks doing research on formula that isn’t trying to prove its inferiority are those working for formula companies, we are gonna be severely limited in what we find out. Wanting us all to live in a breastfeeding culture is not going to make the fact that the majority of moms use formula (even if it’s just as a supplement to breastfeeding) go away. It all seems rather punitive, doesn’t it? If we could improve formula, or give parents better guidance on formula feeding, why wouldn’t we? Maybe there is an underlying fear that finding ways of making formula feeding easier and healthier would be seen as undermining breastfeeding?
I also worry that formula feeders have been essentially left under the auspices of formula companies, who are out for profit (as well they should be, as a corporation) rather than altruism. For example, the best advice I could find on proper amounts/average feedings per day came from the literature accompanying the (dastardly) Similac sample pack I received in the mail. Other than that, all I found online was vague information couched in you-know-you-really-should-be-breastfeeding rhetoric. Some breastfeeding advocates say that they want to police the formula companies to protect us formula feeders as well; it seems ironic that their efforts have also made us rely on these same companies for most of our information.
My own pediatrician, who I adore, and who probably does know more about formula than any other doctor in our practice, still is lacking when it comes to formula knowledge. When discussing how to treat Fearlette’s reflux, she told us that the two types of thickened formulas on the market were interchangeable; that they both were “sensitive” formulations with partially broken down proteins. This is not the case. The Enfamil version, Enfamil AR, is just normal milk-based formula with rice starch; the Similac version is partially hydrolyzed. I know enough about this stuff to know what to look for, but what about the average new mom who doesn’t run a formula feeding blog?
I’m rambling, but being thrown back in the formula trenches, this time with a more critical eye, has got me thinking. I really wonder if we aren’t missing the mark; that maybe in the valiant and necessary effort to get doctors and parents more educated on breastfeeding, we have created a generation of physicians unequipped to handle formula feeding parents, and thus a generation of formula feeders left to fend for themselves. I would posit that the average upwardly mobile, educated mom knows a ton more about breastfeeding than they do about formula – and that’s not saying much in either direction.
I can’t remember who proposed this, or what comment thread it was in, but someone mentioned that there should be “feeding consultants” available, who can advise on breastfeeding, formula feeding, and everything in between. This may be the most genius and timely idea I’ve heard when it comes to infant feeding issues. Someone who is judgment-free, who can approach each nursing or formula feeding dyad as unique entity, someone who is up to date on ALL the research, both on formula and breastmilk, and who can lobby the medical and research community to consider new ideas which would actually help parents and babies rather than stress them out more than they already are… Any volunteers?
About the Author:
Suzanne Barston is a blogger and author of BOTTLED UP. Fearless Formula Feeder is a blog – and community – dedicated to infant feeding choice, and committed to providing non-judgmental support for all new parents. It exists to protect women from misleading or misrepresented “facts”; essentialist ideals about what mothers should think, feel, or do; government and health authorities who form policy statements based on ambivalent research; and the insidious beast known as Internetus Trolliamus, Mommy Blog Varietal.
Suzanne Barston – who has written 428 posts on Fearless Formula Feeder.
Did you try goat's milk? I breastfed, but I found whenever I had cow's milk (or products with cow's milk) my daughter would have “colicky” behaviour, starting around 6:00 p.m. and sometimes lasting past midnight. However, goat's (and of course soy) milk didn't cause that problem; once I gave up cow's milk my daughter was fine. Of course this limited some of my menus at restaurants, but it was worth it for my daughter's comfort (and my sanity). So maybe goat's milk might be an option as a formula.
I'm so sorry you and FC and Fearlette have had to deal with all of these issues. We got off relatively easy in that department. E's biggest digestive problem came when we switched him to an organic version of formula, which gave him terrible constipation. Why, though? I have no idea. He eats a mainly organic diet now, with no problems.
Feeding Consultants? YES. Brilliant. I would have loved this, especially since I am a person with a million questions. (We had a doula who should have performed that role, but she dropped us–and we dropped her–as soon as I said I couldn't handle cup feeding.)
This post is a prime example of why I am completely in love with this blog! Thank you!! My son was also written off as “colicky”, when in fact, he has a protein sensitivity AND reflux! Thickened Alimentum has worked wonders for his tummy troubles and at 5 months old, I have a happy baby – finally!! I received huge amounts of grief from the brestfeeding advocates, stating that breastmilk would mean he didn't have to suffer and I, in essence, caused all of his pain and suffering by subjecting him to the wretched formula in the first place. It makes me cry just writing that out! I truly wish I could have had the education forced upon me about breastfeeding while in the hospital, in a more all-encompassing way. A “feeding consultant” is a great idea, and honestly – that's how I view this blog! I think you, FFF, would make an amazing feeding consultant (you're already doing it here!)
I did all the hard work (well, darling son did too) and research about our feeding options and formulas that may/may not work. While my doc is wonderful and judgement-free, she's a bit misguided about some of the options on the shelf (or not on the shelf). It was absolutely horrible and only reinforced the guilt I felt about being unable to breastfeed.
So, FFF – THANK YOU (again!!) for such a wonderful blog. Keep up the great work, we need you!
Sign me up! Wouldn't that be amazing! If it weren't for internet message boards, I wouldn't have had a clue where to turn when breastfeeding failed. And I agree about the best information regarding “how much and how often” being from the Similac mailers! I saved that little card and referred to it for months. We have so many options for formula these days – which is wonderful, because there are a lot of kids who need something special – that it isn't just about mixing powder and water. For all of the wonderful information I got about breastfeeding before my daughter was born, I wish that someone had at least told me how to make a bottle, JUST IN CASE. I see the point that breastfeeding advocates make about “undermining” breastfeeding by providing information about formula feeding, but let's face it…some degree of formula feeding is reality for a huge percentage of moms. Let's help us learn how to do it right!
I'd have to say that you are leading the way as far as the idea of a “Feeding Consultant” goes. I think that you serve this role in it's exact definition by providing this blog as an online resource to moms. I don't mean to say this as a cross you alone should have to bear, but you are definitely leading by example. Kudos to whoever thought to put a label to such an idea already embodied in this blog!
I would love to be a feeding consultant, but alas, the unpaid time it would take for me to become an expert in all feeding options (since I'd have to quit my job to manage it) and then attempting to set up a small business and get my name out there….well, we'd all (ironically) starve.
Seriously though, is this an issue/idea we can talk to pediatricians about? Or medical schools? Like if course material was provided so a doctor could have an expertise or subspecialty in infant feeding, would he/she do it? And what about nurses? There's no reason they couldn't be the feeding consultants as well. Or nutritionists, who focus on infant nutrition.
Excellent post! I just posted on my blog about how hard it was for me to find good FF info when bfing didn't work out. I think you bring up some really good points here – there should be scientists researching issues related to formula manufacturing and design. We have come so far in science but I think better research in this area could take formula soooooooo much further.
I don't know about lobbying the establishment, but there are feeding specialists who don't judge, just try to help with feeding issues. They are usually few and far between, at dysphagia clinics, which help children of all ages overcome physical/medical eating problems with therapy. My son went to one for several weeks to learn how to suck a bottle. The doctor was totally neutral regarding what was fed (breastmilk or bottle), but just helped us where we were. It turned out that bottle feeding was healthiest for correcting my son's issue, but the doc did not say so before she knew what we had chosen.
I'd love to be a Feeding Consultant! Should I find two trainers and let them duke it out? I just signed up to be a volunteer breastfeedingusa.org “Breastfeeding Counselor.” Now I just need someone on the other side of the ring.
Wow, AWESOME post!!!!! However, it is unfortunate that FC and Fearlette had to have these problems
I completely agree with you on the Feeding Consultant idea, that is fantastic. I also had the same issue with how much formula to feed and how often, and I also found the only speck of info out of all my baby books and all the nurses at the hospital, was from the Similac insert. WTF? When I first had Jack, the nurses were telling me to feed him every 2 hours. I didn't know that this was incorrect. So I was feeding him every 2 hours like they said, and when he wasn't taking in barely any formula, only ONE nurse commented that I was feeding him too often, that he should be 3-4 hours since he was EFF.
My pediatrician is also severely lacking in formula knowledge. He thinks that the formula brands are interchangeable, and if you want to switch, you just do it like you are flipping a switch, and not a gentle increasing ratio. He also thought Jack was colicky, um NO. Granted, he does not have MSPI, but he is lactose sensitive, and when we on our own finally figured out that the Similac Sensitive RTF was our wonder-milk, OMG the heavens opened. He had been on Gentlease, which according to the Pedi should be the same as Similac Sensitive, but then why did he have forest green, death-smelling, liquidy poops, and normal brown poop on Similac?
Ok, I'm rambling, but what I'm trying to say is that I totally get everything you've said in this post…I wish there were more people like you in this world!
Great post! I often wondered myself why there is so little accurate information about correctly using formula. I think this kind of fear of information is akin to why conservative schools don't want to have sex-ed classes that say more than “keep it in your pants”; they're afraid if they give a little more information, all the kids will run out and have an orgy.
If we had more information about how to safely use formula, all us moms will run out and buy a can right away.
Just another way to take our parenting choices away. Hope you're little Fearlette feels better soon!
After doing extensive research at the Library many years ago and going through tons of medical journals, I switched to the demonic formula of Nestle to “cure” my son's colicky behavior. Thankfully, it worked. It's been years since my kids were babies, so I don't even think Nestle advertises itself as Nestle anymore due to its ongoing PR nightmare. For my family, Nestle is the only formula with 100% hydrolyzed proteins that worked to soothe my babies tummy and new research has shown it to be comparable to breast milk as far as growth goes. (Via U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
What chaps my butt is — not only are you right about infant formula information and facts becoming buried under special interest conflicts and agenda's, but God-forbid, you suggest a Nestle product, even if it is the best choice for certain babies, it will get lost in political criticism. On some websites, the suggestion will get deleted. We cannot allow opposing interests to censor good information.
K had the same issues as BG, and it was a horrible horrible experience. We found Earth's Best to be easiest on his tummy, but we also had an early teether, which was a huge part of his problem. I feel for you friend (and this is also why the idea of #2 scares the crap out of me!!).
I hope you get all the feeding issues sorted out soon – hang in there! I love the idea of a feeding consultant, I know I and many of my friends could have used one. I'll keep directing them to your blog in the meantime, it's heaven-sent!
I couldn't agree more. Throwing money at study after study to see whether breastmilk or formula is superior is like throwing money at more studies to see if vaccines cause [insert bullshit lie of the week here]. It's a complete waste of time and money and directly results in harm by failing to provide legitimate, helpful research.
We need to get over this crap and move on to what problems actually affect children, how early feeding plays into them, and how to avoid or ameliorate them. Only then will we be providing “the best” for babies.
My daughter, who received a combination of formula & breastmilk for her first two weeks of life via SNS due to pathologic jaundice, was “colicky”. This was MY diagnosis, as our doctor & lactation consultant's only diagnosis were:
“you're holding her too much” & “don't always offer the breast when she cries, it's a bad habit” (this was at my ONE MONTH appointment, jaw drop) & “you just need to put her down sometimes”.
I didn't have one doctor tell me my daughter had colic. In fact, I WAS told that colic “didn't really exist”. Was it because I was a breastfeeding mother that I had such a different experience (i.e. that she wasn't “written off” as a colicky baby, it was more that I was “written off” as a mom “doing it wrong”)? I don't know…
To your point though, I had no. idea. about the formula I was giving my daughter. It was liquid, it came from my LC, and it was keeping my daughter from having to have a blood transfusion while my milk was struggling to come in (which, it did, and I went on to nurse her for 4 years, tandem nurse for 1.5 and nurse her brother for 3 years), but I was aware that formula damaged gut flora, and could contribute to allergies – yet, I wasn't offered different formula options, I wasn't offered banked human milk, I wasn't informed about probiotics. I wasn't even given information about MY OWN milk – I just didn't really KNOW that what *I* was injesting could affect my daughter. I certainly had read about elimination diets, but didn't make the fussy-food connection. I thought elimination diets were for ALLERGIC babies, not just fussy ones, yk? It wasn't suggested until NINE MONTHS by a (different!) pediatrician. NINE MONTHS we believed fussiness was our fault, and then Dr. asked if I might want to stop drinking milk & see how things go (he actually took the time – a very long appointment – to help me formulate a plan of action)… and lo & behold, after putting her back on an all-breastmilk diet & me keeping a detailed log of what I was eating, we were able to pinpoint some issues (i.e. DAIRY!!!!!!!) and magically, her colic went away.
A feeding consultant? Yes. I can't even imagine if someone had sat down with me at our 1 month appointment, and gone over what she HAD had in her tummy, and suggested some real options instead of “here's a schedule you should put her on & let her cry for X number of minutes for X long”, etc. Someone who can tell you ALL about breastfeeding and really HELP you acheive that goal, not half-heartedly, and teach about natural health – things like probiotics and gripe water, AND who could advise you about formula if you choose it (instead of just, “are you formula feeding, okay then here's your sample bag” or “are you breastfeeding, okay, then you won't need this”). There is DEFINITELY a lack of information.
As a lactivist, I WANT women to be told their milk is good, that they CAN breastfeed, and be given all the right encouraging steps to reach that goal FIRST (before being offered formula as a “quick fix”) – things like SNS and rooming in & skin on skin instead of nursuries & bottles. But as a mother, it's not so good just to be a check box on a sheet. Mother-blame doesn't work, and assuming that if you are formula feeding, you should just be mollified by formula samples & coupons and don't care about natural health, or learning about what you're giving your baby, is just not fair.
I love this post. My daughter has reflux and Enfamil AR gave her constipation. Trying to figure out a good formula or combination for her has been an annoying process of trial and error. I really wish there was more publicly available research on the various formulas and people who were familiar with it. My pediatrician knew nothing about the Similac RS because they don't send samples to her office.
I need a formula consultant. My baby is 3 months old and I have been breast and formula feeding, but after this latest issue (fun mastitis times) I have decided 3 months is long enough with breastfeeding. I need a formula consultant so bad but can't go to my local doctors or health nurses because some of them have said formula is akin to child abuse. My baby has really bad eczema all over her body and face and I thought it was from the formula I was giving her because that's what google told me. I switch her to Nutramigen because online also told me it was a “cure for babies with possible milk allergies” and really all this formula has done is given her really bad, painful gas (she screams now and she never did before). And her rash? Yeah it's still there.
I NEED formula help but all the literature I can find is provided by people who want me to buy every single damn formula until I find one that works. All the people who are support to be supportive (medical community wise) think I should just breastfeed her. Sorry, but my breasts did not co-operate and neither myself nor baby liked the process either.
So what am I supposed to do? Where do I go when I need help choosing a formula that won't give her painful gas and won't make her eczema worse?
@KellyNaturally,
You rock. That last paragraph you wrote should be written on the walls of every maternity ward!
@Antigone,
My pedi gave us the enfamil AR b/c they were out of samples of the Similac RS. As if they were interchangeable. Sigh.
@TheImperfectParent,
I think you may have just inspired a new post. If I have the guts to write it. In the meantime- I hear ya,loud and clear. I've seen the same studies and it is rather ridiculous that formula feeding parents aren't informed about this stuff.
@Rebecca-
“I received huge amounts of grief from the brestfeeding advocates, stating that breastmilk would mean he didn't have to suffer and I, in essence, caused all of his pain and suffering by subjecting him to the wretched formula in the first place.” That pediatric GI I mentioned made me feel the same way. I sobbed the whole way home after seeing him. As if he hadn't been equally miserable when I was trying to force him to breastfeed, or when he was reacting horrible to my pumped milk. Ridiculous. Judgment and good medicine do not mix well, at least in this case.
@AGirlNamedGear,
If you want to email me, I can try and help- formulafeeders@gmail.com. At this point I've pretty much tried every formula on the market and my kids have both had issues so I can at least give you my two cents!
@KellyNaturally
I LOVE that you said this… “Mother-blame doesn't work, and assuming that if you are formula feeding, you should just be mollified by formula samples & coupons and don't care about natural health, or learning about what you're giving your baby, is just not fair.”
I found the lack of information and the assumption that as a formula feeding mother I didn't care about natural health SO FRUSTRATING! I wanted information and I wanted options. (I have said this before, but I would have loved to have access to an oat milk formula) Yes, we need good breastfeeding support, but we also need options if that doesn't work.
At least we have formula! I just discovered that my grandmother (who is now in her late 70's fed my mother who is now in her mid 50's) evaporated milk!!! I think this is why formula was created actually, to keep this from happening…. it shocked me and amazed me that they could think it would be nutritious enough… O_O I feel so lucky to live in todays world where there are options and choices. Especially to help those ever growing group of kids who have MSPI.
My son had isues with formula as well. He would seem fine at first, but then start spitting up a ton, it was to the point to where it was like he was just vomiting a majority of the bottle. At one point he just flat out refused to eat.
We tried regular Similac, Nestle Sensitive, Enfamil Gentlease, Natures Only Lactose Free, and Similac Sensitive. Similac Sensitive worked the best, but he didn't start sleeping better until we were off formula completely. I think that the lactose free helped, but it still had dairy. He refused to try Soy and it just stank anyways. He also broke out in a rash around his face and was really fussy.
I know I should have just stuck with Similac Sensitive, but it was pricey so that's why I tried the others. WIC said that Enfamil Gentlease was the same as Similac Sensitive and that is so NOT TRUE. Enfamil still has lactose in it, the old Similac Sensitive didn't. The new one though didn't agree with my son at all so we started weaning around 1 after trying Natures Only Lactose Free, which also didn't agree with him.
So yeah…All I can wish is good luck finding a formula for your daughter. I don't think the fact that prebiotics added to formula helps much with sensitive babies because it does increase the lactose in the formula.
Feeding Consultants would be so wonderful! In my mind they wouldn't judge at all for how you choose to feed and would just help to educate doctors and parents alike on both formula and breastfeeding.
Also, I'd say give Similac RS a try and in the liquid verion (it's actually cheaper in the long run as opposed to the powder version). I don't think they added probiotics to it so it should be pretty close to lactose free.
Feeding consultants would be fabulous. That's what I was to my SIL for the first two months of my nephew's life, actually. He's one of those babies who actually has less tummy troubles on formula than on breastmilk.
Suzanne, if you still have that info provided by Similac (I don't remember getting that with my samples), I'm sure it would help a lot of mothers if you posted it!
breastfeeding would have avoided all those health problems. I think that parents that CHOOSE to not breastfeed should pay higher health insurance premiums
Really? Because the whole reason I became the FFF in the first place is because my son was suffering from an intense dairy allergy which elimation diet did not solve. I also know tons of breastfed babies who are milk protein intolerant, and if they don't adhere 100 percent to a dairy-free diet, the babies are symptomatic.
And um- you really have never met a breasted baby with colic? Wow. If that's true, and you've discovered the cure for colic, I bet you could make millions.
Do you also believe that people who don't work out or those that eat a little too much should pay higher healthcare costs? How about those who have premature infants? I'm a slim vegetarian, do I get to pay less?
Nsmith were you breastfed? Because you seem inheriently rotten and souless and I wonder if those problems could have been avoided if your mother had fearlessly formula fed you…just sayin ; ) For the record I EBF my son for his first to hell filled months of life (GERD, extreme crying for 14 hrs per day, aspiration, torticollis, plagiocephaly etc…)and switched to Elecare (go ahead RN google it) bc of MSPI, and a rice/oat protein intolerance. Being that I am Celiac and follow a GF diet my wheat substitues (IE: Rice) were making him siginificantly worse. After his 1st birthday we were able to do a milk/soy challenge and passed, weaned from both zantac & prevacid at 15 months and see the GI/allergist again next month for his 2nd birthday to re-eval for the rice/oat issue. I am an informed, educated, dedicated & passionate Mama and I am proud to have formula fed my son because it was what was best for him! Oh! and I'm infertile due to stage 4 endometriosis, diminished ovarian reserve & DH's male factor…I'm sure the fact that my tot is an ICSI baby & was formula fed has destined him to a life of stupidity, failure and general woe LOL! Rock on FFFers! So glad I found this site : )
Well, NSmith-rn, does the “rn” at the end of your screen name mean registered nurse? Do you work with infants or children? If so, I sincerely hope you don't say things like that to their parents, because:
1) It's not necessarily true.
2) Some families have no choice but to use formula, sometimes exclusively… or in some cases, breastfeeding would have been riskier for the child than bottle-feeding.
(3 Statements like that that could make already upset parents feel worse… which isn't good for the child either, because they pick up on how their parents' emotions and look to them for comfort and reassurance.
Just my 2 cents.