Milk based formula allergy or stomach bug?

Shelly - posted on 03/13/2010 ( 6 moms have responded )

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I have a 5 month old baby girl who over the past 4 days will vomit any amout of formula I give her with in about 20min, and she seems uncomfortable shortly after eating it. I have tried goodstart comfort plus with so-so results, and today I tried Similac Sensitive RS formula with she threw up in less than 5 minutes after having 3oz. The kicker is she has gulped down 4oz of pedialyte like a little thirsty horse & so far, so good. I have always had some what of a problem getting enough formula in her, she normally only eats 4oz every 6rs, and if you try to feed her more or sooner she will vomit.

She is not dehydrated yet, because I am getting at least a tablespoon of formula in her every hour or so, this has been a battle. Her mouth is still moist, and now because of the pedialyte she is peeing enough.

She has no fever, she is cheerful even after vomiting, and she has no diarrhea, but she is getting her two bottom teeth in at once. I am even keeping her full upright for over two hours after feeding her & wearing her upright in an ergo baby carrier & it doesn't make a difference.

I am reluctant to give the baby soy formula, because her older sister was horribly allergic to soy & soy formula caused her to vomit till she was limp for over 8hours. I don't want to go from bad to worse.

I have brought her to the dr 3 times for this where they just smile at me & look at me like I'm a stupid mother & they tell me "we'll keep an eye on her." The baby is above the 100% for growth & height, so it is really hard to get them to take me seriously when I tell them a 18lb 5 month old wearing 12 month clothes is having a feeding problem.

Any one have problems with thier baby like this? My husband is swearing she must have pyloric stenosis, but if that was the case she wouldn't be able to keep down the pedialyte.

Sorry to be so long with this, any advice or input would be helpful.

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6 Comments

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Emilie - posted on 03/13/2010

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If she vomits the hypoallergenic formula then it is probably a virus or something.

Shelly - posted on 03/13/2010

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Oh poor thing, she is fine until I feed her formula & then she lets out these high pitched shrill screams, it breaks my heart. When I give her the Pedialyte she doesn't fuss or make a peep. The Similac Sensitive RS formula said it was lactose free, but she hurled that in less than 5 minutes. She will vomit 100% of her formula up to 4 or 5 hours after a feeding. I will have to run out and get some of that hypoallerginic formula & see what it does. She is to the point if she even tastes milk she gets upset and turns her head away.

Lindsay - posted on 03/13/2010

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I would try the hypoallergenic formula, Enfamil Nutrimigan, it is about twice as expensive but if allergies or lactose could be a problem this will work! I would stay away from soy formula, a lot of babies have trouble with soy, if it could be a lactose issue not a milk allergy you could try the lactose free formula. Good Luck!

Iridescent - posted on 03/13/2010

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I'd request a prescription for Nutramigen or Alimentum. There is no need to even try soy considering the results you had with a sibling; most pediatricians would use that as significant family history. You are able to try it as you wish, but with a prescription WIC and some insurance companies will also help cover.

It does sound like a milk allergy. If a hypoallergenic formula doesn't improve the situation, certainly bring her to the ER for a GI evaluation because pyloric stenosis is a possibility.

Emilie - posted on 03/13/2010

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I am sorry, I didn't read the whole thing about your other baby being allergic to soy. You could try a little soy to see. Just because one child is allergic don't mean both will be. Also the hypoallergenic formula is milk free and soy free. If that is too expensive you could try to start her on regulaer rice milk, I knew a woman that did that.

Emilie - posted on 03/13/2010

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It might be either one, but if it is a stomach bug she shouldn't have milk products while she is sick. The doctor told me that with my kids. He even gave me some soy formula to give my son for whenever he is sick.

When my daughter was 5 weeks old she went through something like this. I switched he to hypoallergenic formula for a while, then I tryed the milk formula again after a few weeks just to see, and she was fine. So I guess in her case it was a stomach bug.

I would put her on soy for a while, then in a few weeks try a little regular formula and see how she does.