Iron Fortified or Not???? - Parenting Issues Message Board

izadpana · 09-30-2003, 09:15 PM

I'm extremely frustrated! I have a now 5 month and 1 week old little boy. When I weened him from breastfeeding (as I wasn't producing enough for him and he was starving) We put him on Enfalac Iron Fortified and he became so constipated and always crying that we took him off. When we have him on the Enfalac that is not Iron Fortified he is such a happy baby and although his bowl movements are extremely hard (that's another story) he at least goes every day. When he's on the Iron Fortified I give him a suppository after the 5th day as the prune juice and corn syrup don't work. The doctor's (family and pediatrician) say he needs the extra Iron and that it's not what's causing him any problems....but how come now I've started introducing the iron fortified again (the is the 2nd time I've tried) and he cries out in pain in his sleep. This is only day 4 and he's only up to 6 ounces a day and the cries out in his sleep in pain.

I can't put him through this, but don't know what I'm suppose to do if he's suppose to have this extra Iron. Any ideas or suggestions? Could it be the cows milk based formula and the iron combination? Help.

Kre · 09-30-2003, 09:48 PM

Yes, it is possible that cow's milk is not agreeing with your baby. My grandson was hospitalized with problems due to allergic reaction to cow's milk. He now is given a special formula. Sorry, I do not remember the name of the formula.

*AnGeL* · 09-30-2003, 10:22 PM

I was told by my midwife that Iron does cause your child to be constipated. She also said that babies do not need the extra iron anyway. All formulas have a small amount of Iron in them, that's all they need at this stage. I have my daughter on Karicare 1 and it seems fine!

Hope you find something that works!

mommajessibelle · 10-01-2003, 07:47 AM

i had this same problem with my first and second child they started out on enfamil with iron and all they did was cry and they became very constipated so then they were switched to something else im not sure what i just know that with both my oldest children we tried every type of formula made by enfamil and similac and i finnally on my own gave them carnation good start and from the first day i gave it it made a world of difference.they werent fussy they didnt scream out in pain and they werent constipated it was great so with my third child we started out on carnation good start in the hospital another good thing about the carnation good start is where i live its about 4-5 dollars cheaper than the other stuffoh and btw i was thinking about this and if there werent children that couldnt tolerate iron then they wouldnt make formula with low iron and no iron good luck

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hope2663 · 10-01-2003, 10:47 AM

Are you using liquid or powder formula? I was giving my dd the powder formual (similac) and she was always constipated and her doctor said that it may be from the powder and try to switch her to liquid and this worked for me.