Formula feeding & diarrhea « Hellobee Boards

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Formula feeding & diarrhea

By daniellemybelle Jun 4, 2014

My poor sweet baby girl has been sick with bad diarrhea for over a week now. The pediatrician took a stool sample to culture but we won't have results back for a couple more days.

In the meantime, he said to give her as little formula as possible because the dairy will irritate her bowels more, and instead offer Pedialyte & solids. We combination feed so I am nursing as much as possible but my stupid low supply is not enough for her, and she is over Pedialyte, and not into solid food right now. Seeing her hungry on top of being sick breaks my heart. (She's not starving of course - I did give her two bottles of formula yesterday on top of nursing & solids when she clearly needed to eat.)

If she stays sick much longer, I have thought about trying to get some donor milk, which is a humbling thought for me. I don't know what formula feeding parents usually do though? Switch to soy?

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27 comments

looch
wonderful pear / 26210 posts

Jun 4, 2014

You can try Similac's Expert Care formula for Diarrhea. We have use it with success.
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Jun 4, 2014

I would try half strength formula.
daniellemybelle
cantaloupe / 6669 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@looch: I saw that they have that & thought about trying it. It's soy though & my LO has never had soy...

@Ash: I am going to call my pediatrician & ask about doing 1/2 pedialyte 1/2 formula bottles. Thanks for the suggestion!
looch
wonderful pear / 26210 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@daniellemybelle: Do you have reason to belive that your baby has a soy intolerance? I only ask because my son had not had soy either when we had to use that formula.

Pedialyte wasn't available where we lived either, so that wouldn't have been an option.
luckypenny
grapefruit / 4582 posts

Jun 4, 2014

That's odd. LO has had diarrhea a few times and they never suggested not giving her as much formula (although she mostly wasn't eating much anyway because she felt sick). I've always just offered what she normally ate and when she stopped, give pedialyte/water.

Eta: Our doc also mentioned 1/2 water 1/2 pedialyte when making her bottles
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Jun 4, 2014

Oh my goodness, poor girl! I don't have any suggestions other than trying to offer solids that have a lot of water in them, like watermelon. H loves watermelon and goes to town on it, so it might help S.
kjpugs
grapefruit / 4862 posts

Jun 4, 2014

I don't necessarily see the connection between formula and diarrhea. Maybe I just don't understand BM/Formula enough but unless you're cutting out dairy doesn't your BM have dairy in it too? I like the idea of using some pedialite instead of water to mix the formula. I also think it's worth a shot with trying the anti-diarrhea formula. But at least hopefully you'll get the culture back soon and might have some answers.

What kind of solids is she getting now, and how often?
Smurfette
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@kjpugs: I was wondering the same thing, why is nursing ok but not formula?
kjpugs
grapefruit / 4862 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@Smurfette: ok good, I was wondering that because I barely got LO any BM I just was not educated enough on the subject, haha. Glad I'm not alone in that not making sense!
kjpugs
grapefruit / 4862 posts

Jun 4, 2014

Oh and plus are you still on that total comfort with the really gently broken down dairy or something like that? If so I REALLY don't get it because it's supposed to be a really gentle formula.
loveisstrange
pineapple / 12526 posts

Jun 4, 2014

C got bad diarrhea every time she cut a tooth and our ped never said not to give her formula. The only time he said to stop all dairy and give pedialyte was when she had stomach flu and was vomiting.
looch
wonderful pear / 26210 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@Smurfette: nursing is okay, because Breastmilk is considered a "clear liquid" according to our ped.
daniellemybelle
cantaloupe / 6669 posts

Jun 4, 2014

I just had a good cry - this is resurfacing all my guilt over not being able to EBF. I called the doctor & the nurse I talked to reiterated to not give formula for a few days if we can, but if we need to, Similac Sensitive is better because it's lactose free. She actually asked, "Is your supply enough?" What does she expect - I supplement just for fun?

@kjpugs: @Smurfette: I did some online research & several reputable sources agree that the level of lactose in formula is hard on a tummy with diarrhea. I guess BM does not have the same amount or kind of lactose? The formula we use is broken down but it still has lactose so we are going to try a lactose free formula.

@luckypenny: How long was she sick? I sort of feel like they think I don't HAVE to formula feed since I BF too. If only that were the case!

@looch: Only that she is just generally sensitive to certain things, has eczema, etc. I'd hate to throw something else in the mix!

@avivoca: She loves cantaloupe so we are going to do that!
MamaMoose
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@Smurfette: @kjpugs: I think the difference is that breastmilk is easier for baby's system to break down and digest. As @looch: said it's considered a clear liquid. I know when M had surgery were were able to feed her breastmilk much closer to the surgery time than we would have been able to if she was formula fed because they can digest breastmilk more quickly.
kjpugs
grapefruit / 4862 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@daniellemybelle: so interesting! And- so hard to have to find out in this way. LO is on similac sensitive and we just tried to transition to "normal" with horrible results, so I hear ya. I am just SO anxious for you to get this culture back!!!!

@MamaMoose: thanks for the info! So interesting. I learn new things every day.
daniellemybelle
cantaloupe / 6669 posts

Jun 4, 2014

I just talked to the nurse again (NOT a fan) & they said not to mix formula & Pedialyte in any way. But I think I might anyway. Going to talk to a nurse friend & get her take.
MamaMoose
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@daniellemybelle: The pedialyte website specifically says not to mix it with formula because it can change the nurtrient and mineral content of both.
ShootingStar
coconut / 8472 posts

Jun 4, 2014

Can you up her solids intake with stuff from the BRAT diet? Bananas, maybe rice cereal, applesauce and toast? I would also do 1/2 strength formula with all water, and pedialyte separately.
daniellemybelle
cantaloupe / 6669 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@MamaMoose: Well, I just talked to my pediatrician again & he said we could add Pedialyte to prepared formula, just not use Pedialyte in place of water. He kept saying we should try not to give her formula though. It's upsetting me so much - my boobs cannot sustain her!

@ShootingStar: We've been doing oatmeal & applesauce, and bananas in the mesh feeder. She is meh on solids right now but I am going to pick up some banana purée & make Popsicles & see how she likes that.
ShootingStar
coconut / 8472 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@daniellemybelle: Oatmeal has a lot of fiber, which will encourage her to poop more. I'd try some plain rice cereal, or if you can express some milk, mix with that. Rice is also binding, so it should help slow things down.
daniellemybelle
cantaloupe / 6669 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@ShootingStar: That's a good point - thanks! I am a WAHM & my usual babysitter (my mom) is out of town this week, so trying to work with a sick baby is a little challenging today! Oh & DH is in his busiest week of work of the year Hopefully later today I can go out & get some rice cereal!
singingbee
pomelo / 5073 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@daniellemybelle: I have no advice; I just want to give you a hug.
MamaG
pomelo / 5298 posts

Jun 4, 2014

I'm not sure I'd recommend watermelon or cantaloupe, while melon is high in water content which could help with hydration, both melons have diuretic properties that I'm not sure would be beneficial at this point. I would certainly try to stick to BRAT as much as possible.
Tanjowen
nectarine / 2521 posts

Jun 4, 2014

My son had diarrhea with streaks of blood and we had to go low-lactose on formula and my diet (did combo feeding too for awhile). It's hard seeing your baby sick and feeling bad, hang in there and hope you get good news soon from the doctor!
daniellemybelle
cantaloupe / 6669 posts

Jun 4, 2014

@MamaG: That's a good point! I think we'll stick to BRAT! (more like BRA because LO has never had toast/wheat...)

@troberts1021: Thank you. Gave her a little of the new formula earlier - I hope it sits well with her!
daniellemybelle
cantaloupe / 6669 posts

Jun 6, 2014

Hey all - just an update that the cultures all came back negative LO still is having 8+ episodes of diarrhea per day so we are going back to the doctor tomorrow...

As for the formula, we are doing Similac Sensitive & it seems to be going okay. No better no worse. She hates the taste though & cries & turns away before finally giving in, poor thing.
daniellemybelle
cantaloupe / 6669 posts

Jun 6, 2014

@singingbee: Forgot to say thank you.

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