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Soy Formula??? - At wit's end!


GavinsMommy wrote: I don't have long to write. Gavin has been fussy ever since his vaccinations. He's been throwing himself off of the breast. He has done that before but I have a LOT of milk and it always sprays like a faucet so I just assume he is getting too much. Well anyway, he's been doing it non-stop. I just can't handle it anymore.

He feeds anywhere from a half hour to an hour EVERY HOUR! I swear I only get about twenty minutes at a time when he isn't eating. He's using me as a pacifier too...

I'm thinking of supplementing. I feel REALLY bad bc he loves it and so do I but it's getting a little ridiculous. I REFUSE to give him milk-based forumla. I'm a vegetarian and I don't drink milk...I drink soy milk. So the only kind I'll give him is Soy. It says it's for fussy and gassy babies too and he is both.

Is this horrible? I want to be able to give him a bottle here and there when he's throwing himself off the breast.

I'm NOT stopping BF'n...I just need to do something different when he's acting like that, it frustrates me and him and prolongs the feeding time which is already way too long.

I'm just really going insane...not having any help. I can't go another day BF when he is doing this. But I'm not going to stop BF because I know it's best for him and he loves it. I just can't take anymore frustrated feedings. One or two bottles a day shouldn't hurt...

I've heard good things about Parent's Choice formula, the Wal-Mart brand. A $12 can makes 900+ ounces. It's supposed to be just as good or better than other brands too. J/w if any of you use this. Gavin doesn't do well w/ Enfamil...and sometimes doesn't do well w/ Similac. I know bc I do give him bottles occasionally when we go somewhere (rarely).

I have an Avent pump but frankly I hate pumping and who has time to pump when their child is always at the breast? I used to get 4 oz each breast and now the suction is messed up or either Gavin is eating so well now that I'm not getting much. I am just not a pumper...

Alice replied: Julia used Isomil because she was a champion spitter upper.It's soy, but it's made by the Similac people, so I'm not sure it's what you want.

Sorry- that's all I've got. Good luck!!

kit_kats_mom replied: Id check kellymom.com. It sounds like you probably have forceful letdown which can cause them to pull off the breast. There are other reasons that they do this too. Could he have thrush? I'd check "fussiness at the breast" links on kellymom to see if you can find the reason for his actions.

Is it time for a growth spurt? I remember K nursing for 7 hours straight one time before I finally lost it and took a break. She screamed the whole time I was gone but I was losing it. I know where you are coming from. When I got home we were both calm enough to resume our marathon nursing session and it ended in two days. If it is a growth spurt, know that there is an end in sight. wink.gif

I dont' know much about formula but I've read many posts about BF babies having problems with gas, spitting up etc when they are given formula. I'd really try to work on the BFding if you can possibly stand it.

GavinsMommy replied: Gavin has always been like this w/ BF'n, sometimes just not as often as other times. Like I said, I *rarely* give a bottle. Maybe one a week when I go to the store or something, that's it. I let down at least twice while feeding so I am pretty sure that's the culprit. It's just it happens *so* much. I really don't see how I can change that fact, lol. I even express a lot by hand before I feed. Still doesn't work. No matter how long he has fed I can still spray like a faucet two or three feet across the room. ohmy.gif I'll check out the links...!!

GavinsMommy replied: Oh and he has always nursed this much...he is just using it to pacify himself. I refuse to let him CIO but that's what will happen if I don't give him the breast. After he has a bottle it seems he's not *needing* it for a few hours.

kit_kats_mom replied: It sure sounds like forceful letdown. I have it too. I have to pull her off when I start to spray or else she ends up really gassy...then she wants to comfort suck to relieve the gas pains....and so the cycle goes.

When you start to spray, try pulling him off of the beast and spaying into a cloth diaper (or towel) until the spraying stops then put him back on.

That may help. Or it may not. K was a big comfort nurser too but she wouldn't take a bottle ever. Oh the misery bawling.gif . The upside is, it does end eventually but man o man do I ever remember being in tears and at my wits end some days. I'm sorry hon.

coasterqueen replied: Cary gave you great advice on the forceful letdown. That seems to be the problem if you ask me.

As far as him pacifying...can I ask what is wrong with that? Breastfeeding is not just about getting mother's milk. Breastfeeding is about nourishment and comfort. It's completely normal for a baby to do that. Did you know when a baby is *pacifying* on the breast that milk generally won't come out (and I use generally loosely). Shows us all that our breasts weren't designed just to give nourishment....they were designed to give comfort as well wink.gif.

My DD was an *avid* nurser like you describe Gavin to be. It is very frustrating and I cried many tears of frustration and insanity. It DOES go away though..eventually. It just takes time and patience on your part. It's your choice as to whether you choose to be patient with him or not, but I wanted to let you know IT IS NORMAL. grouphug.gif

Also, if you are going to give a bottle, just remember IF you are going to BF as well you should really pump at those times you miss a nursing session or your supply CAN diminish. I remember many "date nights" with DH (after Kylie was over a year) when I was in the car pumping those missed sessions, lol. biggrin.gif

BTW, I know it seems like you don't have time to pump with a baby at your breast constantly...I know because I was there wink.gif. You can pump one side while he is nursing the other..that always worked for me. It takes some getting used to but it works.

If you can get the forceful letdown/oversupply under control then you won't have a fussy baby at the breast..unless it is a thrush infection that he/you have instead.

BF is NOT easy for the majority and it takes a lot of time, patience, understanding and committment. It's hard when you feel like you are losing your sanity to remember this, I know, but it's true.

Hang in there!

I can't help you with the formulas..I know nothing about them.

MomToMany replied: thumb.gif You're awesome Karen! Great advice!

kit_kats_mom replied: 1 more thing it could be . Is he congested at all? Lauren fights alot and pulls off when shes congested because she can't breathe through her nose.

GavinsMommy replied: rolling_smile.gif I'd say he might be. I suction his nose quite often bc there's always boogies hidin!

Jamison'smama replied: I am experiencing everything you described---I contacted my lactation consultant and she recommended Block Feeding---Karen talked about this on another post. I have a very forceful letdown and a LOT of milk--it remains forceful for much of the feeding. She mentioned that when you have a forceful letdown, babies get gassy and they can't tell the difference between gas pain and hunger pain so they want to nurse again but only try for a few minutes, realize they aren't hungry and push off---this goes on and on. So he may be pushing you off when the letdown is too strong AND if he realizes he's not hungry.

Block nursing has helped us a lot--we nurse on one side for about 3 feedings and I pump the other side for comfort if needed--I have to do that less now (I've been doing this for about 2 weeks)--I just need to wear a breastpad.

Jack is also a comfort nurser and does not take a pacifier--I really don't mind and I try to remember each time that this only lasts for such a SHORT SHORT time. Since Gavin will take a pacifier, can you wait until he is drowsy and replace the breast with a pacifier but hold him close for a few minutes until he falls asleep?

Jack does not take pacifiers so until he can find his thumb--which he is trying desperately to do, he can use me as needed but I do undertand the difficulty of being a human pacifier--especially since I have a 2 year old screaming for attention----I long for the days of nursing Jamison for hours while reading and surfing the net--try to relish the relaxation that if forces upon you--those times will soon change.

Hang in there--sorry, no formula advice from me--never tried it.

Happymomof2 replied: Sorry to hear you're having such a rough time. I can't help much with the BF issues. I didn't nurse my son and my daughter was in the hospital for almost the first two months of life and I gave up after a month because all I ever did was pump.

But, anyway. The only thing I have to say about the soy formula is I have read 4 studies that have linked soy formula to ADHD. I don't know how reliable that is, because I don't believe a lot of that stuff, but my son was on soy and he does have ADHD. Something you might want to look into before you give it.

As for supplementing with bottles, I say you need to do what you feel is best. You sound very frustrated and that isn't good for you or for your baby. Just never feel guilty for your choices. Only you know what is best for you.

Good luck!!

Kirstenmumof3 replied: We used Isomil as well with Emily. Could he be going through a growth spurt as well as being fussy from his vacine? I remember those days when Claudia was nursing every hour!


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