Nutramigen Questions - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

cmarie313 · 01-03-2008, 04:07 PM

DD who is 9 weeks old (was a 34 week preemie) has been on Alimentum for about about one month. She was put on Zantac about 1 week ago for reflux (it seems that it is not helping that much). She projectile vomits about 1-2 times a day. She is SOOOOO gassy and is so uncomfortable that it wakes her up while she is sleeping and makes her so unhappy. She will just scream and cry...it is so awful.

My question for those of you who have tried the Nutramigen, did it help with gas at all? I am thinking about switching because we have to find something that will help improve the gassiness. We already have been on Similac Advance, Enfamil Gentlease, Similac Isomil, and now the Alimentum. We are giving her Mylicon drops and they seem to be doing nothing.

Thanks in advance for your insights. I really just wish I could find something that would make my baby more comfortable!
cmarie

baj406 · 01-03-2008, 06:45 PM

You should talk to the dr about a referral to a pediatric GI and ask about Neocate or Elecare. If Alimentum didn't help w/ gassiness then Nutramigen probably won't either. It took a couple weeks but DS did stop having so much gas on Nutramigen, but we never tried Alimentum.
Anyway, Neocate and Elecare are amino acid based and even easier to digest. They're prescription though, so you'd have to get the dr to switch her. Also, she may need a dosage increase or a different med. Are you thickening her formula w/ anything? What finally worked for DS was the Zantac in combination w/ using Thick It to thicken every single bottle. We use 1 tsp per oz of formula for a consistency that stays down for him. Anyway, talk to the dr about those 3 things and let us know how things go for her. I hope she feels better. I know it's awful, I've been there but it does get better. Just be prepared as there are LOTS of ups and downs along the way. I'll keep her in my prayers.

vigette · 01-05-2008, 01:53 PM

My oldest was on nutramagin and it did help with the gassiness. I agree with having to have them on the formula for a while befpre you see major changes. I also swear by mylicon drops!! SO maybe if they are doing nothing, than it might not be gas.

Oh I hope you find something to help ease her pain!! I feel for ya!!

luckydarlin · 01-06-2008, 06:17 PM

We tried all the formulas as well. We had better luck on Nutramigen than we did on the Alimentum, but still not 100%. My daughter reacted to the Nutramigen oddly - she got what looked like a terrible diaper rash from it. We saw a pediatric GI and he told us it was definitely her reacting to the formula. We ended up on the prescribed formulas (both Neocate and Elecare) and she was 100 times better and finally a happy baby who didn't suffer from pain anymore. It's definitely worth seeing a pediatric GI (or even asking your pediatrician about a prescribed formula) because I remember how horrible horrible horrible her pain was and it stopped immediately once we found the right formula.

Although some people tell you to stay on a formula for weeks, I don't believe that. Our GI told us you can tell the difference in a matter of days - and trust me, when you find the right formula you will know immediately. ...and as for the Mylicon drops, they didn't help my little one at all either.

Best of luck to you - I know this is such a difficult time. Hang in there, you will find the right formula and things will get better.

hollycom · 01-07-2008, 10:54 PM

Hey OH Do I ever know what you are going through. GAS SO bad they hurt, their poor bellies are in pain. The nutra did help my baby alot. She made four months on Dec 28 -07.When I took her for her shots today I asked the ped/ can I switch to something else now because she had been on nutra for a long time. The formula he told me to try now is called The Good start ( the orange can). We will see what this does. She had some tonight about 4 hrs ago so for so good...... she is sleeping.... I told him today at the office if she screams one time with the gas I am going back to nutra!! lol
IN the book I was talking about I will write what it said about those drops ( and I used them toooooooooooo all the time) **Mylicon drops which typically break up tiny air bubbles,do very little to break the huge air bubbles and cycle of pain that all starts with painfull feeding** My advice to you honestly is to try to stay with the nutra but do small feedings( she still does small feedings sometimes ) and she is on prevacid. Althogh I will share some light at the end of the tunnel * it does get better*